Downsized from 19" to 17" and somehow... ride quality is worse?

Up until about 90kmh in EV mode on a freshly laid road - quiet. Older roads - loud. Even in a prime SE, which doesn't have front laminated glass. I definitely think its the wheel arches. I believe its the same in other priuses too historically, and most hatchbacks as well. When you don't have a full on closed off trunk, road noise in the back will be higher than if you have a closed off trunk.

For priuses in general, I've seen numerous examples of people sound proofing/deadening the wheel arches making a massive difference for road noise in the past. So the gen 5 is likely no exception. I wouldn't mind figuring out a good way to sound deaden the arches in the future, but in a way that doesn't hold moisture thanks to the whole salted roads thing. I've seen so many videos about using specially made foam/sound insulation rather than sound deadening stick on mats for the arches, but if they ever hold salty water from the winter, that's a recipe for disaster. I kinda just live with it. Better than the NVH of my much older 2003 lol You notice it so much even coming from the modern prius on the highway lol