The Car Guide's Best Buys for 2022: Audi A4 and A5
Every year, The Car Guide unveils a list of Best Buys covering all the different vehicle categories in the industry.
Compact luxury cars are no longer a match for compact luxury SUVs, which keep eating away at their market share. That being said, these cars remain solid picks—and a good way to get a taste of the high life at a cheaper cost.
- Also: Three Reasons Why You Should Choose a Used Audi A4
- Also: The Car Guide's Best Buys for 2021: Audi A4 and A5
The Winner
For the third year in a row, the Audi A4 and A5 earn our Best Buy award. The former is available in four-door sedan and five-door wagon (A4 allroad) configurations, while the latter offers a two-door coupe and convertible along with a five-door model (A5 Sportback). And let’s not forget the sportier S4, S5 and RS 5.
There is also plenty of selection when it comes to the powertrain, from a standard 2.0-litre turbo-four to a 444-horsepower, turbocharged 2.9-litre V6. In any case, the A4 and A5 deliver a pleasant and refined driving experience that no competitor is able to beat. It’s amazing how these two cars manage to stay so good and so compelling over the years.
The icing on the cake is a remarkably built and finished interior featuring high-quality materials.
Other Finalists
Second place goes to the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series. While a mid-cycle update is coming for 2023, the current iterations are still relevant. Just like Audi, BMW offers a variety of models and trim levels. Notably for 2022, the M3 and M3 Competition are available with all-wheel drive.
While the M3 and 4 Series rub some people the wrong way with their polarizing front grille, other 3 Series models sport a more traditional front-end look.
Similar to last year, the Genesis G70 from South Korea lands on the podium thanks to a refreshed design and updated infotainment system for 2022. While Genesis still lacks brand power and identity, the G70 is a compact luxury sedan that more people need to know about.
Great value, excellent fit and finish, commendable performance and pleasant driving dynamics are all part of the package. Pricing is quite reasonable for the segment. Too bad the rear seats are tight and trunk capacity is disappointing. Otherwise, we might have ranked the G70 a bit higher.
