2022 Audi A4 vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance-tuned model. For this review, the A4 sedan was evaluated, available in 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI model series and Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. Prices started at under $40,000 and rose to more than $50,000. The test car was a Prestige 45 TFSI with Tango Red paint, the Black Optic Plus package, 19-inch wheels, the S-line Interior package, and ventilated front seats, with an MSRP of $55,890, including the $1,095 destination charge.

The A4's exterior was simple, clean, and conservative, making it a perfect canvas for the Tango Red paint and Black Optic package detailing. Inside, the A4 showed similar aesthetic restraint with high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel, and ambient interior lighting. The only downside was the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system, which looked out of place.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over into 2022 largely unchanged. Its exterior resembled a downsized Altima, with a low-slung, coupe-like, and modern design. The test model came in a sedate gray paint scheme, but the Sentra was also offered in bold colors like blue, burnt orange, and “Scarlet Ember.” The interior shone with a modern-yet-simple layout, easy-to-use controls, and a touchscreen that rose from the dash as the visual centerpiece.

Trims for the Sentra included S, SV, and SR. The base S trim featured 16-inch steel wheels, active grille shutters, halogen headlights, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV trim added 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, and a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The SR trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and sport cloth seats with orange accent stitching. The Midnight Edition package for the SR featured dark accents inside and out, including black 18-inch alloy wheels and a black rear spoiler.

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 all-wheel-drive (AWD). It earned an EPA fuel economy rating of 29 mpg in combined driving and accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The A4 45 TFSI test car brought 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 in combined driving.

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 power transfer to the rear wheels was needed. The A4's engine was refined, delivering a solid punch of torque, and the S-tronic DCT behaved beautifully. Tire grip was outstanding, and the brakes performed flawlessly. The A4's structure and suspension conveyed a rock-solid sensation, and the cabin was remarkably quiet.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The engine wasn't outstanding, but the transmission managed power well. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension did a decent job of soaking up most bumps, making the Sentra great for commuting, driving around town, and the occasional road trip.

The 2022 Audi A4 sat low to the ground, making it harder to enter and exit. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with soft leather, power adjustment, and a thigh-support cushion. The A4 included a three-zone automatic climate control system, separate from the infotainment screen. The back seat was comfortable enough for adults, though space was limited. 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 nicely finished with enclosed hinges and storage nets.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, better than many other small sedans. The trunk space could be expanded with a standard 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench might make it difficult to slide larger items through. The Sentra had two rows of spacious seating, with plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seats and solid legroom and decent headroom in the rear seats. The front row had large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, and the center console had plenty of cupholders and trays.

The 2022 Audi A4 featured a next-generation MIB3 version of Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI) with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. The screen supported common fingertip smartphone functions and offered acoustic feedback. Features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Audi Connect connected services, a navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. The MMI was simple to configure, and the voice recognition technology was accurate but slow to respond. The Bang & Olufsen stereo was satisfying, but sound quality could suffer at high volumes.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims featured a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The menu navigation was easy to follow, with conventional hard buttons along the bottom of the screen and volume and tuning dials. The graphics could use updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback.

The 2022 Audi A4 stair-stepped the availability of its safety features. 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 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came equipped with standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. The test model included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with a "Superior" rating for driver-assistance features and a "Top Safety Pick" award.