2022 Audi A4 vs 2022 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2022 Audi A4 lineup included the A4 sedan, the A4 Allroad, and the S4 performance-tuned model. The A4 sedan came in 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI model series with Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. Prices started at under $40,000 and rose to more than $50,000. The test car was a Prestige 45 TFSI with Tango Red paint, the Black Optic Plus package, 19-inch wheels, the S-line Interior package, and ventilated front seats, with an MSRP of $55,890. The A4's simple, clean, and conservative appearance was enhanced by the Tango Red paint and Black Optic package detailing. Inside, the A4 featured high-quality materials, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation panel, and ambient interior lighting, though the tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system seemed out of place.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, with the 2.0, 2.5 S, and 2.5 Turbo model series. The 2.5 S lineup offered five trim levels and a choice between FWD and AWD, with the 2.5 S Premium hatchback offering a six-speed manual transmission. Prices ranged from $20,800 to $34,400, excluding the $1,015 destination charge. The test car was a top-of-the-line hatchback in 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim with Polymetal Gray Metallic paint, carrying an MSRP of $35,810. The Mazda3's appearance was not universally appealing, but it had a certain artistry. The interior featured refined materials and sophisticated design with polished metallic finishes, presenting an upscale, almost elegant environment.

The 2022 Audi A4 40 TFSI featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro Ultra AWD, earning an EPA rating of 29 mpg combined. Audi claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. The A4 45 TFSI test car had 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, with a lowered sport suspension, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and an EPA rating of 27 mpg combined. The A4 45 TFSI averaged 24.8 mpg during testing. The A4's driving experience was joyful, with refined engine performance, outstanding tire grip, and a rock-solid structure and suspension. The car was remarkably quiet, and the brakes performed flawlessly.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 2.0 sedan had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, returning 31 mpg combined. The 2.5 S model had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, with fuel economy ratings between 27 mpg and 30 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo model had a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, producing 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87-octane gas, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93-octane fuel, with 26-27 mpg combined. The test car averaged 23.1 mpg. The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo was fun to drive, with smooth power delivery, nimble handling, and excellent balance. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during aggressive driving on Deer Creek Canyon Road but performed well on Mulholland Highway.

The 2022 Audi A4's low ground clearance and small door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with soft leather, power adjustment, and a thigh-support cushion. The A4 had a three-zone automatic climate control system, and the layout and switchgear were intuitive. The back seat was snug, with limited space for stretching out, and the hard plastic and storage netting on the front seatbacks were unfriendly to knees and shins. Interior storage space was limited, with the center console bin housing the wireless charging pad and Audi Phone Box signal booster. The 13 cubic-foot trunk was nicely finished, with storage nets and grab handles for easy closure.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 also had low ground clearance and small door openings, making entry and exit difficult. The front seats were snug but comfortable, with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats. The interior featured user-friendly controls, except for the Mazda Connect infotainment system. The back seat offered decent comfort and legroom for shorter people but was cramped for taller passengers, with no rear air conditioning vents or USB ports. Storage space was adequate, with large door panel bins, a big glove compartment, and a sizable center console bin. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 47.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2022 Audi A4 featured the MIB3 version of Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI) with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. The screen supported common smartphone functions and provided acoustic feedback. Features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Audi Connect connected services, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. The MMI was easy to use, with a Home button for quick access to the main menu. The voice recognition technology was accurate but slow. The Bang & Olufsen stereo was satisfying, but sound quality degraded at high volumes. The head-up display was hard to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3's Mazda Connect infotainment system used an 8.8-inch static display and primary controls on the center console. Mazda avoided touchscreens, believing they were distracting. The system had a voice recognition system that required specific commands and often failed to recognize voices. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could mitigate some of these issues. Mazda Connected Services provided remote access to vehicle functions via a smartphone app, with a complimentary three-year subscription. An eight-speaker audio system was standard, with a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system available. The Active Driving Display projected data onto the windshield, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 Audi A4 stair-stepped the availability of safety features, with the top-of-the-line Prestige model including front and rear collision preparation, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a safe exit warning system, a surround-view camera system, and Park Assist. The Matrix-design LED headlights provided excellent visibility. The driver assistance tech was effective and non-intrusive, though the adaptive cruise control had a delayed reaction in some situations. The A4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 had standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The driver-assist features behaved as expected, with smooth responses and no false alarms. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.