Existing standard tests of motor vehicle noise, such as passby tests, are based on sound pressure measurements with single fixed‐location microphones. Recent developments in two‐microphone acoustic‐intensity techniques, and in instrumentation, permit the practical measurement of the sound power of vehicles and of components, such as engines. This can be performed in a normal test environment; a special acoustical facility such as an anechoic chamber or a reverberation room is not required. Sound power, which is a single‐number measure of the total output of a noise source, appears better suited to determining the overall effect of a vehicle on community noise. Also sound power is usually measured indoors, thereby avoiding scheduling delays due to bad weather and the inherent variability in the data associated with outdoor testing. Good repeatability (i.e., a standard deviation less than 5% or 0.2 dB) has been demonstrated in the measurement of the sound power of a medium‐duty truck, using acoustic intensity methods in an indoor test. Similar repeatability has been demonstrated in the measurement of the sound power of an engine for a heavy‐duty truck. These and other advantages and disadvantages of the use of acoustic intensity measurement methods for standard tests are discussed in the presentation.