Even modern combustion engines are still pretty noisy at low speeds compared to EVs. Especially when starting up or when revving to pull away at an intersection

Even modern combustion engines are still pretty noisy at low speeds compared to EVs. Especially when starting up or when revving to pull away at an intersection. At < 12 mph they’re not displacing enough air to make a “whoosh”! Diesel engines, endemic in Europe even in small cars, are particularly noisy.