I can only speak about the Golf, haven't been in a new Jetta yet. But in my Golf, the engine noise is pretty much a non-issue. Not noisy inside at all. On the Golf, the biggest noise issue is road or tire noise. The stock Contis are fine on nice, new pavement - very quiet in fact. But on worn, cobbled pavement they roar petty badly. For my uses, that's my only complaint with the Contis. They are LRR (for a wide tire, anyway), handle, ride and drive fine. But too noisy on less than perfect pavement. No way I'd buy another set when these are done.