The Q4 E-Tron couldn’t have arrived at a better time for Audi. Backed by incentives from governments the world over, sales of electric cars – along with efforts to establish charging network infrastructures to keep them charged and running – are at an all-time high.
- Strong accelerative ability
- Tidy handling and controlled ride
- Contemporary and roomy cabin
- Charging remains a bugbear for many potential customers
- High boot lip
- Likely $100,000 price tag in Australia
First revealed in concept car form at the 2019 Geneva motor show, the 2022 Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback compact SUV, is based on Audi parent company Volkswagen’s dedicated MEB (Modularen Elektrik Baukasten – Modular Electric Toolkit) platform. Its development has been carried out alongside that of the recently unveiled Volkswagen ID.4, Cupra Born and Skoda Enyaq – the former two of which it is produced alongside at a Volkswagen factory in Zwickau, Germany.
Together with their platform, all four share common powertrains as well as other key architectural elements.
The similarities between the new Audi and its MEB sibling are reflected in the proportions of its exterior, most notably the relative shortness of the bonnet and the way the base of the A-pillars are set well forward in a bid to maximize interior space. It gives the high-riding Q4 E-Tron a rather unique look within the Audi line-up.
As with the more conventional combustion engine Q3, buyers get to choose between two different bodystyles. Included is a so-called SUV with a sloping tailgate as well as the more coupe-like Sportback model with a flatter liftback style tailgate driven here.
There is no mistaking the fact that the Q4 E-Tron is electric-powered. Up front, there’s a bold blanked-off single-frame grille with Audi’s signature four rings. The overall styling holds true to the earlier concept with prominent side feature lines above large wheelhouses and lower part of the door, helping to add structure to the otherwise smooth flanks, while a sizeable spoiler above the tailgate helps to smooth airflow across the heavily curved roof. Audi claims a class-leading drag co-efficient of 0.26.
| 2022 Audi Q4 Sportback 50 E-Tron Quattro | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 535L |
| Length | 4588mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Height | 1614mm |
| Wheelbase | 2764mm |
Inside, the new Audi immediately impresses. The cabin is very contemporary, both in look and feel. It is also higher on perceived quality than any of its Volkswagen Group siblings. The front seats are set well back owing to the heavy rake of the windscreen, and the pedals are positioned relatively high due to a flat floor. However, there’s a large range of both longitudinal and height adjustment, allowing you to quickly strike a comfortable driving position behind the hexagonal-shaped multi-function steering wheel.
There is a large expanse of dashboard out in front, but the materials are all very agreeable in look and feel. As is the clarity of the two digital displays – a 10.25-inch unit for the instruments and a standard 10.1-inch centrally mounted unit, optional at 11.6-inch, for the MMI (Multi-Media Interface) infotainment system that features ‘Hey Audi’ conversational voice recognition. Buyers can choose between three different visual set-ups: standard, virtual and virtual plus.
The Q4 E-Tron is also the first Audi model to feature an augmented reality head-up display. Similar to that available on the ID.4, it reflects information, including navigation commands, onto the windscreen in two separate fields and with a varying depth of field.
It’s an excellent driving environment, with many different cubby holes, including large bottle holders in each of the doors. The space-saving properties of the MEB platform combine with a relatively long 2764mm wheelbase to provide impressive accommodation, particularly in the rear where the Q4 E-Tron offers greater legroom than either of its key rivals, the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQA, both of which use adapted platforms from their combustion engine siblings.
| Key details | 2022 Audi Q4 Sportback 50 E-Tron Quattro |
| Motor | Twin electric motors |
| Power | 220kW |
| Torque | 460Nm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Single-speed automatic |
| Battery size | 76.6kWh (net) |
| Range (WLTP) | 497kw |
| Weight | 2140kg |
| Turning circle | 10.2m |
The rear seat is positioned 70mm higher than those up front, owing to the housing of the battery, giving rear seat occupants an excellent view forward, albeit at the expense of headroom. The lack of a centre tunnel does, however, provide the centre rear seat with uninterrupted foot space.
Boot capacity is put at 535-litres in the Q4 Sportback. The loading floor is flat, though the lip is set quite high. Valuable items can be kept out of sight in a compartment underneath the floor. Capacity extends to 1460-litres when the 40:20:40 configured split fold rear seats are folded away.
As with the ID.4, there has been no effort to provide added load capacity at the front; the space underneath the bonnet is occupied by electric motor, power electronics and air conditioning compressor.
Audi is yet to confirm details to the planned Australian line-up. In Germany, it begins with three models in both SUV and Sportback body styles, with deliveries planned to begin at the end of June.
Included are the rear-wheel drive 35 E-Tron and 40 E-Tron – both of which receive a rear-mounted electric motor delivering a respective 125kW and 150kW. It is the four-wheel drive 50 E-Tron Quattro model driven here, though. Its dual electric motors deliver a combined 220kW to all four wheels via a single-speed gearbox.
To get underway you draw a slider-like shift mechanism on the centre console backwards into the default driving mode, D. Despite its 2140kg curb weight, the step-off is strong. There’s immediate shove the instant you brush the accelerator, and it remains so up to and beyond 60km/h when you keep your right foot buried.
D sees the Q4 E-Tron coast without any perceptible regenerative braking when you lift off the throttle. When you nudge the slider back a notch to select B, the new Audi automatically applies greater regenerative braking force on the overrun for additional energy recuperation.
Paddles on the steering wheel allow you to select the level of regenerative braking in three stages. The lower level simulates the braking force of a conventional combustion engine, while the higher setting provides greater retardation at up to 0.6g for maximum energy harvesting on a trailing throttle.
It’s a compelling powertrain running a combination of an asynchronous electric motor up front and a synchronous motor at the rear. With 460Nm, there is instant performance and smooth qualities to the delivery. The urgency of it all can sometimes overcome the otherwise outstanding traction with judicious use of the throttle out of roundabouts or tight corners.
The immediacy of the step-off makes the 50 E-Tron Quattro feel quicker than Audi’s claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2sec suggests. This is 0.6sec inside the time quoted by BMW for the iX3 and 2.7sec quicker than the Mercedes-Benz EQA. Top speed is limited to 180km/h – 20km/h higher than that of the 35 E-Tron and 40 E-Tron owing to a longer gear ratio used by the top-of-the-line Q4.
Refinement is outstanding, even by electric car standards. There is a faint whine to the operation of the electric motors under load and some wind buffeting around the exterior mirrors at speed, but overall it’s very quiet and calm.
A tight 10.2m turning circle makes for excellent manoeuvrability in city driving. The steering is light and pleasantly consistent. However, the electro-mechanical system fails to deliver any meaningful feel.
With the battery mounted low within its dedicated platform structure and an evenly balanced front-to-rear weight distribution, the handling is well controlled with good response upon turn-in and relatively low levels of body roll in tighter corners. You’d never call it engaging, but the new Audi grips well, which allows it to generate quite high cornering speeds when pushed along.
The sports suspension of the 50 E-Tron sits 15mm lower than the Q4 E-Tron’s standard underpinnings. It can be ordered with adaptive damping control, as on our test car, in combination with a drive-select program offering four different driving modes: Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual.
On the optional 21-inch wheels shod with 235/40-profile front and 255/40-profile rear Bridgestone Turanza Eco tyres, the ride is surprisingly compliant with impressive small-bump control and good isolation of shock over larger bumps.
Buyers can also specify the new Audi with a tow ball; the maximum trailer load is put at 1200kg.
Like the less powerful 40 E-Tron, the 50 E-Tron receives a 400-volt 76.6kWh (net) lithium-ion battery. We’ll need more time behind the wheel to verify the 497km range claim, though.
Our test route in and around the northern Germany city of Lübeck was predominately flat. That said, you can recoup a surprising amount of energy by being active with the steering wheel paddles to alter the level of regeneration, and the claimed range is competitive against rival SUVs: the iX3 and EQA have respective WLTP ranges of 351km and 486km.
Recharging of the battery can be achieved at up to 125kW, with around 130km of range claimed in 10 minutes on a high-power charger.
We’re still waiting to hear where Audi will pitch the Q4 in Australia. Pricing for the Q4 Sportback 50 E-Tron Quattro is yet to be revealed in Germany, though Audi says it will likely come in at around €1500 above its SUV equivalent, which goes for €52,900 or the equivalent of $83,641 on today’s exchange rate. With transport, taxes and tariffs included, expect it to be a $100,000 proposition.
To put this into perspective, the larger E-Tron Quattro Sportback, which boasts 230kW and 540Nm from its dual electric motors, is priced at $148,100.
What the Q4 Sportback 50 E-Tron Quattro does offer over its stablemate is a greater range. Its 497km is 150km more than that claimed by the 50 E-Tron Quattro Sportback and its 71kWh lithium-ion battery on the WLTP test cycle.
The Q4 Sportback is well thought out and thoroughly well executed. It is not tremendously engaging to drive, but in top-of-the-line 50 E-Tron Quattro guise it delivers strong performance, responsive handling and a nicely refined ride. It also has a roomy interior for its dimensions, generous accommodation by class standards and, on initial impressions, class-competitive build quality.
It’s a likeable electric car that feels as much at home around town as it is out on the open road. But at close to $100,000, it’s likely to cost more than the RSQ3 Sportback when it makes its way Down Under.
Until Australia gets a comprehensive charging network, the combustion-engine performance SUV alternative is probably going to be the more satisfying, if not the most environmentally friendly, choice for most.
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