Best-sounding non-performance car?

Colin
By Colin Wood
Feb 5, 2022 | engine sound, exhaust note

Photography Courtesy Kia

Most sports cars make fun sounds straight out of the box–or at least they do after a few exhaust mods–but what about everything else?

Are there non-sporting cars, like SUVs and minivans, that sound more aggressive than they have any right to be? Any that sound better than some sports cars?

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Comments
Tyler H (Forum Supporter)
Tyler H (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
2/1/22 2:31 p.m.

Toyota Sienna 2GR V6 sounds pretty good on full boil.

aw614
aw614 Reader
2/1/22 2:33 p.m.

I don't usually care for how VR6s sound and the performance benefits they have, but many people love them and they have appeared in many non performance models. 

Duke
Duke MegaDork
2/1/22 3:03 p.m.

I haven't really heard it from outside, but DW's 2017 S60 sounds pretty good from the inside when you're on it, especially for a dinky 2.0 4 cylinder. Better than my 2019.

 

MotorsportsGordon
MotorsportsGordon Dork
2/1/22 3:39 p.m.

This did make me think of James may and the fiat panda

 

pinchvalve (Forum Supporter)
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/1/22 4:04 p.m.

The Porsche Cayenne sounds amazing. The turbo models muffle the sound, but an S with the sports exhaust is stirring. Whenever I drive my sister's, I giggle every time I rev it. 

Tom1200
Tom1200 UltraDork
2/1/22 4:10 p.m.

My pick probably doesn't count: my son's Lexus LS400 has a great exhaust note. It is an old man's car so I'm throwing it in the ring..............disqualify it if you must.

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
2/1/22 4:14 p.m.

In reply to Tom1200 :

I like my father in laws LS400 too.  I hate the sound of a V6.  I'm very happy my Colorado has a very good muffler.  

KyAllroad
KyAllroad MegaDork
2/1/22 4:29 p.m.

In reply to aw614 :

Yup, my 3.6 VR6 has the best exhaust note going.  I deleted the big center resonator but otherwise it's a stock exhaust system:  two pre cats, two cats, two mufflers.  It sounds way more exotic than a midsize wagon has any business being and people often ask me what it is because it's so distinctive.

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
2/1/22 4:31 p.m.

In reply to Tom1200 :

I say it stays since I feel like early the early LS models had a focus on luxury over performance.

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/1/22 4:41 p.m.
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:

The Porsche Cayenne sounds amazing. The turbo models muffle the sound, but an S with the sports exhaust is stirring. Whenever I drive my sister's, I giggle every time I rev it. 

You should add an exhaust system to it.

 

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