2023 Audi Q4 e-tron / Q4 e-tron Sportback

Overview

Until recently, Audi’s e-tron electric vehicle sub-brand has included only the racy e-tron GT sport sedan and the expensive-and-plush e-tron SUV. The 2023 Q4 e-tron and the Q4 e-tron Sportback, now in their sophomore model year, democratize the German automaker’s electric offerings with more approachable starting prices and enough Audi-ness to put it hem neck-in-neck with the company’s popular Q5 gasoline-powered crossover. Base models are rear-wheel drive and offer just 201 horsepower but the all-wheel drive, dual-motor models pack a 295-horsepower punch. No matter the powertrain, a 77.0-kWh battery pack is on board and gives the Q4 e-tron a maximum range of 265 miles per charge. That’s enough to outdo the Volvo C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge models, but not quite enough to unseat the Tesla Model Y from its range superiority in this price bracket.

What’s New for 2023?

The rear-wheel drive 40 models join the Q4 e-tron lineup for 2023. These lower-cost entries come with a single, rear-mounted electric motor that makes 201 horsepower. The same 77.0-kWh battery pack from the 50 models can be found in the 40s, but the range is higher at 265 miles per charge versus 236 for the more powerful all-wheel-drive 50. The entry-level 40 powertrain is only available on base Premium and mid-range Premium Plus trims and not available at all on the Sportback. Elsewhere in the lineup, the Q4 e-tron swaps its 10.1-inch infotainment display for a larger 11.6-inch setup. Navigation is now standard on the Premium Plus trim and all models equipped with the more powerful 50 powertrain now come with the S Line appearance package, which adds unique wheels, additional exterior brightwork, and special badging.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We’ll let you decide if the regular squareback or the swoopier Sportback body style is right for you, but with either one, we’d recommend the Premium Plus trim. This mid-range trim adds a power-operated liftgate, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charging pad, keyless entry, and more. We’d spring for the all-wheel drive 50 powertrain because makes 94 more horsepower than the standard setup. But if you value the extra range of the base propulsion system, you know what to do.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

The entry-level Q4 e-tron 40 comes with a single 201-hp electric motor that powers the rear wheels. We haven’t had a chance to drive the Q4 e-tron with this setup yet but weren’t impressed with it in the mechanically-similar Volkswagen ID.4 With an electric motor powering each axle, the all-wheel drive Q4 e-tron 50 and Q4 e-tron Sportback 50 models make 295 horsepower. The result is a claimed zero-to-60-time of 6.2 seconds. That is far more satisfying than the 7.9-second estimate for the 40 but still not as quick as the gasoline-powered Audi Q5 SUV. Around town, the Q4 e-tron 50’s powertrain feels like more than enough even if its initial shove is more muted than rival SUVs such as the Model Y and the XC40. At higher speeds though, such as when passing on the highway, the powertrain feels more lethargic. During testing, the Q4 e-tron 50 sprang to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. The Q4 e-tron’s road manners are polite; the ride is smooth and the Audi feels reasonably maneuverable thanks to a tight turning radius. We’d stop short of calling it fun, though, as it feels heavy in corners and its steering feedback feels artificial.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The Q4 e-tron’s 77.0-kWh battery pack provides up to 265 miles per charge when paired with the standard single-motor 40 powertrain. The all-wheel drive 50 powertrain isn’t as efficient, with an estimated range of 236 miles for the squareback model and 242 miles for the Sportback. The Q4 e-tron 50 we tested on our 75-mph highway route achieved 190 miles of driving range. All models support fast charging at up to 150-kW and, according to Audi, can be charged from five to 80 percent in just 36 minutes. This is slower charging than the Genesis GV60, which is capable of charging to the same level in just 18 minutes. The Q4 e-tron 50 we tested charged from 10 to 90 percent in 44 minutes, with an average DC Fast-Charge rate of 87 kW.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

Both body styles of the Q4 e-tron 50 are rated for 100 MPGe city and 89 MPGe highway, which is similar to other luxury-branded EV crossovers. During our drive with the Q4 e-tron 50, it returned a 93 MPGe combined rating. The Q4 e-tron 40 has not yet been rated by the government agency but should provide slightly higher efficiency due to its single motor setup. For more information about the Q4 e-tron’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Like other Audi models, the Q4 e-tron’s cabin is a technological showcase for Audi’s latest and greatest gadgets but it incorporates a few unique features such as a squared-off steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls. Although the Q4 e-tron concept was shown strictly as a four-seater, the production version offers seating for five. The interior’s passenger space is about the same as the gas-powered Q5’s but cargo space isn’t as generous.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Q4 e-tron has the latest version of Audi’s MMI system. A 10.3-inch digital gauge display is standard, and a large 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen is angled toward the driver for easier access to its various menus and features. Audi also offers a head-up display with an augmented reality feature that can project information such as navigation instructions or driver-assistance warnings in the driver’s eye line.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Q4 e-tron models are stocked with plenty of driver-assistance technology features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking. For more information about the Q4 e-tron’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback will offer the same limited and powertrain warranty as the larger e-tron SUV.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Electric components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs

Source: www.caranddriver.com