Compare the2022 Volkswagen ArteonVS 2022 Audi A4

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Arteon has standard Maneuver Braking 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 Arteon has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Arteon has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A4.

Both the Arteon 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Arteon for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A4.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Arteon’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 30th in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

The Arteon’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 99 more horsepower (300 vs. 201) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 236) than the A4 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Arteon’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 39 more horsepower (300 vs. 261) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 273) than the A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Arteon has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Arteon’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A4:

The Arteon stops much shorter than the A4:

For better traction, the Arteon has larger tires than the A4 (245/45R18 vs. 225/50R17).

The Arteon’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 ride, handling and brake cooling the Arteon has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A4. The Arteon’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the A4.

The Arteon has a standard 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 Arteon SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A4 Premium (26.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

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

The Arteon has 4.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 (96.5 vs. 92).

The Arteon has .6 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.5 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Arteon SEL Premium has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The A4 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The Arteon SEL/SEL Premium 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.

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

The A4’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Arteon SEL/SEL Premium’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Arteon SEL Premium has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the A4.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Arteon has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the A4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Arteon is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Arteon owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Arteon will cost $3035 to $6800 less than the A4 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Arteon will be $3522 to $5998 less than for the Audi A4.

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