2022 Audi A4 vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance model. For this review, the A4 was evaluated in its 45 TFSI Prestige trim, featuring Tango Red paint, the Black Optic Plus package, 19-inch wheels, and ventilated front seats. The MSRP for this model was $55,890, including the destination charge. The A4's simple, clean, and conservative design was enhanced by the Tango Red paint and Black Optic detailing, making it look sensationally good. Inside, the A4 maintained aesthetic restraint with high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit, and ambient lighting, though the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system seemed out of place.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture a significant market share as other automakers phased out hatchbacks. The redesigned Civic hatchback was produced in Indiana and was expected to serve as the foundation for the revived 2023 Acura Integra. Honda offered the Civic hatch in LX, Sport, EX-L, and Sport Touring trims, with prices ranging from $22,900 to $29,400 plus a $1,015 destination charge. The test cars were Sport Touring trims, one with a CVT and the other with a six-speed manual transmission. The new hatchback shared design elements with the Civic sedan but had unique features from the front doors to the rear. Inside, the Civic hatch featured sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, with handsome metal honeycomb dashboard detailing and high-quality controls.

The 2022 Audi A4 40 TFSI featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro Ultra AWD. It achieved an EPA rating of 29 mpg combined and accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The A4 45 TFSI, tested for this review, offered 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with a lowered sport suspension. It reached 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and had an EPA rating of 27 mpg combined. The A4 45 TFSI averaged 24.8 mpg during testing. The A4's driving experience was joyful, with refined engine performance, excellent tire grip, and a rock-solid structure. The car was remarkably quiet, and the driving modes offered versatility.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback's LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The LX came with a CVT, while the Sport offered a choice between a CVT and a six-speed manual transmission. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims had a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The EX-L came with a CVT, while the Sport Touring offered both transmission types. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with no AWD option. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, and the manual transmission was praised for its short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic hatchback offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with good steering and brakes, though it was not as sporty as the upcoming Civic Si or Type R models. The Sport Touring trim achieved 32.1 mpg with the CVT and 30.2 mpg with the manual transmission.

The 2022 Audi A4's low seating position made entry and exit challenging, but the front seats were exceptionally comfortable with soft leather, power adjustment, and a thigh-support cushion. The A4 featured a three-zone automatic climate control system and intuitive switchgear. The rear seats were less spacious, with limited legroom and hard plastic panels on the front seatbacks. Interior storage was limited, with a small center console bin and generous glove compartment and door panel bins. The A4's 13 cubic-foot trunk was well-finished, with storage nets and grab handles for easy closure.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, with a 24.5 cubic-foot trunk and an innovative two-piece cargo shade. The back seat was a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents. The driver’s seat offered eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats were heated. The Civic hatchback featured black fabric seats in LX and Sport trims, with black leather upholstery in EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Automatic climate control was standard, with a dual-zone system in EX-L and Sport Touring versions.

The 2022 Audi A4 featured the MIB3 version of Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI) with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. The system supported common smartphone functions and offered acoustic feedback. Features 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, with a Home button for easy navigation and separate climate controls. The voice recognition system was accurate but slow. The Bang & Olufsen stereo was satisfying, though sound quality degraded at high volumes. The test car also had a head-up display, which was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback's infotainment system varied by trim. LX, Sport, and EX-L trims had a 7-inch touchscreen display with physical knobs and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim featured a 9-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs addressed previous criticisms, and a small shelf at the bottom of the display provided stability for touchscreen operation. The voice recognition system worked well, and the digital instrumentation varied by trim, with a 7-inch screen and analog speedometer in lower trims and a 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring.

The 2022 Audi A4's safety features varied by trim, with the Prestige model offering the most comprehensive package. Audi Pre Sense included front and rear collision preparation, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The test vehicle also had 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 A4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. New features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available only in EX-L and Sport Touring trims. All Civics had a rear-seat reminder system, rear seatbelt reminder, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Civic hatchback earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The Honda Sensing system worked well but was sometimes overly cautious.