Audi Q4 e-tron Review

Price: £51,965 to £63,120

Electrifying.com score

7/10

  • Lightning
  • Lightning
  • Lightning
  • Lightning
  • Lightning

Audi's 'entry-level' electric shares its underpinnings and tech with the Škoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4. Is it 'Audi' enough to justify its loftier price tag?


  • Battery size: 77kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 4.1
  • E-Rating™: A

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.​

  • Max charge rate: 175 kW
  • Range: 213-342 miles

Find your perfect car today through our carefully selected partners

  • Battery size: 77kWh
  • Miles per kWh: 4.1
  • E-Rating™: A

    Click here to find out more about our electric car Efficiency Rating.​

  • Max charge rate: 175 kW
  • Range: 213-342 miles
  • Audi e-tron Q4 electric car
  • Audi Q4 e-tron front action shot, straight road in countryside, blue/silver car, RHD, UK plates
  • Audi Q4 e-tron side action shot, straight road in countryside, blue/silver car, RHD, UK plates
  • Audi Q4 e-tron front action shot, straight road in countryside, blue/silver car, RHD, UK plates
  • Audi Q4 e-tron interior shot, dashboard and steering wheel, RHD
  • Audi Q4 e-tron boot space showing seats folded, blue/silver car, RHD
  • Audi Q4 e-tron boot space showing cable storage under floor, blue/silver car
  • Audi Q4 e-tron rear action shot, straight road in countryside, blue/silver car, RHD, UK plates
  • Electrifying.com E-Rating A

Ginny Says

“​The Audi takes all the best bits of its Volkswagen ID.4 stablemate and adds the sort of premium feel that you'd expect from the brand. You have to pay for it of course but the Q4 really does feel a notch up in terms of cabin quality and overall feel.”

Nicki Says

“Everyone seems to love an Audi SUV and the roads are full of them. The Q4 has the looks everyone craves but has more space than the biggest Q7 in a much more compact package. And of course it has the running costs of an electric car too. Brilliant!”

Reviewed by 

Mike Askew

 - 
8 Aug 2024

How time flies. Three years after the Q4 e-tron first landed, Audi’s entry-level, all-electric offering has been treated to a substantial update for 2024. Don’t bother trying to spot any visual differences because there aren’t any. The big changes have come under the skin where Audi has introduced a new drive system, faster charging capability and a revised suspension system. 

The range line-up has also been updated with the smaller battery 35 model no longer available and a faster 55-badged flagship model. This means that the Q4 is now a pricier package, with a range even the entry level model topping the £50k mark. Question is, can the Q4 still justify that price tag?  

Audi Q4 e-tron front static shot, on gravel in countryside, blue/silver car, RHD, UK plates

The Q4 e-tron is another one of those cars that shares the bits you can’t see with other electric cars. It’s actually a cousin of the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV except more Audified – if you know what we mean. 

So there’s the same short front overhang and bonnet as the VW and Skoda, but with its angular body, large grille (blanked off and which serves no purpose because of course there’s no engine lurking under the bonnet) and a pair of pretty grumpy looking day-running lights, it’s unmistakably an Audi. And in the German carmaker’s typical style, a swoopier, more-coupe-looking Sportback model is also available.

Just like the Skoda Enyaq and, yes, you guessed it, the Volkswagen ID.4, the bespoke electric platform which is used for the Q4 e-tron and its siblings means space inside has been prioritised – in fact, there’s tonnes of it. There’s a large centre console, special bottle holders in the doors, a pretty massive 520-litre boot and rear legroom that’s on par with an Audi Q7 – that’s Audi’s largest SUV, remember. All of this in a car that’s relatively compact; it’s worth pointing out that in terms of size the Q4 does actually sit between the non-electric Q3 and Q5 SUVs.

Apart from the extra space on offer, there’s very little inside to denote this a pure-electric Audi, as the design and quality is pretty much as you’d expect from the firm. At least at first glance. There's no doubt it has more instant showroom appeal than the disappointingly cheap-feeling ID.3 and ID.4, but if you start to prod around the cabin in the lesser-touched areas you will find bits that feel more Polo than premium. A Mercedes EQA or BMW iX3 will feel more expensive. 

Following Audi’s mid-life update, the range has been rejigged. The original entry-level 35 model (which came with a 58kWh battery) has been dropped, leaving just the larger 77kWh battery models. These are badged 45 and 55 with the former offering 282 bhp and the latter 335bhp. As before, Audi offers rear-drive and all-wheel drive Quattro variants. 

​The Q4 is available with two body styles, with the Sportback version offering a more coupe-like profile than the standard model. In addition to looking a little sleeker than the SUV version, it’s also more aero-friendly and more efficient as a result.

When it first arrived, the Q4’s performance was adequate but nothing particularly special. Thankfully, that has improved significantly thanks to the 2024 update that has seen the introduction of a new drive unit. Power for the 45 models has gone up to a very healthy 282bhp, while the range-topping 55 models now deliver 340bhp. Torque outputs have also risen sharply, meaning that the Q4 feels a much, much livelier car to drive. 

Audi has also tweaked the suspension for the 2024 model in an effort to make it feel… more Audi. The steering characteristics and dampers have been tweaked to give a sportier driving experience, and although it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how those changes have altered the handling, it’s a comfortable and rewarding car to drive. The ride quality is good while the steering is perfectly weighted and accurate. 

There are the usual drive modes to select from – Comfort, Auto, Efficiency, Individual or Dynamic. Both Range and Efficiency boost efficiency by limiting the maximum speed, but there’s also a ‘B’ mode on the gear selector which boosts energy recuperation. You can play with the amount of regeneration by using the paddles on the steering wheel, but there’s no one-pedal driving option which is a shame. 

The practical charging stuff is dealt with in an efficient Audi fashion. DC rapid charging for the entry-level 45 models peaks at 135kW while Quattro and 55 models offer a higher 175kW peak. According to Audi’s figures, the latter two models can charge from 10-80% in just under 30 minutes while the 45 takes only a few minutes longer. 

In terms of warranty, the Q4 e-tron is covered by a three-year/60,000 warranty which is fine but it seems a bit light compared to other electric car makers. Kia, for instance, offers a seven-year warranty on its e-Niro and the new EV6. 

The Q4 e-tron isn’t by any means a game-changer, but it’s a brilliant, dependable offering from Audi, and will appeal to a big, broad cross-section of people who like the brand. Its Volkswagen Group siblings offer better value for money, but if you want to go electric and still have the famous four-ring logo on the bonnet, it’s a fine choice. 

Latest Reviews...

“Added to your showroom”
Showroom:
Icon

You currently have no cars in your showroom. Browse our reviews here to start.

Icon

Please fill out your contact details below.