2022 Audi A4 vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance model. For this review, the focus was on the A4 sedan, available in 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI model series, and Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. Prices ranged from under $40,000 to over $50,000. The test car was a top-tier 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 design was enhanced by the Tango Red paint and Black Optic package, making it look sensationally good.

Inside, the A4 maintained a similar aesthetic restraint. The test car featured a predominantly black interior with aluminum trim, gloss black décor, and metallic accents, avoiding a cave-like feel. The air vents were seamlessly integrated into the dashboard, and controls were clearly labeled. High-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel, and ambient interior lighting were highlights. However, the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system seemed like an afterthought rather than an integrated part of the design.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, a long-time best-seller for the automaker, received a mild makeover for 2022. This included an engine update, exterior styling tweaks, improved infotainment, more features, and a new Sport trim. The Jetta lineup was simplified to four trims: S, Sport, SE, and SEL, with the SEL Premium dropped. The Jetta's design changes were subtle, requiring a keen eye to notice. The front fascia, bumper, and grille were redone with more chrome, and LED lighting became standard. The rear bumper was less squatty and more square, with a full-length chrome feature.

The Jetta's interior updates were equally subtle but appealing. Standard cloth seats featured a new rhombus pattern, and all interiors had contrast stitching for a premium look. Leather-wrapped steering wheels were standard on all trims except the entry-level Jetta S. An 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster was standard across the lineup, with the Jetta SEL receiving a 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system. The Jetta's cabin was comfortable for cruising, though not the quietest in its segment.

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 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. It achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 29 mpg combined and accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The A4 45 TFSI test car had a more powerful 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, with a lowered sport suspension. It accelerated to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and had an EPA rating of 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 A4's Quattro Ultra AWD system powered the front wheels unless conditions warranted power transfer to the rear. During spirited driving, the rear-end felt engaged, though not as visceral as the traditional Quattro system. The A4's engine was refined, delivering a solid punch of torque. Steering wheel paddle shifters enhanced engagement, and the S-tronic DCT performed beautifully. Tire grip was outstanding, and the brakes remained effective even in high temperatures. The A4's structure and suspension conveyed a rock-solid sensation over speed bumps, and the cabin was remarkably quiet.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options included a standard six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with the stick-shift model rated at 29 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. Automatic transmission models had slightly different ratings, with S and Sport models achieving 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined, while SE and SEL models were rated at 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined.

During an 800-mile road trip, the Jetta averaged 46.9 highway mpg, requiring only two fill-ups for the roughly 1,000-mile journey. The Jetta's cabin was comfortable for long drives, though not the quietest. The seats were supportive, and visibility was good despite the vehicle feeling small among larger traffic. The Jetta's powertrain had some drawbacks, with a touchy throttle and turbo lag. The drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom) offered varying levels of responsiveness, but overall dynamics were tepid. The eight-speed automatic performed well on the highway, but city driving could be jumpy.

The 2022 Audi A4's low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the small door openings and snug cabin didn't help. However, once inside, the A4 was exceptionally comfortable in the front and adequately comfortable in the back. The driver's seat offered power adjustment, a thigh-support cushion, and a perfect driving position. The center armrest was adjustable for height and position. The A4 featured a three-zone automatic climate control system, separate from the infotainment screen, and intuitive controls.

The rear seat was suitable for adults, though space was limited. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat restricted real-world capacity to two people, and the hard plastic and storage netting on the front seatbacks were unfriendly to knees and shins. 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, and grab handles on both sides of the lid for easy closure.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, despite its compact size, offered ample passenger space for four adults and could accommodate five if needed. The seats were comfortable, though the front seat's bottom cushion inclined slightly, which might not be appreciated by those with shorter legs. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for climate control, audio, and heated and ventilated seats easily accessible. Driving-related controls were logically placed next to the shifter.

The Jetta provided usable storage space, including door pockets, a center console bin, a slot next to the cupholders, and a sunglass holder. The center storage bin, though not large, was still functional. However, the compartment cover lacked a latch, which was unusual but not problematic. The Jetta's interior was practical and well-designed for everyday use.

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 like swipe, scroll, pinch, and spread, with acoustic feedback for selections. Features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Audi Connect connected services, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system.

The MMI was easy to configure and use, with an intuitive user experience. The climate controls were separate from the touchscreen, and Audi provided a knob on the center console and buttons on the steering wheel for stereo adjustments. The voice recognition technology was accurate but slow to respond. The Bang & Olufsen stereo was satisfying, though sound quality degraded at high volumes. The head-up display was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received technology upgrades, including the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster. S, Sport, and SE models had an 8-inch display, while the Jetta SEL had a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The Jetta SEL also featured an 8-inch MIB3 infotainment system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless device charging, multi-phone pairing, and enhanced voice recognition. Standard infotainment included a 6.5-inch MIB2 system with capacitive-touch sensor, App-Connect, Bluetooth, USB-C ports, and an SD card multimedia interface.

The Jetta's voice activation and navigation commands were not intuitive, often misunderstanding prompts. The touchscreen was fast, but manual entry of addresses and points of interest was more reliable. The Jetta SEL also had premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system. The technology was functional but had room for improvement in user experience.

The 2022 Audi A4 stair-stepped its safety features 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, safe exit warning, a surround-view camera system, and Park Assist. The Matrix-design LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation were also included.

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.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta came standard with IQ.Drive, which included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning with automatic braking, and pedestrian recognition. The Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keep assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, while Emergency Assist brought the vehicle to a stop if the driver was unresponsive.

The full IQ.DRIVE safety list was standard on Jetta SE and SEL trims. The 2022 Jetta had not yet received crash safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, but the 2021 Jetta received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" grades from the IIHS, with some shortcomings in headlight tests and LATCH use.