Compare the2022 Acura ILX VS 2021 Audi A4

The ILX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the A4 and is not available with Premium.

Both the ILX and the A4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura ILX is safer than the Audi A4:

	ILX	A4
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	26%
Leg Forces (l/r)	57/324 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	211	236
Chest Compression	.5 inches	1 inches
Neck Compression	40 lbs.	47 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura ILX is safer than the Audi A4:

	ILX	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	143 G’s	219 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	699 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	299	333

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the ILX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ILX second among small premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The A4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 23rd in initial quality. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Acura ILX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4.

The ILX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4’s standard 50 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the ILX’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the A4’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Acura ILX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 500 pounds less than the Audi A4.

The ILX is 5.3 inches shorter than the A4, making the ILX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The ILX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ILX has .7 inches more front headroom and 1 inch more front legroom than the A4.

The ILX has a larger trunk than the A4 (12.4 vs. 12 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 5% lower rating, Audi is ranked 12th.

The ILX offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ILX is less expensive to operate than the A4 because it costs $400 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the ILX than the A4, including $367 less for a water pump, $328 less for a muffler, $60 less for front brake pads, $232 less for a starter, $57 less for a fuel pump, $472 less for front struts and $286 less for a timing belt/chain.