I'm trying to find a way to describe what I hear... To compare to another vehicle, I had a 99 Firebird (V6) that had a fairly deep burble when first started or revved. The VX is not as loud or deep but still has a nice, throaty, sports car tone. The VX engine is louder than any other vehicle I've owned. I haven't often been outside VX when someone else has driven it, but I never though it sounded unusually loud.