Comment by wkjagt
3 hours ago
I did lots of highway driving in my 2010 Yaris (weighs about a tonne) this weekend and I was perfectly comfortable. Though I guess the more used you get to larger, heavier cars the more you would find such a small car uncomfortable.
The noise floor of economy cars is something you could possibly not notice until you actually experience a long highway trip in a luxury brand. That lower amount of road noise is a subtle but noticeable impact on fatigue.
Like a nice pair of expensive headphones, you don’t understannd difference until you experience it. Like a nice pair of headphones, it’s not a necessity, either.
That said, I don’t think that has a whole lot to do with weight. NVH reduction techniques like insulating material and structural adhesives are not a major weight consideration, it’s more of a cost issue.
You can't meaningfully compare cars that are in entirely different price brackets. Of course a $150K top of the line luxury vehicle is going to drive nicer than a $15K economy one. But one person is highly unlikely to be shopping between the two and wondering which one to choose.
Expensive headphones and expensive cars are in that sense completely different things.