Audi Q4 E-Tron First Drive: Sophisticated, Stylish, And Serene

Audi’s first MEB-based electric offering for North America hits all the marks.

With the addition of the 2022 Audi E-Tron Q4 and Q4 E-Tron Sportback, Audi now has five all-electric models available in the US, and that’s more than any other automaker. 

If Audi can make good electric vehicles, why haven’t more electric Audis ended up in garages across the country? The answer is pretty simple: the price. The brand’s first three BEV models; the E-Tron, the E-Tron Sportback, and the RS E-Tron GT have starting MSRPs of  $70,800, $74,000, and $104,900, respectively. Optioned up the average price of all three combined is probably in the $85,000 to $90,000 range. Even with available federal and state incentives, those vehicles are out of reach for the vast majority of Americans. 

The Q4 E-Tron utilizes the Volkswagen Group’s popular MEB (Modular Electric Drive matrix) platform that underpins six other electric vehicles around the world (Audi Q5 E-Tron (Currently available in China only) Cupra Born, Škoda Enyaq iV, Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV, Volkswagen ID.3, and Volkswagen ID.4).

The Q4 E-Tron arrives in three flavors: 

• Q4 40 E-Tron: Rear-wheel-drive; 265-mile EPA range rating
• Q4 50 E-Tron Quattro: All-wheel-drive; 236-mile EPA rating
• Q4 Sportback 50 E-Tron Quattro: All-wheel-drive; 242-mile EPA rating

Audi lists the Sportback as having 26.1 cubic feet of volume behind the rear seats and 54.4 cubic feet with the 40/20/40 rear seats folded down. The crossover versions are listed as having 24.8 cubic feet and 53.1 cubic feet., respectively. A few of the other journalists at the media event and I tried to figure this out with the two vehicles parked next to each other because visually, it appeared that they were the same, and if anything, the edge should go to the hatchback. 

Our instincts were correct, and an Audi rep explained that the way the EPA measured the cargo area is the cause for the difference. The interior of Sportback’s hatch is more concave so it measures slightly longer than the crossover, however, that measurement doesn’t really add any usable space. The crossover will actually accommodate larger boxes and provide more usable cargo space as its opening is taller and so is the volume above the seatback, which doesn’t count in official EPA volume measurements.

Battery and charging

All versions of the Q4 E-Tron utilize the same 82 kWh battery pack that the ID.4 employs, which is comprised of 24 modules with each module containing 24 pouch-style battery cells. Like the ID.4, Audi is making 77 kWh of the 82 kWh battery pack available for use and holding the remaining 5 kWh as a battery buffer to help extend the battery’s usable capacity life.

Charging the Q4 E-Tron will take about nine hours when using the supplied dual-voltage 40-amp portable charging cable that comes with the vehicle. However, when using the 120-v adapter and charging from a household outlet, the Q4 E-Tron will need about 55 hours to charge from 0 to 100%.

When charging on the go, the Q4 E-Tron has a maximum DC fast charge rate of 150 kW and Audi claims a 5% to 80% fast charge time of 36 minutes when charging from a 150 kW DC fast charger. We had the opportunity to test that claim during the first-drive event and it took us 37 minutes, which is close enough to confirm the automaker’s claim.

During our charging session, we saw a peak charge rate of 140 kW. So perhaps in ideal conditions, the Q4 E-Tron may even charge slightly quicker from 5% to 80% than Audi claims. 

Audi has teamed up with Electrify America to include 250 kWh of complimentary charging for all Q4 E-Tron customers. That should be enough for 4 or 5 “fill-ups” and provide the power for roughly 800 miles of driving.

On the road

We drove a Q4 E-Tron 50 Quattro around Southern California and the dual-motor setup delivering 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque provided enough punch for a spirited driving experience. Audi states a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds for the Quattro versions of the crossover and Sportback, and 7.9 seconds for the RWD Q4 40 E-Tron. 

While we didn’t have any track time with the vehicle, the Q4 felt planted and well equipped to handle as much spirited driving as most potential owners will ask of it, although when pressed, it’s not too hard to initiate a fair amount of body roll. It took the s-curves along our route with aplomb, and the braking system (which, like the ID.4, includes drum brakes in the rear) slowed down the vehicle effortlessly when called upon to do so. 

The regenerative braking system has two levels, drive, and B-mode which increases the level of regeneration, and the Premium Plus package includes regen on-demand paddles that increase or decrease the level of regeneration. There is, however, no on-pedal-driving mode available, and the Q4’s regenerative braking will only slow the vehicle down to about 2 mph and crawl about at the speed until you use the physical brakes to bring it to a stop. 

The Q4 40 E-Tron comes standard with the Premium package and has an optional Premium Plus. The Q4 50 (crossover and Sportback) also add an optional Prestige package that adds animated headlights and taillights, an augmented reality head-up display, LED Matrix headlights, and a headlight washer system. The animated headlight system offers four different light lamp configurations for daytime running lights. 

We used the navigation system to route us to charging stations and it worked fine. We even entered destinations that were well beyond the available driving range of 236 miles and the Q4 suggested the most convenient DC fast charging stops along the route. 

The interior does have a little more hard plastic than we’d prefer, but there are also plenty of soft touches. The seats, for instance, were very comfortable and supportive, and the center armrest has two levels of adjustable height. There are plenty of places to hold cups and bottles and Audi has even added bottle holders in all four doors that are big enough to hold liter bottles.  

Overall, its road manners were what we have come to expect from most Audi vehicles. You feel connected to the road but the primary consideration is comfort and in that vein, the Q4 feels and drives like an Audi. Customers that are new to electric drive will appreciate the benefits that EVs offer, like the quiet cabin and smooth liner acceleration, but also get the fit, finish and feel expected in an Audi. 

The Q4 E-Tron is a compelling offering. Yes, it does enter a segment that’s very crowded with no less than eight direct all-electric competitors, but it does so with the style and sophistication that few others in the class have. We love the E-Tron, but after driving the Q4 E-Tron for a day we can’t help but think we’d take a Q4 50 E-Tron Quattro and keep the $17K in a heartbeat. 

The combination of Audi quality, driving characteristics, comfort, and a relatively affordable starting price of $48,800, (which, while may still seem expensive is actually the price of the average new car in the US) should add up to the Q4 being a breakthrough electric vehicle for Audi. We suspect the Q4 will bring new buyers into the Audi brand as well as offer existing Audi enthusiasts an easier entry point to transition to electric. 

In insideevs.com/reviews/613142/audi-q4-etron-first-drive-review/