2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Audi A4

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive appearance that was unmistakably a Sonata. Its styling, from the broad grille to the tapered tail, was a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. The N Line version enhanced this look with functional and stylistic changes, such as a restyled front fascia with larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and bold 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear featured a subtle gloss black lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a four-outlet exhaust system, giving the Sonata a stealthy visual suggestion of its performance capabilities. Inside, the Sonata N Line boasted sport front seats with premium Nappa leather bolsters, Dinamica suede inserts, and red stitching, complemented by a panoramic sunroof that added a sense of spaciousness.

In contrast, the 2022 Audi A4 exuded a simple, clean, and conservative design, serving as a perfect canvas for its Tango Red paint and Black Edition package detailing. The classic five-arm rotor-design wheels were a highlight of its exterior. Inside, the A4 maintained aesthetic restraint with black everything, accented by aluminum trim and gloss black décor. The dashboard integrated air vents seamlessly, and controls were clearly labeled. The A4 featured high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel, and ambient interior lighting. However, the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system appeared somewhat out of place, resembling an afterthought rather than an integrated design element.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system, driving the front wheels. The Sonata offered Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system. The sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and improved steering made it a joy to drive on mountain roads, with minimal understeer and excellent handling. Fuel efficiency was rated at 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 9.9 L/100 km.

The 2022 Audi A4 40 TFSI featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre 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 all-wheel-drive. It achieved a fuel economy rating of 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The A4 45 TFSI, with 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, accelerated to 100 km/h in approximately 5.4 seconds. The A4's Quattro Ultra AWD system provided a refined driving experience, with a choice of Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual driving modes. The A4 averaged 9.5 L/100 km during testing, and its brakes and steering performed admirably, though the steering lacked standout praise.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line offered heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts, providing a balance of comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, enhancing comfort for both front-seat occupants. Rear-seat passengers found the Sonata slightly more accommodating than the Elantra N Line, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata's interior storage was generous, though the centre console design was somewhat inelegant. The trunk offered 453 litres of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The hands-free trunk release feature was convenient, though the lack of an interior handle could be inconvenient.

The 2022 Audi A4's low seating position made entry and exit challenging, but once inside, it offered exceptional comfort in the front seats, with power adjustment and a thigh-support cushion. The A4 featured a three-zone automatic climate control system, separate from the infotainment screen, and intuitive controls. The rear seat accommodated adults, though legroom was limited, and the hard plastic front seatbacks were unfriendly to knees. Interior storage was limited, with the centre console bin housing the wireless charging pad. The A4's 340-litre cargo space was well-finished, with storage nets and enclosed hinges, and grab handles on the trunk lid for easy closure.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included an onboard navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system supported HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Blue Link connected services. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, which affected user experience. The voice recognition technology was mostly accurate, and the Sounds of Nature feature provided ambient noise tracks for relaxation.

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 smartphone-like functions and provided acoustic feedback. The A4 included Bluetooth, 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, and the lack of physical controls was not an issue due to the intuitive user experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also featured a Rear Occupant Alert system, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The standard Sonata received high safety ratings, but the N Line had not been independently tested.

The 2022 Audi A4 Technik included Audi Pre Sense safety features, such as front and rear collision preparation, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. It also had lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring 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.