Compare the2024 Honda Civic Type RVS 2024 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 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 S4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Civic Type R has standard Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the S4.

The Civic Type R’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 S4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Civic Type R and the S4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 14 places higher in reliability than Audi.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Civic Type R higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi S4 (5). This means the Civic Type R produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S4 every 15,000 miles.

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

The Civic Type R stops much shorter than the S4:

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 Civic Type R Touring handles at 1.03 G’s, while the S4 Prestige pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Civic Type R Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S4 Prestige (24.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

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) in the center console. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Civic Type R owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Civic Type R will cost $2020 to $3790 less than the S4 over a five-year period.

The Civic Type R will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Civic Type R will retain 59.77% of its original price after five years, while the S4 only retains 54.86% to 55.98%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Civic Type R will be $9110 to $16835 less than for the Audi S4.

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 9 more times in the last 40 years. The S4 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Civic outsold the Audi A4/S4 by almost 15 to one during 2023.