I have a 3 month old xse premium and despite the professional reviews claiming it has a quiet ride, I'm grossly dissatisfied. And it seems louder coming from the passenger side. I've taken sound levels and find that in in hv mode idling, I get 25db. At 60 mph I get 48 dB at the driver's headrest /my ear and at the passenger's headrest I get 52db. Note that each 10 dB represents a doubling in volume so 20 dB is 4 times and 27db is about 7 times! I wrote to toyota usa about this and they said I have to take it to the dealer. Which is scheduled for 2/13. BTW, doors seem flush, gaskets normal, etc. Any thoughts?
That sounds louder than it should be...have you compared it to similar models? I know Toyota tends to skimp on sound insulation, with the intent of better gas mileage. The type of tire also makes a big difference - some are just noisier than others.
While I didn't take measurements with the stock Toyo tires (which are considered noisier than average). Sound was measured with michelan x-ice tires, which are rated quieter than average. To me, the volume seems about the same...
