German brand won’t say when it will introduce its most affordable EV in Australia, but here’s what we’ve been missing out on
- How much does the Audi Q4 e-tron cost?
- What equipment comes with the Audi Q4 e-tron?
- How safe is the Audi Q4 e-tron?
- What technology does the Audi Q4 e-tron?
- What powers the Audi Q4 e-tron?
- How efficient is the Audi Q4 e-tron?
- What is the Audi Q4 e-tron like to drive?
- How far can the Audi Q4 e-tron go on a charge?
- What is the Audi Q4 e-tron like inside?
- Should I buy an Audi Q4 e-tron?
Audi was initially the most enlightened of the Volkswagen Group brands rushing to introduce their first EV in Australia – the Audi e-tron SUV – back in 2020. Since then though it’s suddenly proved more agnostic and has dragged its heels to roll out both the battery-powered e-tron GT sports car and the Q4 e-tron mid-size SUV. While the former finally arrives in January, it’s the latter that could prove the biggest hit. Based on the VW Group's state-of-the-art MEB electric vehicle architecture, the Q4 e-tron is 100mm longer than the Q3 and only 40mm shorter than the Q5. It also shares plenty with the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq but, as you'll find out, it edges out both of its cheaper relations when it comes to desirability.
How much does the Audi Q4 e-tron cost?
Audi Australia won’t say when the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron will become available Down Under, but early 2024 is our best guess.
It’s no surprise then that there’s no word yet on pricing, but we expect a healthy premium over the related Volkswagen ID.4, which is expected to be priced from around $65,000.
It’s likely the four-ring badge will elevate the asking price of the cheapest version to around $75,000, which would position it lineball with similarly sized electric SUVs like the Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Tesla Model Y. In Europe, the Q4 e-tron also battles it out with the Mercedes-Benz EQA and the upcoming BMW iX3.
Size-wise, the Audi Q4 e-tron measures in at 4588mm long, 1865mm wide and 1632mm tall, with a 2764mm wheelbase.
Like any other Audi, the Q4 e-tron will come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Giving added piece of mind, Audi Australia could also provide an eight-year, 160,000km battery pack warranty.
Audi says the Audi Q4 e-tron needs a check-up every year with a simple service requiring nothing more than a pollen filter change, brake fluid change and safety check. Capped-price servicing should also be on the menu.
What equipment comes with the Audi Q4 e-tron?
Local specifications for the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron won’t be released until much closer to its local arrival.
In fact, the all-electric premium SUV is so far away from being introduced locally that we expect a facelifted version to be revealed in Europe before it arrives here, so everything that follows is subject to change.
Despite this, it’s sensible to assume that the cars won’t be a million miles away to those sold in the right-hand drive UK market when it comes to specifications.
If so, expect our market to also miss out on the cheapest Q4 35 e-tron variant, which gets the smallest 52kWh battery.
Instead, expect Audi Australia’s Q4 to come standard with the bigger 77kWh power pack and be offered in rear-drive 40 e-tron and much quicker all-wheel drive 50 e-tron forms.
British buyers have the option of three trims for the Q4 e-tron — Sport, S line and Edition 1.
The base Sport models offer 19-inch wheels, Audi’s digital Virtual Cockpit instrument panel, an 11.6-inch infotainment system, rear parking sensors, heated seats, three-zone climate control and a power tailgate.
S line models upsize to 20-inch wheels and add a styling pack, privacy glass and different seat coverings.
The most expensive Edition 1 adds Matrix LED headlights, black exterior accents, leather seat trim, a multi-function sports steering wheel and larger 21-inch rims. There’s also a useful head-up display that uses augmented reality to help you navigate. Finally, there’s a SONOS sound system and a panoramic glass roof.
Since we’re so far away from launch it’s unclear whether or not Audi will continue its relationship with Chargefox and Jetcharge and offer free public charging as part of the vehicle’s purchase price.
How safe is the Audi Q4 e-tron?
The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron is among the safest in its class according to crash tests conducted by Euro NCAP in 2021, when it received a full five-star safety rating.
It received a 93 per cent score for adult safety, 89 per cent for child passenger protection, 66 per cent for pedestrian impact and 80 per cent for its active safety systems.
As standard, all models get twin front, side, chest and pelvis airbags, as well as a centre airbags.
All models get Audi’s Pre-sense Front autonomous emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus traffic sign recognition and Swerve and Turn Assist.
Higher grade versions get exit warning, rear cross-traffic assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera.
What technology does the Audi Q4 e-tron?
The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron might be the Germany luxury brand’s cheapest EV but it doesn’t miss out on the cutting-edge tech. As well as its advanced powertrain, the Q4 e-tron gets the aforementioned 11.6-inch multimedia system that works with both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also features Amazon Alexa voice control and can display Google maps.
Giving it the edge over the VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq, Audi designers have also wisely equipped with Q4 e-tron’s cabin with separate controls for the climate control in a panel beneath.
The 10.25-inch digital display is also a lot bigger than the puny 5.3-inch cluster on the VW ID.4 and is configurable, clear and easy to use.
The battery-powered Audi gets two USB-C ports up front alongside a 12-volt socket, a pair of rear USB chargers and a 12-volt socket near a pair of rear air-vents.
What powers the Audi Q4 e-tron?
The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron is offered with either a single electric motor on the rear axle (Q4 40 e-tron) or dual motors in the all-wheel drive Q4 50 e-tron quattro.
Both come equipped with the bigger 82kWh (76.6kWh net) battery.
As far as performance goes the Q4 40 e-tron delivers 150kW of power and 310Nm of torque, providing for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.5 seconds.
The more powerful Q4 50 e-tron quattro, meanwhile, gets punchier 220kW/460Nm outputs, enabling it to hit 100km/h in a claimed 6.2sec and a top speed of 180km/h (20km/h faster than the Q4 40 e-tron).
The Q4 e-tron offers maximum charging capacities of 11kW (AC) and 125kW (DC), meaning it cannot exploit the most powerful 150kW fast-charging systems available to full effect, lagging behind rivals like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 that can be recharged at up to 350kW.
This also translates into slower charging times, with a 10-80 per cent refuel taking around 29 minutes compared to the 18 minutes it takes for the Korean EV, although that’s only if you can find an ultra-fast charger – something that hopefully will be less of a problem in 2024.
How efficient is the Audi Q4 e-tron?
Energy consumption for the 2023 Audi Q4 40 e-tron is a relatively frugal 16.6kWh/100km, while the all-wheel drive Q4 50 e-tron quattro’s energy consumption is around 17.2kWh/100km.
What is the Audi Q4 e-tron like to drive?
It’s a mixed bag when it comes to the hardware used by the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron in terms of the driving experience. Thanks to its new MEB platform there’s pseudo-MacPherson struts up front and an independent four-link rear-end set-up that should enhance agility.
Weirdly, the Audi’s disc front brakes are combined with old-fashioned drum brakes on the rear axle – which screams of cost-cutting. The reasoning is the brake regeneration system more than compensates for less advanced rear brake set-up, despite the Q4’s mammoth 2100kg-plus mass.
Considering the many billions of dollars it took the Volkswagen Group to develop both its pure-electric powertrains and MEB architecture, you would hope (and expect) the Audi Q4 e-tron to offer a decent drive – and it does.
Whether you’re on the highway or tight and twisty country roads, the Q4 e-tron is quiet, comfortable and effortless – whichever version you plump for. Instead of a fake soundtrack, there’s just silence and the refinement on offer here is impeccable. What is missing is that the battery-electric Audi isn’t that involving or fun to drive.
Out of the two, we actually preferred the lower-output, rear-drive Q4 40 e-tron, which delivered a comfier ride and smoother power delivery.
The Q4 50 e-tron quattro is remarkably quick off the line, feeling even quicker than its 6.2sec 0-100km/h claim, but the ride is more unsettled presumably thanks to the addition of the front-mounted motor, and body control is no better than the single-motor version, meaning the Audi feels out of its comfort zone when pushing on.
While lacking a one-pedal driving function, the Q4 e-tron does serve up a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddles that can usefully ramp-up or ease-off the regen when approaching slowing traffic, which is useful although the brake pedal itself sometimes struggles to smoothly blend re-gen itself and actual braking.
How far can the Audi Q4 e-tron go on a charge?
Audi claims that the 2023 Q4 40 e-tron can cover up to 528km on a single charge, while the more powerful Q4 50 e-tron quattro should theoretically travel 511km – both on the WLTP cycle – which is relatively generous.
What is the Audi Q4 e-tron like inside?
The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron is likely to be offered in both SUV and more rakish Sportback body styles in our market – both off which offer decent space inside.
It’s the sportier of the two body styles that makes climbing into the rear seats a fraction tricker, but few will complain about legroom or headroom, thanks to the Q4 e-tron’s skateboard-style EV platform.
In the second row, it feels like there might be even more stretching room than in the Audi Q5.
Boot space is another high point, the Q4 e-tron offering a respectable 520 litres of luggage swallowing capacity, while the Sportback version offers a surprising 535 litres – although that’s because of the way the boot space is measured and most families will be better off with the more useable proportions of the SUV.
Without doubt, in terms of fit, finish and design, the Audi Q4 e-tron is a league above its fellow MEB-based member of the VW Group family.
We’ve already mentioned it but the separate climate control panel alone is worth the price of admission for some European owners frustrated by Volkswagen and Skoda’s decision to incorporate those functions within the slow-to-react main infotainment screen.
Elsewhere, the clean, minimalist interior look is supplemented by a mix of higher-grade plastics and materials than you’ll find in either the ID.4 or Enyaq.
Should I buy an Audi Q4 e-tron?
It’s impossible to recommend the Audi Q4 e-tron over its rivals until it lands in Australia because both the pricing and specifications of the actual vehicle that will become available are still unknown.
And in the EV world even 12 months is a long time, with advanced new competitors hitting the market almost on a monthly basis.
The good news is a comprehensive mid-life facelift might address some of our concerns with the Q4 e-tron, which could potentially get more advanced battery tech that may see charging speeds ramped-up.
Despite our reservations and its tough opposition, as it stands today the current Audi Q4 e-tron is a classy, quiet, refined and likeable all-electric mid-size SUV that should be well equipped to justify its price premium over a Volkswagen ID.4.
2023 Audi Q4 40 e-tron at a glance:
Price: TBC
Available: Early 2024
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 82.0kW (76.6kWh net) lithium-ion
Range: 528km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 16.6 kWh/100km
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2021)
Keyword: Audi Q4 e-tron 2023 Review