![]() ![]() Large capacity diesel utes tend not to be quiet. A recently Toyota Prius could be had for reasonable moneyĪ newer large-capacity diesel is usually the next quietest, followed by lower capacity petrol and diesel, and finally sports cars. The next best option is a modern hybrid (older hybrids are likelier to have noisier petrol engines than a newer petrol-only vehicle). Whereas this 2011 Toyota Hilux has plenty of road and engine noiseĪ fully electric car will be the quietest in terms of engine noise as there are no explosions of fuel. They may give a figure in decibels (dB) for cabin noise at a certain speed. Manufacturers constantly try to reduce what’s called NVH, or noise, vibration and harshness. But bear in mind that the figures will be recorded in ideal situations, and that won’t always reflect the types of road surfaces we have in NSW. Search online to see if you can find any. Many manufacturers publish their cabin noise figures, but not all. ![]() Buying a quiet car: what you should look out for Manufacturer’s figures The tread pattern will affect the noise, as well as the softness of the rubber (softer is less noisy and absorbs shocks better), and the aspect ratio (the ratio between the width of the tyre and the height of the sidewall – higher aspect ratio is better). The wider the tyre, the more noise it will create. But the type of tyre also plays a large part. The tyres have to deform slightly as the roll, and the rough surface imparts noise and vibration into the suspension components and chassis.Ī wet, coarse surface will be much louder than a smooth, dry surface. The primary reason is the tyres crossing a rough surface. Road noise is arguably the most significant contributor to the noise of a vehicle, and it’s also the one that you can often do the most to reduce. Air conditioningĪir conditioning fans create noise in themselves, plus the noise of the air exiting the vents at high speed can be considerable if the air con is on full. Wind noise will be much more if you open the windows. The less drag, generally the less turbulence and wind resistance and (usually) this results in less wind noise. Vehicle manufacturers are constantly trying to create ever more streamlined vehicles, and this is measured using the coefficient of drag. ![]() Wind noiseĪs wind hits the car turbulence is created around the wing mirrors, panel gaps, door seals, and any trim or bits that stick out. All these contribute to noise in the cabin. There’s also conducted noise through the chassis that will resonate and vibrate other parts in your car whether they are loose or not. Sometimes these parts will become a little loose and that allows them to vibrate. Your car is made of thousands of parts all screwed and glued together. Vehicles at the peak of their rev range can be very noisy – in fact, a Ferrari Enzo is well over 100dB at peak revs in first gear, which is eight times louder than an average car travelling along a road at 100kph in top gear at 70dB. If you tend to drive the car hard up through the rev range you will experience a noisier journey. If your exhaust is a performance exhaust it will offer less resistance to the sound in the silencer and will therefore be louder. If there’s a hole in your muffler then you will notice a greater amount of sound. The exhaust system channels the noise to the back of the car and uses a silencer (muffler) to dampen the noise before it exits the back. In order to propel your car forwards, fuel is exploding within the engine, and that is noisy in itself. ![]() Later on we’ll look at what type of cars are best for this. It also isn’t something you can do much about, however, you should consider what their needs might be if you travel a lot with passengers, particularly children. This isn’t constant noise, but it can be distracting. Whether it’s a child, your aunty or your pet dog, your vehicle occupants will make noise at some time. But what about the constant background noise that your vehicle makes, and how does this affect your concentration and health if you are in the car for long periods of time? What creates cabin noise in a vehicle? Especially when you are learning to drive, having noisy mates in the car can distract you enough to take your attention away from the road. In this article we’ll explain how noise can have a serious effect on your driving ability and your health, and what steps you can take to choose a quiet car. ![]()
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