Compare the2023 Honda Civic Type RVS 2023 Audi S4

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Type R deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Type R’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The S4’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Civic Type R has a standard blind spot warning system which 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 S4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Civic Type R 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 S4.

Both the Civic Type R and the S4 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, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Civic Type R 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Civic Type R for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S4.

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 Civic Type R’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 56 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Honda higher than Audi.

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.

The Civic Type R 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 S4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Civic Type R offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The S4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the S4 (265/30R19 vs. 255/35R19).

The Civic Type R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S4’s standard 35 series tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the S4.

The Honda Civic Type R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 pounds less than the Audi S4.

The Civic Type R is 6.6 inches shorter than the S4, making the Civic Type R easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Civic Type R has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The S4 uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the S4 is rated a Compact.

The Civic Type R has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S4 (99 vs. 92).

The Civic Type R has 2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

The Civic Type R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The S4 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Civic Type R has a standard rear wiper. The S4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Civic Type R has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Civic Type R was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 5 years. The S4 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Civic Type R was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2018. The S4 has never been an “All Star.”

The Honda Civic outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over 11 to one during the 2022 model year.