The unsteady wind conditions encountered by a vehicle whilst driving on the road are different from those typically experienced in the steady-flow wind tunnel development environment. This paper presents an experimental comparison using two large SUV-shaped vehicles to assess the effect of unsteady wind on modulated noise performance across different vehicle architectures. Both vehicles were also examined with a series of non-production geometric modifications to assess their contribution to modulated noise. The vehicle responses to unsteady wind conditions were assessed using a dynamic upstream unsteady flow generated by active side wind generator of the FKFS wind tunnel. The pressure distribution on the front side glass of both vehicles in the straight-ahead position was also examined to identify the differences in aerodynamic interactions with turbulent inflow between the two vehicle models. The results highlight the geometry-dependent factors that influence both sound levels and modulation characteristics perceived in the cabin under unsteady inflow condition. The tested vehicle with steeper A-pillar and larger mirror, exhibited stronger self-induced vortices and broadband modulation. Conversely, the tested vehicle with a shallower A-pillar and smaller mirror, demonstrated greater sensitivity to upstream turbulence with narrower and low-frequency modulation.