2022 Audi A4 vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was arguably the most attractive Corolla in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a subtle body kit, twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels, making it genuinely appealing, especially in Celestite Gray metallic paint. However, the design had its quirks, such as the hood shut line that visually truncated the front end and the over-styled rear bumper. The Apex Edition amplified these stranger aspects. The Corolla L, LE, and XLE trims offered a more anonymous look, while the Corolla Hybrid provided an affordable path to 50+ mpg.

The 2022 Audi A4, available in sedan, Allroad, and S4 performance-tuned models, was simple, clean, and conservative in appearance. Our test car, a Prestige 45 TFSI, featured Tango Red paint, the Black Optic Plus package, 19-inch wheels, and an S-line Interior package, making it look sensationally good. Inside, the A4 maintained aesthetic restraint with high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit, and ambient interior lighting. The only downside was the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system, which seemed like an afterthought.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. This engine paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. The CVT, one of the best examples of its kind, used a mechanical first gear to eliminate drivetrain slip. The Corolla's TNGA platform provided a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics. The SE and XSE trims featured 18-inch aluminum wheels and 225/40 all-season tires. Despite its modest power, the Corolla XSE offered predictable handling and was engaging enough for spirited driving. The EPA rated it at 34 mpg in combined driving, and our test averaged 31.1 mpg.

The 2022 Audi A4 40 TFSI had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed S-tronic DCT and Quattro Ultra AWD. It achieved 29 mpg in combined driving and accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Our A4 45 TFSI test car had 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, a lowered sport suspension, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds, with an EPA rating of 27 mpg. The A4's Quattro Ultra AWD system provided excellent grip, and the S-tronic DCT offered smooth shifts. The A4's brakes and tires performed admirably in high temperatures, and the car remained quiet and composed at all times.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE featured SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and an eight-way power driver’s seat adjustment. This provided added comfort and a commanding driving position. The rear seats offered good support but had tight headroom and legroom, with no air conditioning vents. The Corolla sedan's trunk had 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 17.8 cubic feet.

The 2022 Audi A4, though harder to enter and exit due to its low stance, provided exceptional front-seat comfort with soft leather, power adjustment, and a thigh-support cushion. The A4 had a three-zone automatic climate control system and intuitive switchgear. The rear seats were supportive but cramped, with limited legroom and hard plastic seatbacks. Interior storage was limited, with the center console bin housing the wireless charging pad. The A4's 13 cubic-foot trunk was well-finished and had enclosed hinges and storage nets.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SE and XSE trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Service Connect, and Remote Connect. The XSE also offered a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, dynamic voice recognition, and dynamic navigation. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical knobs and shortcut buttons. However, the radio knobs could be hard to grasp, and the JBL sound system lacked clarity.

The 2022 Audi A4 featured the next-generation MIB3 version of Audi MMI with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The system supported swipe, scroll, pinch, and spread functions, and offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Audi Connect services. The test car had a navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The MMI was intuitive, with a Home button for easy navigation. The voice recognition was accurate but slow. The Bang & Olufsen stereo was satisfying, but the head-up display was hard to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Corolla also added rear side-impact airbags and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance had minor issues, but overall, the safety tech performed well. The 2020 Corolla earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Audi A4 Prestige 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 Matrix-design LED headlights provided excellent visibility. The driver assistance tech was effective, 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 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.