Why Fake Engine Noise in EVs Actually Enhances the Driving Experience

EV Enthusiasts Demand More Than Just Speed

With the electric vehicle (EV) market now firmly established, automakers are shifting focus toward enthusiast-driven performance. While speed is relatively easy to achieve in an EV, engineers face a unique challenge: making fast cars feel fun to drive. Performance and efficiency often require opposing engineering approaches, particularly in aerodynamics and weight management.

Weight and Aerodynamics: The EV Performance Paradox

Performance cars rely on downforce to improve grip, but this generates drag—a major efficiency killer. Weight is another hurdle; for example, the Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack tips the scales at 5,800 pounds, nearly a ton heavier than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Despite these challenges, automakers are experimenting with creative solutions to engage drivers.

Fake Engine Noise: A Polarizing but Functional Gimmick

Artificial engine sounds and synthetic shift blips remain controversial. While some drivers dismiss them as gimmicks, others argue they provide essential feedback. The Drive’s Editor-in-Chief, Kyle Cheromcha, and race-car-driver-in-residence, Nik Romano, evaluated these features objectively to determine their real-world benefits.

How Synthesized Noise Improves Driving

Romano explains that sound acts as a critical source of information:

“Sound is feedback; sound is information.”

Romano adds:

“As humans, we’re really good at pattern recognition. So if I’m coming into a corner, and I’m hauling butt towards the corner, and I come off the gas and I do one downshift, listening to the sound of the engine is giving me a really good idea of what speed I’m entering that turn with.”

Hyundai’s Digital Approach vs. Dodge’s Physical System

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N employs a digital sound system that mimics a high-revving race engine, while Dodge’s Charger Daytona Scat Pack uses a physical resonator with speakers and motors to create a more muscular feel. Romano praised Hyundai’s system for its seamless integration with the car’s performance features, including a simulated “transmission” with selectable “gears” via steering wheel paddles.

Cheromcha shared a similar sentiment after testing the Ioniq 5 N:

“It feels like any other sports car, in its element, doing what it’s supposed to do. It feels like the 5 N is designed specifically for the driver experience.”

The Role of Feedback in Driving Rhythm

Without synthesized noise, establishing a driving rhythm becomes significantly harder. The absence of audible feedback forces drivers to rely solely on visual and tactile inputs, which can disrupt the flow of aggressive driving. Romano emphasizes that these gimmicks, while artificial, still reflect the car’s electronic and mechanical behavior, making them functional additions rather than mere novelties.