Audi Q4 review: A groovy kind of SUV
Audi stakes a claim for the title of top electric ‘sporty sensible’ car with an enticing blend of top tech, decent pricing and premium design
The all-electric SUV field is getting very, very tasty. There’s Ford’s superb Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai’s brilliant new Ioniq 5, Skoda’s Enyaq iV and Kia’s EV6… and that’s before you get to the Tesla Model Y or the Jaguar I-Pace. So the Audi Q4 E-tron enters a crowded market – but it does so with a compelling package.
This Audi is available in four different trim levels – Sport, S Line, Edition 1 and the top-end Vorsprung – and the sub-£45K price bracket compares well with its rivals. Our review model is the Sportback edition with an optional Sonos sound system, wireless phone charging and a head-up display (£51,160 on the road).
All that’s in addition to Audi’s superb virtual cockpit and a 10in entertainment touchscreen.
There’s no room to swing a mouse inside an Audi Q3, but this isn’t the case with the Q4. No powertrain bump in the floor means there’s plenty of rear legroom, and we were amazed at the luggage space: 520L. The base model has a 52kWh battery and a 170ps power unit, delivering just over 200 miles of range. But the powertrain in our review vehicle has a larger 77kWh battery and superb 204ps unit for over 300 miles of range. It’s pretty rapid, going from 0-60 in 8.5secs, though there are quicker options out there (such as that Mustang). Oh, and there’s a faster 50 Quattro version as a 4WD option.
The Q4 is a very comfortable ride, although it can lean around a little with quick manoeuvring. It’s also surprisingly quiet for the size. Braking takes a little time to get used to – we didn’t find it all that smooth. Yes, charging is still the issue with any electric vehicle. It’ll take around 12hrs to fuel up the Q4 on a standard 7.5kW home charger… but connected to a 150kW rapid charger it can get up to 80% in under 40 minutes.
Stuff says…
As an all-round premium electric SUV, there’s little to dislike about the Q4 E-tron. There are better performers, but range is decent and it’s surprisingly well priced considering its design and features. Audi’s tech – especially the virtual cockpit – works so well, and of course you get that hallmark quality of fit and finish. But this is also a highly practical car, and will make sense for a lot of families and compulsive boot-fillers.
Stuff Says…
In a tough field, Audi makes a strong case for being top of the pile
Good Stuff
Well-priced
Super tech
So comfy
Bad Stuff
Better all-rounders available
Tech specs
| Motor | 150kW, 204ps, automatic rear-wheel drive |
| 0-62mph | 8.5secs |
| Range | 315 miles |
| Battery | 77KWh |
| Displays | 10.1in, 10.25in [specs for Sportback 40 model] |
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief