2022 Audi A4 vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance model. For this review, the A4 sedan was evaluated, available in 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI model series with Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims. Prices ranged from under $40,000 to over $50,000. The test car was a Prestige 45 TFSI with Tango Red paint, the Black Optic Plus package, 19-inch wheels, and ventilated front seats, totaling $55,890 including destination charges. The A4's simple, clean, and conservative appearance was enhanced by the Tango Red paint and Black Optic 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 lighting, though the tablet-style touchscreen seemed out of place.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class looked fantastic, continuing from its 2021 complete makeover. The S-Class, rooted in the 1954 “Ponton” models, represented the seventh generation of production, code-named “W223.” The S-Class has been Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan, with the 2022 lineup including the S500 and S580 sedans. The exterior was sleek, with a long distance between the front axle and the dashboard, adding elegance. The S-Class dashboard featured a waterfall of open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen, with a separate 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The cabin was dressed in high-quality materials, meticulously fitted and assembled.

The 2022 Audi A4 40 TFSI featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro Ultra AWD, achieving 29 mpg combined. The A4 45 TFSI test car had 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, with a lowered sport suspension, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and achieving 27 mpg combined. Both engines required premium gas and offered Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual driving modes. The A4 45 TFSI averaged 24.8 mpg during testing. The Quattro Ultra AWD system powered the front wheels unless needed, providing a solid driving experience with outstanding tire grip and quiet cabin.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S500 test vehicle had a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, adding up to 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque to the 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S580 featured a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with the same EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD. The S500 accelerated to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds. The S500 achieved 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, and the S580 achieved 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. The S-Class handled smoothly, with flat and predictable handling and powerful braking.

The 2022 Audi A4, sitting low to the ground, was harder to enter and exit, with small door openings and a snug cabin. However, the front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with soft leather, power adjustment, and a thigh-support cushion. The A4 had a three-zone automatic climate control system, separate from the infotainment screen. The back seat was comfortable for shorter trips, with limited space for stretching out. Interior storage was limited, with the center console bin housing the wireless charging pad and Audi Phone Box signal booster. The 13 cubic-foot trunk was nicely finished with enclosed hinges and storage nets.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had to be roomy and comfortable, with ample storage and cargo space. The cabin featured powered sun blinds, a Panorama Sunroof, and a 13.8-cubic-foot trunk. The cabin had six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row. The driver and front passenger had raid-heating and ventilating active multicontour seats with massage and memory functions. The Luxury Line added a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, and the “Energizing Comfort” system. The Executive Line upgraded the rear seats and included the MBUX high-end rear-seat entertainment system. The doors opened wide, but all doors were soft-close.

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 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. The voice recognition technology 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, though it was hard to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen interface with the latest MBUX infotainment system. The OLED screen provided rich black levels and crystal-clear definition with lower energy consumption. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel had customizable visual themes. The optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest. The standard augmented video for navigation superimposed arrows or house numbers over the video of the surroundings. The available augmented reality head-up display provided supplemental instructions in the driver’s view. The audio experience included a standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system, with an available Burmester 4D Surround system. The powertrain and chassis featured EQ Boost and an available rear-axle steering system.

The 2022 Audi A4 stair-stepped the availability of safety features. The 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 Matrix-design LED headlights had automatic high-beam operation. The A4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety and advanced driver assistance systems. Significant features included Magic Vision Control, active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, Pre-Safe Plus with Pre-Safe Sound, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side. The S-Class also had car-to-x communication. The executive-level safety features included rear-passenger airbags, rear-seat belt bag, and easy adjust headrests with occupant restraint protection.