Wind Noise - I like it.

it threw me off at first...i thought my window was not secure and in place...but i agree with your points

 

turn on some music.

only downside is if your talking on the phone, sounds like a tornado to the other person.

 

But then you can't listen to the peaceful wind.

It almost annoys me... I love having the radio off to appreciate how quiet the car is. But I want to listen to the music.

 

Maybe my car is different - I do not notice the wind noise. It is quieter than the BMW I traded for it.

 

I was just about to write the same thing when I read your message. Same here. I don't hear it either. My previous car (Versa) was noisier.

 

Good aerodynamics usually makes a car quiet. Check your door and window seals. Keep 'em clean (don't forget the surface the rubber seals close against, too, it needs to be kept clean) so they can seal well. A little silicone grease will help keep the rubber from drying out.

I've driven a couple of new cs and found them to be very quiet, even at highway speeds.

 

I've seen this post get kicked a few times and have decided to mention now that I'm kind of the opposite- I interpret lack of wind noise as aerodynamic efficiency. I think when you're hearing a lot of wind, you're probably not getting your best mpg.

 

It's all nonsense... because the car itself is so quiet, people are able to notice normal background noises more and with the usual traditional anti-hybrid bias it becomes "intrusive" and "noisy".

Someone once posted an article that did this but also had actual noise measurements which they then compared to another article for a different vehicle. Same figures but the review text didn't repeat the noise claims.

 

But according to these same sites, almost every other car they have tested has been louder.

All statistics from the same website, in order from Quietest to Loudest at 70-mph Cruise:

2012 Toyota Prius C Track Test

2011 Jetta TDi Sportswagon:
Db @ Idle: 46.0
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 59.1 (man this thing is quiet)

2010 Mazda 3i touring:
Db @ Idle: 35.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 66.3
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 61.2

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T SE:
Db @ Idle: 38
Db @ Full Throttle: 66.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 62.0

2011 Honda Accord SE:
Db @ Idle: 44.4
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.2
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 63.0

2012 Audi A6 3.0T:
Db @ Idle: 41.6
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.9
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 63.4

2013 Ford C-Max Energi:
Db @ Idle: 38.9
Db @ Full Throttle: 75.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 64.1

2013 Ford Focus ST:
Db @ Idle: 45.6
Db @ Full Throttle: 78.4
Db @ 70-mph Cruise: 64.7
RPM @ 70: 2,650

2012 Prius C3:
Db @ Idle: 42.8
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.2
Db @ 70-mph Cruise: 64.8
RPM @ 70: 2,400

2012 Prius V:
Db @ Idle: 37.9
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.4
Db @ 70-mph Cruise: 65.6

2011 Ford F150 XLT Supercab 6 cylinder:
Db @ Idle: 42.7
Db @ Full Throttle: 78.5
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 66.2
RPM @ 70: 2,050

2011 Kia Forte Koup 6-speed manual:
Db @ Idle: 44.0
Db @ Full Throttle: 74.7
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 66.9

2011 BMW 535i Automatic:
Db @ Idle: 42.3
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 67.0

2011 Chevy Cruze LTZ:
Db @ Idle: 35.3
Db @ Full Throttle: 67.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 67.1

2011 Chevy Volt:
Db @ Idle: EV: 27 (Gas: 48.5)
Db @ Full Throttle: EV: 54 (Gas: 78.2)
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: EV: 67.4 (Gas: 73.7)

2009 Toyota Prius:
Db @ Idle: 40.7 EV, 47.2 Engine on
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.6
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 67.7

2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Db @ Idle: 53.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.7
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 67.5

2008 BMW 328i:
Db @ Idle: 42.7
Db @ Full Throttle: 76.0
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 68.0

2011 Mazda 2:
Db @ Idle: 40.6
Db @ Full Throttle: 78.8
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 72.9

As recorded... the C is the one of the quietest, beating out a Chevy Volt on full Electric and a BMW 535i... just shows me that the "test" drivers are "slightly" biased.

Edit:
Added 2008 328i, will continue to edit as more information comes along. If anyone has a request for a car, feel free to let me know and I'll do my best to add it to the list.

Edit 2:
Added 2011 TDi.

Edit 3:
Added 2012 Audi A6 3.0T and 2011 Honda Accord SE

Edit 4:
Not sure why I never did this until now... adding the Prius V 2012 and the 2009 Prius.

Edit 5:
2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, 2009 CTS-V

 

Awesome work ztanos... that was what I was thinking of, then even more detailed.

 

This could explain my issue with wind noise. It's good when compared to these vehicles, but when compared to the closest model I could find to my last car (2011 Jetta TDI) the C is about 9 Db louder at cruising speed. That is either a big difference, or there's something wrong with my C.

 

9db is about 1 volume spot on your radio.

 

So, barely noticeable? haha who knows then.

 

So, barely noticeable? haha who knows then.

But if one spot is approximately 9dB, then wouldn't listening to the stereo at 10 be about 90dB? I can hear the stereo at 10 when driving 70mph, but it's super quiet... And at cruising the car should only be at 64dB? That seems off. For the completely inaccurate record, I downloaded two volume measuring iPhone apps and they both said my car was around 75dB when driving on fairly flat land at 70mph. Stereo and air were both turned off. Sitting still with the car off (slightly windy outside) measures between 40 and 45dB.

 

I just meant that it was not significant. But the stereo volume ticks aren't linear, so maybe I was accurate without realizing it. I downloaded a dB app on my lunch break and tested it at idle and at 65... (traffic wouldn't let me get to 70 stupid Atlanta traffic...) I recorded 45 at idle and around 61 at 65. Maybe the 4 comes with more insulation? Or maybe the cars near you have poor exhaust and are just louder than the ones that run near us.

 

Stolen from Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart

Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing.

Environmental Noise
Weakest sound heard 0dB
Whisper Quiet Library at 6' 30dB
Normal conversation at 3' 60-65dB
Telephone dial tone 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) 85dB
Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic 90dB
Jackhammer at 50' 95dB
Subway train at 200' 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB
Hand Drill 98dB
Power mower at 3' 107dB
Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100dB
Power saw at 3' 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert 115dB
Pain begins 125dB
Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125dB
Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITHhearing protection 140dB
Jet engine at 100' 140dB
12 Gauge Shotgun Blast 165dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB

Perceptions of Increases in Decibel Level
Imperceptible Change 1dB
Barely Perceptible Change 3dB
Clearly Noticeable Change 5dB
About Twice as Loud 10dB
About Four Times as Loud 20dB

Sound Levels of Music
Normal piano practice 60 -70dB
Fortissimo Singer, 3' 70dB
Chamber music, small auditorium 75 - 85dB
Piano Fortissimo 84 - 103dB
Violin 82 - 92dB
Cello 85 -111dB
Oboe 95-112dB
Flute 92 -103dB
Piccolo 90 -106dB
Clarinet 85 - 114dB
French horn 90 - 106dB
Trombone 85 - 114dB
Tympani & bass drum 106dB
Walkman on 5/10 94dB
Symphonic music peak 120 - 137dB
Amplifier, rock, 4-6' 120dB
Rock music peak 150dB

 

So I drove through Tennessee last weekend and the cabin was exponentially louder than in Georgia. Maybe your roads are in worse condition than mine are. Tire noise would make the car louder. The noise underneath this car is much louder than on other cars, so this would make sense.