2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Audi A4

The 2021 Subaru Impreza adopted a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had featured bold styling elements like large round headlights and box fender flares. The current generation, while not immediately recognizable as a Subaru, still maintained a handsome appearance. Both the sedan and hatchback versions sported sleek headlights and taillights, a nicely-tapered front end, and some scalloping on the body sides for visual flair. The Impreza Sport models stood out with specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while base models came with 16-inch steel wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Impreza shared its underpinnings with other Subaru models, contributing to its overall refinement. Inside, the Impreza's design was typical for a compact car, with a split dashboard housing the infotainment touchscreen and various forms of plastic throughout. The Sport trim added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim featured standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance model. Our evaluation focused on the A4 sedan, specifically the Prestige 45 TFSI model, which featured Tango Red paint, the Black Optic Plus package, 19-inch wheels, and ventilated front seats. Priced at $55,890, the A4 boasted a simple, clean, and conservative design that served as an excellent canvas for its striking color and detailing. Inside, the A4 maintained a similar aesthetic restraint, with high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel, and ambient interior lighting. The test car's black interior was complemented by aluminum trim, gloss black décor, and metallic accents, avoiding a cave-like feel. The only design element that seemed out of place was the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system, which appeared more like an afterthought than an integrated part of the design.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine's unique design allowed it to be mounted lower in the chassis, contributing to a lower center of gravity. Most Impreza models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual transmission was available on the base sedan and hatchback, as well as the Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also featured model-specific suspension tuning and a torque vectoring system for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. While the Impreza provided a solid and refined ride, it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport trim's suspension tuning offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the noncommunicative steering and the engine's relative lack of power kept it from being a true driver's car.

The 2022 Audi A4 40 TFSI featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and standard Quattro Ultra AWD. This powertrain achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 29 mpg in combined driving and accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The A4 45 TFSI, our test car, offered 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with a lowered sport suspension. It accelerated to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and had an EPA rating of 27 mpg in combined driving. Both engines required premium gas and offered multiple driving modes. The A4 45 TFSI delivered a refined and engaging driving experience, with outstanding tire grip, effective brakes, and a rock-solid structure. The car remained remarkably quiet and comfortable, even over speed bumps and in triple-digit temperatures.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan's trunk space was limited to 12.3 cubic feet, but the standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat helped accommodate longer items. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 55.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Impreza Premium and higher trims included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim featured a six-way power driver's seat and automatic climate control. A power moonroof was available as an option on most trims.

The 2022 Audi A4, sitting low to the ground, was harder to enter and exit, with small door openings and a snug cabin. However, once inside, the A4 offered exceptional comfort in the front seats, which featured soft leather, power adjustment, and a thigh-support cushion. The three-zone automatic climate control system was easy to use, and the overall layout and switchgear were intuitive. The back seat, while supportive and heated, was less spacious and better suited for shorter trips. Interior storage space was limited, with the center console bin housing the wireless charging pad and Audi Phone Box signal booster. The A4's 13 cubic-foot trunk was well-finished, with enclosed hinges and storage nets, providing ample space for luggage.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza's base and Premium trims featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth, while higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen. The top Limited trim offered an option package with TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant given the small LCD display in the gauge cluster. Overall, the Impreza's infotainment system was easy to use, with large touchscreen icons and minimal menu digging required for important functions.

The 2022 Audi A4 featured the next-generation MIB3 version of Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI) with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. The screen supported common smartphone functions and provided acoustic feedback for menu selections. The A4 included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Audi Connect services, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The MMI was intuitive and easy to use, with a Home button for quick access to the main menu. The voice recognition technology was accurate but slow to respond. The climate controls were separate from the touchscreen, and the lack of traditional knobs and buttons was not an issue due to the intuitive user experience and useful voice controls.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, with the highest "Good" score in all crash tests. However, it missed out on a "Top Safety Pick+" award due to its standard headlights receiving a "Marginal" rating. The Limited trim's headlights received a "Good" score. The NHTSA gave the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating. The Impreza's EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, including features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights were available as options.

The 2022 Audi A4's safety features were tiered based on trim level. The top-of-the-line Prestige model included front and rear collision preparation, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a safe exit warning system, a surround-view camera system, and Park Assist. The A4 also featured Matrix-design LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation. The driver assistance tech was effective and non-intrusive, though the adaptive cruise control had a delayed reaction in some situations. The A4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.