So I just got done test driving a MX at the Dallas Service Center, part of the traveling road show.
After oogling over all the features, and realizing that I probably can live without the folding 2nd row seats in a 6-seat option, I was ready for a ride.
What a huge disappointment in the amount of road and wind noise heard in the driver seat, and not just heard, but "felt". I was not as though there was a specific area of a leak, just generalized noise.
The wife in the backseat said there was much noise coming from her window (which won;t affect me) plus the noise from the floor.
Under 55 MPH on surface roads and highway it was like there was a microphone under the car and speakers in the door, almost every crack in the road was heard.
Over 72 MPH,the wind noise from the Pano-windshield was like being in a wind tunnel, I actually had to raise my voice to carry on a normal conversation.
On a sound meter, the decibels measured 67-73 on the exact same highway stretch at the same speed that was 62-65 in my Cayenne. At lower speeds, a 5-7 dBs increase of the MX over the Cayenne.
The demo MX was, according to the "co-pilot" was a Founder's Model (so very early production) and it did have 22" wheels, so that will be a contributing factor.
I admit I am absolutely spoiled by years of Lexus and Porsche SUVs and I do tend to focus on the cabin noise, but this particular noise experience is worse than current the Ford Explorers, Audi Q7 and even my duaghter's 2012 Kia Sorrento.
Neither the 'co-pilot" or the lead service person offered any suggestions other than to say the newer models may be quieter, and the 20" wheels will definitely be quieter, which I agree.
I presume that with all the other tech and features, plus the lack of a noisy engine, special care was not taken to add soundproofing measures on this over $110K vehicle.
I actually looked to see if the old Ziebart treatment was available, but no way I would do that to a MX.
The only thing that may improve on this is a noise-canceling addition to the sound system.
Would that be possible with the current microphone, speaker system and sound system with a software update, or will that require an additional hardware sound processor?
Anybody else have some experience, input, or suggestions? This is really a major bummer for me and could be a deal breaker.
