Aren't new cars supposed to be quiet?

I just rode in a friend's 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer and the road noise in that thing was unbearable. Like can't hear other people from the back seat loud... And that's coming from someone that dailys a diesel truck

Yes, they are supposed to be quiet. Or should be anyway. Is is modded at all? Like suspension or tires. That can make a big change in ride characteristics and sound.

The Motortrend review complains about its noise.

I'm not sure that a 3-4 year old Mitsu Lancer (or even a new Mitsu Lancer) should be the yardstick by which you measure all new cars.

Mitsubishi evidently did a poor job with noise control with that car.

And dont forget that its a 10 years old design..

Its pretty seldom that I ride in a Civic that I don't think it needs wheel bearings. They never do, though.

My Cadillac is a fantastically quiet car until I put proper tires on. Then it sounds like a lifted truck on swampers.

Both of my DD vehicles are old and loud but every civic or Corolla type car Ive driven (usually a rental) seems to transmit a grinding and popping sound from the tires right into the cabin. Though mine probably do the same and I just can't hear it over the wind in the windows!

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: Mitsubishi did a poor job with cars.

This just in: cheap cars are still cheap cars.

Keith Tanner wrote: This just in: cheap cars are still cheap cars.

Lies! Sacrilege!

Er... maybe it is true.

fiesta54 wrote: I just rode in a friend's 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer and the road noise in that thing was unbearable. Like can't hear other people from the back seat loud... And that's coming from someone that dailys a diesel truck

As a guess, he never had the tires rotated, and when the front tires were bald, he only replaced those two because "the rears still got good tread".

oddly enough, the wife's 08 Rio has less road noise than my '10 Forte.

It's funny that you posted this, because I was riding around in a brand spanking new Evo over the weekend, and it was loud, brash, and rattly. The exhaust actually rattled the spoiler. And the road noise was insane.

But hey, whatever, it was really fast!!!

I totally agree! We had a Scion TC last week, and I know it is a cheap car, but in this day and age of NVH perfection, I was shocked how loud it was driving down a good smooth road.