The Audi A4 sedan continues to make incremental progress in 2022 and remains one of the best small luxury cars on sale.
What’s New for the 2022 Audi A4
Across the automotive landscape today, most brands and nameplates have been molded directly into whatever is selling. Look no further than a car like the Audi RSQ8, a family hauler that’s also trying to be as luxurious as any other SUV while being as fast as any supercar. Its smaller sibling, the A4, is one of the very few that has stayed incredibly close to its roots. Now in its fifth generation, the 2022 Audi A4 isn’t flashy, but it’s still dapper. It’s also full of great technology, a very ergonomic layout, and exceptional engineering.
Audi hasn’t made many changes for the A4 in 2022. The biggest adjustment is that buyers who opt for the more powerfully tuned engine will also get a sport suspension automatically, regardless of trim level. In addition, the “Black Optics” package is available across the range to swap chrome for black exterior accents. Aside from those changes, the A4 is nearly identical to its 2021 iteration.
2022 Audi A4 – audiusa.com | Shop Audi A4 on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Quattro is standard and amazing
7-Speed Dual-Clutch is great too
Interior feels special
Fairly expensive
A manual transmission would be nice
2022 Audi A4 Specs
- 201 horsepower from base engine
- 236 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 12 cu-ft. of cargo capacity
- Standard 10.1-inch touchscreen is great
- 5-Star crash test ratings
- Warranty coverage is above average
2022 Audi A4 Powertrain
The 2022 Audi A4 has two different engine options available across the entire lineup. Regardless of trim choice, buyers can pick from what Audi dubs the 40, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 horsepower, or the 45 which is actually the same engine just tuned to produce 261 horsepower. Throughout the lineup, the price bump from 40 to 45 is less than $2,000, so we’d recommend it. Regardless of engine choice, every A4 uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that we really love. Not only is it incredibly smooth and fuel-efficient, but it’s highly engaging when driving more passionately is called for. The paddle shifters actually do what we all think they should, change gear quickly. Power is then routed to all four wheels via the latest version of the world-famous Quattro system.
In this system, the front wheels can drive the car and completely decouple the rear tires via the driveshaft when not needed. Audi says that it saves 5% more fuel on the highway. While we would prefer a system that decouples the front wheels as opposed to the back, Audi says that the car is smart enough to detect more “dynamic” drivers and then keep the rear tires powered more often. It also automatically sends power there any time the car is in sport mode or during harder cornering. It’s good enough for us to say this; if you haven’t driven a car hard with this Quattro system it will be hard to convince you of just how good it really is. Forcing it to lose grip takes some really childish driving.
2022 Audi A4 Fuel Economy & MPG
The 2022 Audi A4 gets average fuel economy regardless of trim and engine choice. The base motor gets 28 mpg combined while the more powerfully tuned version loses a single mpg and drops to 27.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Very few companies create an interior space that is as beautiful and ergonomically well done as Audi. The A4 demonstrates that perfectly with exceptional seats in both rows, but up front things are really special. The driver’s seat reminds us of the company’s history of racing with an interior that sort of wraps around its pilot. The gauge cluster is big and bright with good configurability and more information than most will take advantage of. The HVAC controls, gearshift, and infotainment system are ever so slightly angled towards the driver which makes them easier to use.
Over bumps and broken pavement, the A4 is very capable of soaking up bumps and does so even with the Sport-tuned suspension. Storage inside the cabin is a bit sparse and the trunk could be a bit larger in our minds, but the A4 has a trick up its sleeve. Instead of the standard 60/40 split rear seat that folds down for more storage, the Audi splits the seat into 40/20/40 sections to provide more flexibility, making the lack of cargo space a bit easier to deal with.
Entertainment & Technology
Technology inside the 2022 Audi A4 is just as impressive as the tech that drives the car itself. The base 10.1-inch infotainment system is great and features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation. Unlike many premium audio systems we’ve looked at recently, the optional Bang & Olufsen system in the A4 is well worth the $950 price tag in no small part due to its 19 speakers. Finally, the optional 12.3-inch gauge cluster is also a winner. Audi has baked in a technology suite that they call the “Virtual Cockpit” that fits into the full gauge cluster space and provides maximum configurability.
Safety Features
Every 2022 Audi A4 gets lane departure warning and automated emergency forward braking, but to go beyond that buyers will have to select higher trims or optional packages. Still, the A4 is a Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS and achieved a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA.
2022 Audi A4 Trims & Pricing
Premium – $40,145
The Premium trim level of the A4 is a pretty sincere and accurate name. It comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s fast, featureful, and easy to use. It also has tri-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, LED headlights and taillights, and a sunroof.
Premium Plus – $44,845
At the Premium Plus level, buyers get 18-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, wireless device charging, and lane-keep assist. The driver’s gauge cluster gets bumped up to 12.3 inches too.
Prestige – $50,445
As the top-of-the-line A4, the Prestige trim level has special “Matrix-Style” LED headlights, multicolor ambient interior lighting, navigation, semi-autonomous parking assist, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heads up display, and a premium audio system from Bang & Olufsen.
Warranties
Audi provides an interesting balance of warranty coverage. Both the limited warranty and the powertrain warranty are covered for four years or 50,000 miles. While that’s less powertrain warranty than others, it’s a longer limited warranty. Audi also offers a year or 10,000 miles of complimentary maintenance which is less than rival BMW.
What we think
2022 Audi A4 – audiusa.com | Shop Audi A4 on Carsforsale.com
Overall the Audi A4 is one of the best small luxury sedans on the market today. It’s comfortable, luxurious, and sharp from behind the wheel. While some would like it to look a bit more flashy, we think its understated styling is handsome. It’s also a very safe vehicle with many available advanced safety features. There’s a lot to love in the 2022 Audi A4.
