Wind Noise
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4th Gear
Joined: May 2023
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Wind Noise
I recently had a test drive of a Cayenne ahead of a planned order for a new Cayenne S. As expected the car drove well, however at motorway speeds (75-80 MPH) there was a significant amount of wind noise compared to either the Mercedes GLE that I also test drove or the Mercedes CL600 that I also own. As I do a reasonable amount of motorway miles this would be annoying and I am now wondering if the car is unsuitable for my use case.
The dealer seemed to think that the "Thermally and noise insulated glass" might help (this is similar to what my CL has) but did not have any cars available with it fitted for a test drive. Has anyone driven both a Cayenne with both standard glass and the noise insulated glass and if so please can you tell me how much of a difference it makes to wind noise.
The dealer also thought that the Burmester sound system included active noise cancellation, however this is not listed in the description in the configurator. Does anyone have experience of this and does this offer any benefit?
For reference the car I drove was a Cayenne eHybrid Platinum Edition.
The dealer seemed to think that the "Thermally and noise insulated glass" might help (this is similar to what my CL has) but did not have any cars available with it fitted for a test drive. Has anyone driven both a Cayenne with both standard glass and the noise insulated glass and if so please can you tell me how much of a difference it makes to wind noise.
The dealer also thought that the Burmester sound system included active noise cancellation, however this is not listed in the description in the configurator. Does anyone have experience of this and does this offer any benefit?
For reference the car I drove was a Cayenne eHybrid Platinum Edition.
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From: Fairfax County, Virginia
Are you sure everything was buttoned up tight? Sunroof and all four windows? My Cayenne GTS - even with the louder exhaust and 21" wheels has no wind noise on the highway at all.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: May 2023
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I checked all the windows were up and the car had a fixed panoramic roof (not an opening sunroof). The car was pretty much new (had 47 miles on it). The salesman who accompanied me on the test drive seemed to think the noise was typical for the Cayenne hence I was wondering if there are any options that make a significant difference?
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From: linker Fahrbahn
I recently had a test drive of a Cayenne ahead of a planned order for a new Cayenne S. As expected the car drove well, however at motorway speeds (75-80 MPH) there was a significant amount of wind noise compared to either the Mercedes GLE that I also test drove or the Mercedes CL600 that I also own. As I do a reasonable amount of motorway miles this would be annoying and I am now wondering if the car is unsuitable for my use case.
The dealer seemed to think that the "Thermally and noise insulated glass" might help (this is similar to what my CL has) but did not have any cars available with it fitted for a test drive. Has anyone driven both a Cayenne with both standard glass and the noise insulated glass and if so please can you tell me how much of a difference it makes to wind noise.
The dealer also thought that the Burmester sound system included active noise cancellation, however this is not listed in the description in the configurator. Does anyone have experience of this and does this offer any benefit?
For reference the car I drove was a Cayenne eHybrid Platinum Edition.
The dealer seemed to think that the "Thermally and noise insulated glass" might help (this is similar to what my CL has) but did not have any cars available with it fitted for a test drive. Has anyone driven both a Cayenne with both standard glass and the noise insulated glass and if so please can you tell me how much of a difference it makes to wind noise.
The dealer also thought that the Burmester sound system included active noise cancellation, however this is not listed in the description in the configurator. Does anyone have experience of this and does this offer any benefit?
For reference the car I drove was a Cayenne eHybrid Platinum Edition.
MBs are generally quiet so you are comparing the Cayenne to a good-performing car from a wind noise perspective.
Don’t believe a single word that issues from the mouth of a dealer employee.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2019
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I recently had a test drive of a Cayenne ahead of a planned order for a new Cayenne S. As expected the car drove well, however at motorway speeds (75-80 MPH) there was a significant amount of wind noise compared to either the Mercedes GLE that I also test drove or the Mercedes CL600 that I also own. As I do a reasonable amount of motorway miles this would be annoying and I am now wondering if the car is unsuitable for my use case.
The dealer seemed to think that the "Thermally and noise insulated glass" might help (this is similar to what my CL has) but did not have any cars available with it fitted for a test drive. Has anyone driven both a Cayenne with both standard glass and the noise insulated glass and if so please can you tell me how much of a difference it makes to wind noise.
The dealer also thought that the Burmester sound system included active noise cancellation, however this is not listed in the description in the configurator. Does anyone have experience of this and does this offer any benefit?
For reference the car I drove was a Cayenne eHybrid Platinum Edition.
The dealer seemed to think that the "Thermally and noise insulated glass" might help (this is similar to what my CL has) but did not have any cars available with it fitted for a test drive. Has anyone driven both a Cayenne with both standard glass and the noise insulated glass and if so please can you tell me how much of a difference it makes to wind noise.
The dealer also thought that the Burmester sound system included active noise cancellation, however this is not listed in the description in the configurator. Does anyone have experience of this and does this offer any benefit?
For reference the car I drove was a Cayenne eHybrid Platinum Edition.
On the Cayenne S (2019), the thin semi-transparent sunroof and the non-sound insulated side windows are sources of noise.
Easy to get used to, but if you are sensitive to noise or usually have trouble talking to people inside vehicles, then you may have a problem.
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From: MN
No wind noise in my GTS with the thermo and noise insulated glass. While driving west across New Mexico last March there were forecasted SW wind gusts over 60 mph. We maintain 80 mph, all was quiet and rock solid on the road. If your test vehicle had wind noise maybe drive a different one to compare.
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From: The Woodlands, TX.
Our ‘23 is extremely quiet with wind noise. Quieter than our Tesla was, quieter than our 2014 Cayenne, about as quiet as my old Lexus. If you’re hearing wind noise either something is wrong or you are used to exceptionally quiet cars.
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Three Wheelin'
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I've haven't driven a Cayenne with the standard single pane glass but my 2022 base with the double pane glass option has very little wind noise at highway speeds.- notably less wind noise than in the exceptionally quiet Lexus LS sedans I drove for 24 years which had only single pane glass. Since exterior mirrors produce much of the wind noise, consider getting at least the lower cost forward double pane glass option. If minimum overall noise is a goal, consider getting the more comprehensive higher cost double pane glass option, the standard exhaust and the narrowest tires.
Did you test drive a 2023 or refreshed 2024? The Autogefühl review of the 2024 I watched on YouTube seemed to indicate that the 2024 was quieter than the 2023:
Did you test drive a 2023 or refreshed 2024? The Autogefühl review of the 2024 I watched on YouTube seemed to indicate that the 2024 was quieter than the 2023:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Canada
+1. But if it is too noisy for you then maybe a different vehicle? I doubt the insulated glass will make much of a difference. My dealer says maybe 15%.
Last edited by kayjh; May 21, 2023 at 12:07 PM.
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From: MN
A thought…did the test vehicle have 4 zone AC? Took us a while to figure out a noise right by our head but from the back. The B Pillar vents for rear seat AC are noisy. We keep them off except when needed.
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From: The Woodlands, TX.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
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The car I drove was what would be called a 2022 model year in the UK (but would be called a 2023 model year in the States). The dealer does not have any 2023 (US 2024) demonstrators yet. I might try and find out when they will have demonstrators for the new car in.
Thanks for all the feedback. Some different views, but overall it sounds like the Cayenne is reasonably quiet but not class leading whereas the Mercedes GLE (and my ultimate reference which is my Mercedes CL600) are class leading.
So it sounds like I should stick with the Mercedes. Which is a shame as in the UK the Cayenne is the only way you can get a V8 without spending half as much again, but the Mercedes does seem to be the better car overall for me as it rides significantly better and is significantly quieter while maintaining 90% of the handling of the Cayenne.
Thanks for all the feedback. Some different views, but overall it sounds like the Cayenne is reasonably quiet but not class leading whereas the Mercedes GLE (and my ultimate reference which is my Mercedes CL600) are class leading.
So it sounds like I should stick with the Mercedes. Which is a shame as in the UK the Cayenne is the only way you can get a V8 without spending half as much again, but the Mercedes does seem to be the better car overall for me as it rides significantly better and is significantly quieter while maintaining 90% of the handling of the Cayenne.
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From: The Woodlands, TX.
The car I drove was what would be called a 2022 model year in the UK (but would be called a 2023 model year in the States). The dealer does not have any 2023 (US 2024) demonstrators yet. I might try and find out when they will have demonstrators for the new car in.
Thanks for all the feedback. Some different views, but overall it sounds like the Cayenne is reasonably quiet but not class leading whereas the Mercedes GLE (and my ultimate reference which is my Mercedes CL600) are class leading.
So it sounds like I should stick with the Mercedes. Which is a shame as in the UK the Cayenne is the only way you can get a V8 without spending half as much again, but the Mercedes does seem to be the better car overall for me as it rides significantly better and is significantly quieter while maintaining 90% of the handling of the Cayenne.
Thanks for all the feedback. Some different views, but overall it sounds like the Cayenne is reasonably quiet but not class leading whereas the Mercedes GLE (and my ultimate reference which is my Mercedes CL600) are class leading.
So it sounds like I should stick with the Mercedes. Which is a shame as in the UK the Cayenne is the only way you can get a V8 without spending half as much again, but the Mercedes does seem to be the better car overall for me as it rides significantly better and is significantly quieter while maintaining 90% of the handling of the Cayenne.
I picked up a 2023 Cayenne and immediately did a 500 mile road trip in a weekend and all I could think of was wow. This car is really quiet and comfortable on the highway. I really don’t think you have anything to worry about.