2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2022 Audi A4

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance-tuned model. The A4 sedan, available in 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI model series and Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels, started at under $40,000 and could exceed $50,000. The test car, a Prestige 45 TFSI, featured 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. The A4's simple, clean, and conservative appearance was enhanced by the Tango Red paint and Black Optic package detailing, making it look sensationally good. Inside, the A4 maintained aesthetic restraint with high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel, and ambient interior lighting, though the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system seemed out of place.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, in range-topping Touring trim, was tested in New York's scenic Hudson Valley. The new Accord, with a sleek exterior and redesigned front grille, resembled a luxury sedan. It stretched roughly three inches longer than before, with a more upright front grille, blacked-out LED headlights, and LED taillights. The Accord Touring, starting at approximately $38,435, featured seven exterior colors and 19-inch alloy wheels. The interior was updated with a new dashboard design and a standard digital instrument display. The test car, with Canyon River Blue Metallic paint and a black leather interior, offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Amazon Alexa, wireless device charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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 and Quattro Ultra all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, achieving an EPA fuel economy rating of 29 mpg in combined driving. Audi claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. The A4 45 TFSI test car, with 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, had a lowered sport suspension and a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds, with an EPA rating of 27 mpg in combined driving. The A4 45 TFSI averaged 24.8 mpg during testing. The A4's driving experience was joyful, with refined engine performance, outstanding tire grip, and a rock-solid structure and suspension. The car was remarkably quiet, with dual-pane acoustic front window glass and a low coefficient of drag.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, produced 204 horsepower sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Accord Hybrid's powertrain switched seamlessly between electric and gas power, providing smooth and efficient performance. The suspension absorbed bumps well, offering a balanced ride. The regenerative braking system, with six levels of regen, was easy to fine-tune. The Accord's agile handling made it relaxing to drive in various environments, and its increased length did not hinder parking ease.

The 2022 Audi A4's low ground clearance made entry and exit challenging, and the small door openings and snug cabin didn't help. However, 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, separate from the infotainment screen, and intuitive switchgear. The back seat, though supportive and heated, was cramped for adults, with limited space for stretching out. 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 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's cabin adopted the layout used in Honda’s Civic and CR-V models, featuring a strip of honeycomb mesh trim hiding the dash-mounted air vents. The infotainment screen was atop the dashboard, with buttons and dials for cabin temperature control within easy reach. The Accord Hybrid Touring had a traditional gearshift and a dedicated volume control knob. The front seats provided excellent support and comfort, while the rear seats offered generous legroom and shoulder room, though headroom was limited by the sleek roofline. The trunk space was generous at 16.7 cubic feet, with a low load floor for easy access.

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 fingertip smartphone functions and offered acoustic feedback. 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 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 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless device charging pad, “Hey Google” virtual assistant, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. The Touring trim included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports. The infotainment system was intuitive, with easy-to-navigate graphics. The physical volume knob and climate control buttons were appreciated, and the advanced tech features justified the range-topping trim.

The 2022 Audi A4's safety features were stair-stepped based on trim level. 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 A4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a rear-seat reminder as part of the Honda Sensing bundle. The Touring trim added a multi-angle rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a head-up display. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with a "Good" rating in every crash test.