12 Car Engines That Just Don’t Sound Right

Some engines purr, some growl, and some… well, they leave you wondering if something’s about to explode.

Whether it’s a high-pitched whine that makes your teeth itch or a clunky rattle that sounds like a toolbox in a washing machine, not every engine hits the right note.

Even with all the performance in the world, a weird soundtrack can ruin the vibe. These engines didn’t just miss the mark. They turned heads for all the wrong reasons.

1. Subaru Tribeca 3.6L Flat-6

Remember when Subaru tried to make a luxury SUV? The Tribeca’s flat-six engine sounds like a confused airplane that forgot how to take off.

Instead of the typical rumble you’d expect from six cylinders, this motor produces an odd whirring noise that makes passengers wonder if they’re riding in a really expensive blender.

Mechanics often describe it as sounding “agricultural” – and not in a good, tractorly way.

2. Toyota Prius 1.8L Hybrid

Silence can be golden, but the Prius takes it to an uncomfortable extreme. When the gas engine kicks in, it sounds like a distant leaf blower operated by someone who’s never used one before.

The constant switching between electric and gas power creates an unpredictable symphony of starts and stops.

You’ll find yourself checking if the car is actually running or if you’ve accidentally turned it off at red lights.

3. Smart Fortwo 1.0L I3

Three cylinders trying to do the work of four creates automotive comedy gold. The Smart’s tiny engine sounds like an angry sewing machine that’s been fed too much coffee.

Every acceleration feels like the little engine is screaming “I think I can, I think I can” while desperately trying to convince itself it belongs in traffic.

The high-pitched whine becomes oddly endearing after a while, like adopting a very vocal hamster.

4. Chevrolet Cruze Diesel 2.0L

Diesel engines in big trucks sound tough and commanding. Diesel engines in compact cars sound like they’re constantly clearing their throat.

The Cruze diesel produces a distinctive clacking noise that makes it sound perpetually sick.

It’s the automotive equivalent of that friend who always sounds like they’re getting over a cold, even when they’re perfectly healthy and just trying to order coffee.

5. Nissan Juke 1.6L Turbo

Turbo lag meets identity crisis in the Juke’s peculiar powerplant. At idle, it sounds like a normal four-cylinder having an existential breakdown.

When the turbo spools up, there’s a brief moment where the engine sounds confused about whether it wants to be a sports car or a coffee grinder.

The result is an oddly hollow whooshing noise that doesn’t match the Juke’s quirky, confident appearance.

6. Mitsubishi Mirage 1.2L I3

Budget engineering meets basic transportation in the Mirage’s tiny three-cylinder heart. This engine sounds like it’s powered by optimism and good intentions rather than actual gasoline.

Every hill becomes a mountain for this little motor, which responds with increasingly desperate high-pitched wailing.

It’s the sound of an engine that knows it’s outmatched but refuses to give up, like a chihuahua challenging a Great Dane.

7. Jeep Compass 2.4L Tigershark

Despite its fierce name, the Tigershark engine sounds more like a house cat with allergies. Jeep tried to make this motor sound rugged and capable, but it ended up sounding perpetually congested.

The engine note lacks the confident growl you’d expect from something wearing a Jeep badge.

Instead, it produces a wheezy, strained sound that makes you want to offer it a throat lozenge and some warm tea.

8. Honda CR-Z 1.5L Hybrid

Honda’s attempt at a sporty hybrid created an engine that can’t decide if it wants to save the planet or burn rubber. The CR-Z sounds like a regular four-cylinder that’s been put on anxiety medication.

When you press the gas pedal expecting sports car noises, you get the automotive equivalent of elevator music.

The hybrid system’s interference creates a muffled, disconnected sound that makes spirited driving feel like piloting a very quiet spaceship.

9. Ford EcoSport 1.0L EcoBoost

Ford’s tiny turbocharged triple sounds like it’s constantly surprised to be powering an entire SUV. The three-cylinder configuration creates an uneven rhythm that sounds like someone learning to play drums.

When the turbo kicks in, there’s a brief whistle followed by what can only be described as mechanical confusion.

It’s the sound of an engine that’s trying really hard to be bigger than it actually is, like a teenager using a fake ID.

10. Hyundai Veloster Base 2.0L

Sporty looks deserve sporty sounds, but the base Veloster’s engine missed that memo entirely.

This naturally aspirated four-cylinder sounds like it’s perpetually out of breath after climbing a flight of stairs. The engine note is so bland and uninspiring that it makes grocery shopping sound exciting by comparison.

For a car with such distinctive styling, the powerplant delivers all the acoustic excitement of a refrigerator running in the next room.

11. Fiat 500L 1.4L MultiAir

Italian engineering usually produces beautiful engine music, but the 500L’s MultiAir system sounds like someone playing a kazoo through a megaphone.

The variable valve timing creates odd harmonic frequencies that don’t quite mesh.

Instead of the expected Italian opera, you get something closer to a mechanical mariachi band that’s slightly out of tune.

The turbo four tries to sound sophisticated but ends up producing automotive smooth jazz when you wanted rock and roll.

12. Toyota C-HR 2.0L I4 CVT

Picture a rubber band being stretched to its absolute breaking point, then add some mechanical wheezing for good measure. That’s exactly what greets you every time you press the gas pedal in a Toyota C-HR.

The CVT transmission teams up with the naturally aspirated four-cylinder to create this uniquely annoying soundtrack.

Instead of traditional gear shifts, you get this continuous drone that sounds like the engine is perpetually confused about what it’s supposed to be doing.