Compare the2022 Honda AccordVS 2022 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Accord Sport 2.0T/Sport SE/EX-L/Touring are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Accord deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Accord’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The A4’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Accord Touring has standard Low Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A4 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Accord’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Accord and the A4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Honda Accord is safer than the Audi A4:

	Accord	A4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	26%
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	232 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	231/338 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	1 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	378/216 lbs.	324/341 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 Honda Accord is safer than the Audi A4:

	Accord	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	140	172
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	152 G’s	219 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	428 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	242	333
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	47 G’s

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Accord its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Accord 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Accord’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 17th in initial quality. With 76 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 9 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The Accord’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (252 vs. 201) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 236) than the A4 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Accord gets better mileage than the A4:

			MPG
Accord
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
A4
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/34 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/31 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Accord uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Accord has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The A4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Accord higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A4 (5). This means the Accord produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A4 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Accord 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4.

The Accord has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Accord stops much shorter than the A4:

	Accord	A4
60 to 0 MPH	109 feet	120 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Accord offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The A4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Accord’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The A4 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Accord is .9 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4.

The Accord Touring handles at .89 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Accord Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A4 Premium (26.4 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

Chassis

The Honda Accord may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Audi A4.

The front grille of the Accord Sport SE/EX-L uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Accord 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.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Accord a Large car, while the A4 is rated a Compact.

The Accord has 13.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 (105.6 vs. 92).

The Accord has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4.

Cargo Capacity

The Accord has a much larger trunk than the A4 (16.7 vs. 12 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Accord (except LX/Sport 1.5T) has a standard 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.

The Accord EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Accord’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Accord owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Accord will cost $340 to $5505 less than the A4 over a five-year period.

The Accord will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Accord will retain 49.19% to 52.23% of its original price after five years, while the A4 only retains 42.99% to 43.13%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Accord is less expensive to operate than the A4 because it costs $473 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Accord than the A4, including $403 less for a water pump, $225 less for a muffler, $72 less for front brake pads, $313 less for a starter, $19 less for a fuel pump, $558 less for front struts and $308 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Accord will be $17811 to $18170 less than for the Audi A4.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Accord and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its June 2018 issue and the Honda Accord Touring won out over the Audi A4 Premium.

The Accord was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 25 of the last 27 years. The A4 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Accord 2.0T Sport was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2018. The A4 has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Accord as the 2018 North American Car of the Year. The A4 has never been chosen.

The Honda Accord outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over 11 to one during the 2021 model year.