Quietest Subcompact Ever?

[Aglie]

I have never driven or been in a subcompact (or B-class) car nearly as quiet as my Fiesta. About the only thing that could be improved would be to go to quieter tires than the Kumho ones my car came with, but I can easily enough do that myself when the Kumhos wear out.

So my question is this: are there any other subcompact cars (current or past) that would match or beat the current Fiesta in overall quietness? Of course I can think of oodles of them that are much noisier, including many larger cars, that's no challenge at all.

[FXSTi]

Nissan Leaf, if you are okay with very short trips.

[BondiBlue]

Originally Posted by FXSTi

Nissan Leaf, if you are okay with very short trips.

And being okay with driving something that looks like a gay roller skate.

[wmussatto]

I think its a lot to do with sound insulation. I was standing outside while the wife backed the car up and the car is quite a bit noisier than the Prius, even when the engine starts. Of course she could have been on the gas and break at the same time but is sounded a bit like "tapit" noise. Don't hear anything but the tires inside.

[jonl9]

Those tires do sing, but I agree, this car is amazingly quiet and what I really notice is almost a total absence of wind noise. Of course, my ears are getting a few years older.....

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by wmussatto

I think its a lot to do with sound insulation. I was standing outside while the wife backed the car up and the car is quite a bit noisier than the Prius, even when the engine starts. Of course she could have been on the gas and break at the same time but is sounded a bit like "tapit" noise. Don't hear anything but the tires inside.

I agree, it is a little clackity on the outside.

[archenok]

Originally Posted by billnchristy

I agree, it is a little clackity on the outside.

yeah agreed - very "diesel" like.

[eRic]

my Fiesta was *too* quiet when it was stock and I found myself driving faster than I should because of it (: so I had to louden it. the cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust took care of that. now I can hear it and adjust my speed accordingly.

[Aglie]

My Fiesta is now about a year old. So I've had passengers who couldn't hear the engine at idle, and asked "is it a hybrid?". In comparison, a Fit or Yaris is horribly noisy. Comparing to a Civic, maybe not so different, but that is a larger car.

[tjl]

Had a rental Yaris and noticed significantly more road and wind noise than in the Fiesta.

The Yaris did have a pretty good amount of get up and go, and no slushy feel, fairly impressive for a 4-speed torque converter automatic. It did not seem to be very willing to go around a cloverleaf very quickly, though.