According to Car and Driver’s testing notes, the redesigned 2026 Nissan Murano recorded 66 dBA at 70 mph in its instrumented sound measurements, and the publication describes the Murano as tuned for a “seamless ride” with near‑luxury intent. Chevrolet’s 2026 Equinox, meanwhile, is positioned as a value‑oriented compact SUV with standard driver-assist tech and a roomy cabin, but without the Murano’s explicit “near‑luxury” brief. For quiet highway weekends, the decision usually comes down to three friction points: cabin noise at cruise, ride calm over rough pavement, and driver-assist smoothness. As of March 16, 2026, here’s the practical “which makes more sense” guide—using auditable specs and a fast test-drive method.
Quick takeaways
- If you want an auditable “quiet at speed” anchor: Car and Driver measured the 2026 Murano at 66 dBA at 70 mph, and it’s positioned as a near‑luxury two‑row SUV.
- If you want “quiet weekend value” with lower complexity: Car and Driver calls the 2026 Equinox a value-oriented compact SUV with solid practicality and standard driver-assist tech.
- Space differs by mission: Chevrolet lists 63.5 cu ft max cargo for the 2026 Equinox, while Car and Driver lists Murano at 33 cu ft behind the second row and 64 cu ft with seats folded.
- Cruising efficiency at 75 mph: Car and Driver’s compare tool reports 30 mpg at 75 mph for an Equinox (instrumented testing context), while Murano’s EPA rating is 23 mpg combined (21/27) and C/D notes an observed 20 mpg in its testing summary.
- Best decision method: use one 12-minute “quiet highway” loop and judge wind noise, tire roar, and driver-assist smoothness—then confirm cargo fit.
The quiet-weekend lens: what “quiet” really means
Most people use “quiet” as one bucket, but highway calm is usually three separate things:
1) Wind noise (mirrors, A-pillars, roofline)
2) Tire roar (tread pattern, wheel size, road surface)
3) Powertrain noise (engine load, transmission behavior, passing)
For weekend trips, the best choice is the vehicle that stays calm across all three, not just at one speed on one road.
What changed in 2026 that matters here
Murano: redesigned, near-luxury aim
Car and Driver notes the Murano was redesigned recently and, for 2026, adds newly standard AWD (dropping the previous front-drive base approach) and offers an available hands-free driving mode (ProPilot 2.1) plus comfort features like ventilated/massaging seats in certain packages. The same review also notes active sound cancellation as a standard feature set item, which is directly relevant to highway calm.
Equinox: value compact SUV with more standard tech
Car and Driver frames the 2026 Equinox as a value-oriented compact SUV with strong standard tech and driver-assistance features, and notes a comfortable ride and easy-going demeanor in its driving impressions. Chevrolet’s own materials emphasize flexible cargo space and hands-free liftgate availability.
The practical takeaway: Murano is trying harder at “near‑luxury calm,” while Equinox is trying harder at “family value + tech.”
Noise at cruise: what can be verified
For this comparison, the cleanest noise anchor is Murano’s instrumented measurement:
- Car and Driver lists 66 dBA at 70 mph for a Murano Platinum test vehicle and publishes a full spec block including the sound figure.
For Equinox, Car and Driver’s 2026 Equinox page does not publish a comparable interior sound number in the visible spec block. So the honest approach is:
- treat Murano as the only one here with a published dBA benchmark, and
- use a repeatable test-drive method to compare Equinox cabin noise directly.
If your priority is “auditable quietness,” Murano has the clearer paper trail.
Ride calm: which one “feels quieter” on imperfect pavement
Cabin quiet on a smooth interstate can fall apart on rough pavement.
- Car and Driver describes Murano’s chassis as tuned for a seamless ride, while also noting the suspension can feel out of sorts on rough pavement.
- Car and Driver’s Equinox impressions note a comfortable ride and progressive steering, with the Equinox positioned as competent but mid-pack overall.
Weekend takeaway: if the route includes broken concrete and expansion joints, the calmest choice may be the one with better body control and less “thump” through the structure—something that’s best judged in a short loop.
Driver-assist smoothness: quiet isn’t only sound
On long weekend drives, the least-stress experience is often the vehicle that:
- holds lane smoothly,
- adapts speed predictably,
- and doesn’t make abrupt corrections.
Car and Driver notes:
- Equinox includes standard driver-assistance tech such as adaptive cruise with lane-centering.
- Murano includes a suite of driver-assistance features and offers a more advanced hands-free approach on higher trims, using navigation data to prepare for curves.
Quiet-weekend takeaway: if the driver-assist system reduces steering corrections and braking “surprises,” the whole cabin feels calmer even if raw dBA isn’t dramatically different.
Cargo and seating: the “quiet weekend” is still a packing weekend
Quiet weekends still come with bags.
- Chevrolet’s 2026 Equinox page highlights 63.5 cu ft max cargo volume.
- Car and Driver lists Murano at 33 cu ft behind the second row and 64 cu ft with the rear seats folded.
If the weekend is two adults + luggage, either can work. If you’re trying to keep the second row available (kids, dog barrier, grandparents), seats-up cargo can become the bigger deciding factor than a few decibels.
Fuel and “effortless cruising”
Fuel economy is not “quiet,” but it changes weekend rhythm (stops, detours, time pressure).
- Car and Driver lists Equinox EPA economy up to 26/24/29 mpg (AWD) in its spec block and notes it plans more real-world highway testing; its compare tool also cites 30 mpg at 75 mph for the Equinox in instrumented testing context.
- Car and Driver lists Murano EPA ratings at 21/27/23 mpg and includes observed 20 mpg in its test summary.
If your weekends are mostly interstate miles, fewer fuel stops can reduce stress—but the noise winner is still decided by the cabin.
What this means in the U.S.
For U.S. highway weekends, common patterns are:
- 70–80 mph cruising,
- mixed pavement quality,
- crosswinds and rain,
- and crowded parking lots at destinations.
In that environment:
- Murano makes more sense when your priority is a near‑luxury calm feel and you want an auditable “quiet at speed” anchor (66 dBA at 70 mph).
- Equinox makes more sense when your priority is value, a smaller footprint, and a practical cabin with strong standard tech—then you confirm noise with a test loop.
What you can do: the 12-minute “quiet highway weekend” test
Do this on the same day, same road surface:
1) 2 minutes at 30–40 mph: listen for tire noise and suspension thumps.
2) 5 minutes at 65–75 mph: audio off, fan low; listen for wind noise and seat comfort.
3) 2 minutes of passing (50–70 mph): notice engine/transmission noise and responsiveness.
4) 3 minutes of driver-assist: set adaptive cruise + lane centering/hands-free (if available) and note smoothness.
Pick the one that stays calm without turning the cabin into a project.
Bottom line
For quiet highway weekends, the 2026 Nissan Murano has the clearer “quiet at speed” paper trail thanks to Car and Driver’s published 66 dBA at 70 mph measurement and its near‑luxury positioning with active sound cancellation. The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is the practical value play—smaller, well-equipped, and easy to live with—so the smart move is to verify noise and ride calm in a short test loop and then let cargo fit and budget settle the choice.