The designer of much of Hyundai’s current lineup is Luc Donckerwolke, who is famous for his Lamborghini (Diablo, Gallardo and Murcielago) and Audi designs. You may not like them but they’re not “design by committee” derivatives.
Almost no manufactures are heavily developing their ICE engines anymore, nor do all even produce their own engines (Hyundai/Kia do).
Much of the “airflow” “issues” you’re talking about are simply price point. The two most impactful areas for sound insulation on cars are undercarriage and wheel wells and door/window frames and seals. For the former, nothing about it is high-tech. Even luxury makes use sound-absorbing materials including plastic deflectors, fabrics, and lightweight low-density filler materials behind panels such as polystyrene. How much sound proofing you get is a reflection of Hyundai’s entry level lineup. You’re not going to get Mercedes-level sound insulation at half the price just because the design looks high-end. It’s not until you’re near the top of luxury car lineups or Rolls/Bentley territory that this area becomes innovative.
P.S. Hyundai/Kia also hold patents for 2-stroke supercharged engine designs as well as variable compression designs.