Audi Q4 E-Tron review

Big-selling electric SUV looks to boost its well-established appeal

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Audi managed something many of its competitors couldn’t last year. It hit a 28% share of electric vehicle sales in the UK, 4% north of the average and enough to meet the government’s target. The Audi Q4 E-tron played a pivotal role in the brand achieving that milestone, as Britain’s third-best-selling electric car and Audi’s second-best-selling model behind the A3.

Whether rumours of a softening of EV sales targets come to fruition or not, carmakers need these things to sell. Thus, after five years on sale, Audi’s most popular pure plug-in car has received an update.

New Audi Q4 E-Tron cars in stock

 Audi Q4 E-tron AUDI Q4 S Line 45 E-tron 210,00 KW opens in a new tab
£52,500
 Audi Q4 E-tron AUDI Q4 S Line 45 E-tron 210,00 KW opens in a new tab
£53,000
 Audi Q4 E-tron 45 Black Edition Auto 5dr 82kWh opens in a new tab
£51,703
 Audi Q4 E-tron 45 S Line Auto 5dr 82kWh opens in a new tab
£45,329
 Audi Q4 E-tron 45 Black Edition Auto 5dr 82kWh opens in a new tab
£45,245
 Audi Q4 E-tron 63kWh S Line Auto 5dr opens in a new tab
£40,895
 Audi Q4 E-tron 45 Sport Auto 5dr 82kWh opens in a new tab
£38,499
 Audi Q4 Sportback E-tron 45 Black Edition Sportback Auto 5dr 82kWh opens in a new tab
£56,999
 Audi Q4 E-tron 55 Black Edition Auto Quattro 5dr 82kWh opens in a new tab
£63,000
View all 147 cars

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DESIGN & STYLING

02 Audi Q4 E tron review front driving

Mind, it’s a long way from an overhaul. Small surprise, perhaps, when the car is selling so well in the first place. On the outside, the new Q4 appears little different to its predecessor, with its changes all in the details: the hexagonal, ‘single-frame’ grille gets some fresh design verve while standard LED lights standard up front (and at the rear in higher-grade trims) offer an array of driver-selectable signatures and optional matrix functionality. The bumpers have been tweaked too, adding a few extra millimetres to its length, though the Q4’s compact silhouette looks essentially unchanged.

Its under-the-skin changes have focused not on performance or handling, but the potential of its battery. You still have the choice of 63 and 82kWh batteries (59kWh and 77kWh useable) and power outputs of 201, 282 or 335bhp, the latter by way of dual motors. A more efficient rear motor and optimised DC voltage management have helped wring a little more range from each variant.

The base Q4 e-tron SUV kicks things off with a 269-mile claim, bookended by the 360 miles quoted by the rear-drive e-tron Performance in slipperier Sportback trim (a £1900 supplement across the range). Its 0.26 drag coefficient beats the SUV’s 0.27. Maximum charging speed is up across the board too, ranging from 160 to 185kW as you ascend through the powertrain options. Handy, but hardly class leading and a stark indicator of this MEB platform’s advancing years. The addition of bi-directional charging – useful for topping up the e-bikes Audi hopes you’ll be flinging into the Q4’s boot to indulge in some 'lifestyle' – is a first for the brand.

INTERIOR

06 Audi Q4 E tron review SD driving

Interior packaging hasn't changed, and luggage space still punches above the Q4’s positioning, essentially matching a Q5 and offering a similarly flexible 40/20/40 back row split. The rear seat of a Q4 e-tron SUV hosts adults rather merrily; those over six-foot may be scrubbing the headlining of the more svelte Sportback.

Those perched up front are clearly Audi’s favourite, as they get comfortable and supportive seats. The driver enjoys a large, wraparound dual display, new for the Q4 and consistent with fresher Audis. The central touchscreen is hi-res and ergonomic enough to make up for the lack of physical climate controls below it, though the instrument display looks curiously slim amidst its thick black framing.

The passenger display screen of larger, more luxe models has been parachuted into top-rung Q4s. We remain unconvinced by its need, with limited functionality on our test car, but perhaps downloading your own apps will curate a more meaningful experience.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

13 Audi Q4 E tron review driving

Peak power across the board matches the outgoing car, though some versions claim a boost in torque. The entry Q4 e-tron produces 201bhp and 258lb ft for 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. Next up is the predicted volume seller, the Q4 e-tron Performance, with 281bhp, 402lb ft and a 6.6sec claim. Both are rear-wheel drive. Topping the range is the 335bhp Q4 e-tron quattro Performance, its dual motors producing 99lb ft front, 402lb ft rear – a heavy rear bias – with 0-62mph taking a spritely 5.4sec.

Sure enough, it feels notably the most muscular variant, propelling you along with sustained, linear acceleration. And precious little drama. It’s hard not to feel enamoured by the lighter, simpler base car, however; it’s 200kg shy of the top-spec quattro and the only Q4 to nip under the two-tonne mark. It doesn’t desperately lag behind the middlemost Performance model for real-world performance, even if buyers may prefer the latter for its bigger battery and much chunkier range figure (352 miles versus 269 in SUV form).

The slipperier Sportback has a better drag coefficient (0.26 versus the SUV’s 0.27) as a payoff for its more restricted rear head room. A third of buyers choose it.
Stephen Dobie

There’s no augmented sound to accompany progress and the whole process is exceedingly unruffled in all versions, high-speed refinement being particularly impressive. Some welcome involvement comes from its steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters, which can flick between three levels of brake regen, though the Q4 defaults to an adaptive Auto mode. Keen drivers will bemoan its prescriptive nature – and the fiddly procedure to deactivate it even more so.

RIDE & HANDLING

15 Audi Q4 E tron review rear cornering

The Q4’s minor mechanical changes mean it drives just as before, handling with fluency and asking of little effort from its driver. It’s a relaxing car to spend time in, its steering light but assertive and its cornering attitude consistent. While it’s not extrovertly rear-driven, there’s tangibly more agility than Audi’s front-driven combustion crossovers. Just don’t expect excitement; Audi’s never offered an SQ4, which seems a telling statement of the car’s overall intent.

It rides with suppleness on smooth German tarmac, the caveat being that our trio of test cars possessed the adaptive damping that’s an option solely for top-spec UK cars. New 21in black wheels – added due to overwhelming customer demand – introduce a fussier edge to progress, though not enough to be a dealbreaker if you’re among the buyers who campaigned for them.

There’s naturally lots of active driver assist systems as standard, with several optional: highlights include remote parking and a reverse assist for when you meet oncoming traffic on a narrow lane and need to rapidly backtrack. Its speed limit warning and lane-keep assist are reasonably subdued in everyday driving and are simple to extinguish via one button press and a couple of screen prods.

MPG & RUNNING COSTS

01 Audi Q4 E tron review front driving

While its range and charging figures aren’t revolutionary, it should be an amiable car to live with. Audi claims 3.8-4.0mpkWh and we scored 3.9 in the midmost e-tron Performance in mixed, often enthusiastic use, which bodes well for an everyday average.

Prices have changed little over its predecessor's, starting at £46,420 for a base single-motor e-tron in Sport trim. Heated seats and a reversing camera are among the standard equipment. The predicted bestseller, the e-tron Performance, starts at £50,960, while the quattro adds another five grand. A top level Vorsprung is your only shot at adaptive damping and can end up nudging £70,000 with a modest options list haul – big money for a compact SUV.

VERDICT

16 Audi Q4 E tron review front static

Audi’s bestselling EV is no less convincing following its mid-life rejig. This is a facelift to mirror our moment in time, prioritising range, tech and materials over performance or handling. If thrills aren’t high on your agenda, the Q4 e-tron remains a polished package. Expect its sales success to continue.

Stephen Dobie

Stephen Dobie

Stephen has been feverishly writing about cars since graduating with honours in Journalism Studies from his hometown university, Sunderland, in 2008. After packing his bags, moving south and putting in lengthy stints at evo and Top Gear, he chose to roam the freelance plains in 2022 to further explore his diverse automotive interests. He loves nothing more than writing adventure, interview and review stories which highlight the brilliant cars, people and innovations that push this brilliant industry ever forward.His own taste in cars varies wildly, often favouring an underdog. Some of his career highlights include driving the Renault Megane R26.R, an ex-McRae Impreza rally car and the spectacularly under-appreciated Volkswagen XL1.

His car ownership history is entirely made up of light, feisty hatches, from a Mk1 Fiat Punto immediately after passing his driving test (‘a superb piece of car design’) through a Ford Puma 1.7 and Clio Williams to the Hyundai i20 N he drives now.