[Regalhank]

Hi,
My husband believes his new 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium (not Hybrid) is louder inside than the 2018 RAV. Is there a reason for that or has he become more sensitive to sound in old age (not likely)?

Also--He was trying to get my attention while I was walking down the street and honked the horn and I didn't even turn since it sounded like a little clown car. I don't think I ever heard the horn in the last car and I can't believe that that horn would get any attention in a safety situation. What's the deal?

 

[myang001]

1. 2019-2021 RAV4 does not have noise deadening materials built in. My 2020 RAV4 TRD was horrible in term of noise comparing to my previous highlander. I added two layers of sound deadening material and it has some improvement now.
2. You can replace the horns easily. Search the forum.
(76) Horn replacement - OEM vs Hella Trumpet Kit | Toyota RAV4 Forums (rav4world.com)

 

[NameofUser]

Get the "la cuca racha" sounding horns? Definitely will get people's attention.

A semi-truck air horn will also get attention, and scare the crap out most people too.

 

[Spiff]

Hi,
My husband believes his new 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium (not Hybrid) is louder inside than the 2018 RAV. Is there a reason for that or has he become more sensitive to sound in old age (not likely)?

Also--He was trying to get my attention while I was walking down the street and honked the horn and I didn't even turn since it sounded like a little clown car. I don't think I ever heard the horn in the last car and I can't believe that that horn would get any attention in a safety situation. What's the deal?

I replaced my horns with Hellas. They were listed for the Camry on Amazon and were a perfect fit. $20 and maybe half an hour to install. I don't know why the factory horn is so lame, but after I honked at my wife while driving and she didn't notice me, I was done the Road Runner Meep-Meeps.

I actually put sound dampening material on the bottom of my full coverage fitted floor mats (with tread safe tape so they don't slide, driver mat still uses the lock tabs) and it seems to take some road noise out. At least I didn't notice the crunching sounds of snow underfoot as much. I plan to insulate the doors this summer.

I don't notice much difference from my 2020 RAV4 Hybrid to my wife's 2016 RAV4. I switched to a RAV4 from a truck with a 5.3 with long tube headers and a performance exhaust system, so it was kind of like going from a monster truck rally to a bowling alley- it's not quiet but at least you can hear the person next to you.

 

[Lindenwood]

I installed 75lb worth of sound deadening, including on the outside of the roof.

FWIW, I used to drive a Suzuki Samurai (a little tin can) on mud tires with the engine turning 4000rpm on the highway and can't even remember it being loud. So yeah, I think we get less tolerant of road noise as we age lol.

That said, I have literally never honked the horn in my Rav .

 

[jrav11]

Loud to one person to another person maybe normal 4 cyc engine. To some noise doesn't really bother. You will get different answers depending on who you ask

 

[Dariorav4h2019]

One of the reasons why I got hybrid is that it’s more quiet.

 

[RobGray]

Anyone think the thin 0W-16 oil would cause the engine to be louder? I'm thinking that the thicker, higher-viscosity oils would give more cushion to lifters, valves, any metal-on-metal contact. Less tapping, rattle, scraping, whatever. In the past, I've noticed when my oil wears out, my engine is louder. Perhaps that was due to it thinning out. I think modern oils will have a higher thin-film strength to protect the parts, but an overall thicker oil would give a deeper cushion and therefore dampen more noise.

-R

 

[Dryl00]

Adding a thicker oil probably won't help noise but will provide better protection in hotter climates.

 

[crazyhorse]

Wow...noise level thread morphs into yet another oil thread.

 

[toyodaornot]

Hi,
My husband believes his new 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium (not Hybrid) is louder inside than the 2018 RAV. Is there a reason for that or has he become more sensitive to sound in old age (not likely)?

He is correct. 2019+ Rav4 ICE or Hybrid are obnoxiously loud. 2018 ICE Rav4 is much quieter. If you want quiet Rav4 Prime solves that issue a bit. Otherwise look elsewhere. Venza probably quieter and definitely Highlander ICE is quiet.

Also--He was trying to get my attention while I was walking down the street and honked the horn and I didn't even turn since it sounded like a little clown car. I don't think I ever heard the horn in the last car and I can't believe that that horn would get any attention in a safety situation. What's the deal?

$20 horn from Amazon will fix that

 

[Mark S]

Hi,
My husband believes his new 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium (not Hybrid) is louder inside than the 2018 RAV. Is there a reason for that or has he become more sensitive to sound in old age (not likely)?

Also--He was trying to get my attention while I was walking down the street and honked the horn and I didn't even turn since it sounded like a little clown car. I don't think I ever heard the horn in the last car and I can't believe that that horn would get any attention in a safety situation. What's the deal?

Put down the rubber floor mats including the back.

 

[Elmer255]

Just bought a ‘21 LE. My first Rav. I think the engine noise is a bit loud and brash. Chassis and wind noise is way quieter than the 2011 Crv this vehicle replaced. I’m fine with these noise levels on a base model - but I’d be a little irritated if I paid for a higher trim level - I’d expect more refinement. That being said I’m a happy camper so far

 

[Ohio Driver]

Cars are getting quieter and quieter. Now we're at the point with certain cars, where they're pumping fake/recorded engine sound through the stereo. They spend all that money to make the car quiet, then they make it louder by playing fake engine noise. Why not remove some of the sound deadening technology and presto: you've got your engine sound? (I'm making a joke, please don't comment based on you thinking it was a serious comment)

So yeah, my 2019 Rav4's engine is a little louder when you gun it. I bet if you went back a few decades, they'd LOVE to have a car so quiet. And to a certain degree, I WANT to hear the engine...especially when it's in higher revs.

I don't think wind or road noise is any louder.

 

[Dariorav4h2019]

The difference is in quality of the sound that engine makes .
roaring of a lion versus growling of a warthog.

hybrid car is like a mouse running

 

[toyodaornot]

In case of Rav4 sound quality of the engine is horrendous and lack of good noise isolation just makes it worse. At least in previous gen you don't hear it as much. Besides engine noise however new rav4 is noisy on the freeway.