I travel a lot for work and my favorite rental is a loaded Titanium Edge. One of the things that got me looking a the Edge for my own daily driver is how quiet it was... It was that or a Taurus and I like sitting higher, so Edge. To your questions: 1) Yes. I put it up there with an Audi A6 I used to have. I'd rate it 8+ (I'd think a 10 would be a Tesla with zero engine noise).
2) Sport for me. It's all about that more aggressive stance, non-chrome look, black wheels and molded tail pipes! LOVE!!!
3) Back wheels I think means 21" wheels on the Sport.