2022 Audi A4 vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design featured a wide, angular grille inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, which was a departure from the previous generation's simpler appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and functional, with a premium feel due to the soft-touch surfaces and comfortable seating. The Jetta offered three trim levels: Comfortline, Highline, and Execline, each with varying features, from basic amenities in the Comfortline to more luxurious offerings in the Execline.

The 2022 Audi A4, on the other hand, was known for its simple, clean, and conservative design, which served as a perfect canvas for its striking Tango Red paint and Black Edition package. The interior of the A4 was equally restrained, with high-quality materials and a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel. Despite its snug cabin and small door openings, the A4 provided exceptional comfort in the front seats, with power adjustments and a thigh-support cushion. The rear seats, while comfortable for shorter trips, offered limited legroom. The A4's trunk space was well-finished, with 340 litres of cargo capacity and enclosed hinges to protect luggage.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less horsepower than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta's performance was well-balanced, handling both city and highway driving with ease, and offering a smooth yet sporty steering experience. The fuel efficiency was impressive, with the manual transmission achieving 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined, and the automatic at 7.1 L/100 km.

In contrast, the 2022 Audi A4 offered two engine options. The 40 TFSI model 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. The 45 TFSI model, which we tested, delivered 261 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with a lowered sport suspension as part of the S-line package. The A4 45 TFSI accelerated to 100 km/h in approximately 5.4 seconds, with a combined fuel economy of 8.8 L/100 km. The A4's driving experience was refined, with a solid punch of torque, paddle shifters for engagement, and a rock-solid structure over rough roads.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats suitable for long trips, with adequate rear-seat legroom and headroom. The trunk space was average for the class at 399 litres. The interior layout was practical, with a touchscreen positioned above the climate vents for easy access, and a blend of real buttons and dials for controls, making it user-friendly.

The 2022 Audi A4, while harder to enter and exit due to its low stance, provided exceptional comfort in the front seats, with power adjustments and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The rear seats, though supportive, were limited in legroom and best suited for shorter trips. Interior storage was limited, with the centre console housing the wireless charging pad, leaving little room for other items. The A4's 340-litre cargo space was well-designed, with storage nets and enclosed hinges.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. The Execline trim offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable 10.25-inch digital display that could project navigation and other driver information.

The 2022 Audi A4 featured the next-generation MIB3 version of Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI) with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. The system supported smartphone functions like swipe and scroll, and included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Audi Connect services. The test car also had a navigation system, wireless charging, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The MMI was intuitive, with separate climate controls and useful voice recognition technology.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Highline trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Execline included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. The Jetta received a Good rating from the IIHS but lacked a Top Safety Pick due to its headlights. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star safety rating.

The 2022 Audi A4 Technik model included Audi Pre Sense with collision preparation, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. It also featured lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system. The A4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.