New Audi Q4 e-tron Review

Introduction

Welcome to the new Audi Q4 e-tron. Audi’s bestselling electric SUV has been treated to a host of shiny new upgrades in hopes of keeping it at the forefront of the most popular segment of the EV market. The outgoing Q4 e-tron sold over 14,000 units in the UK in 2025 alone, so the bar is high.

The new Q4 still uses the same MEB platform shared with many VW Group EVs such as the VW ID.4 and the beloved Skoda Enyaq, but here, Audi has chosen to focus on improved usability, range, charging speeds and interior modernity.

Changes on the outside are much more subtle unless you know what to look for, so the question remains: has Audi done enough to keep winning over customers with the new Q4 e-tron? Read on to find out.

Range, battery and charging

The new Q4 e-tron is available with a choice of two batteries and drive layouts. Firstly, the entry level 59kWh battery is only available with a rear wheel drive layout that gets you up to 280 miles (451km) of range on the WLTP cycle.

Upgrade to the larger 77kWh battery and you get the choice between rear and all-wheel drive. At best, the larger battery gets you 368 miles (592km) of range, should you opt for rear wheel drive, or 345 miles (554km) in the quattro Performance model. 

That equates to an improvement of between 11 and 18 miles over the outgoing Q4. Not massive, but definitely nice to have. That means a reported efficiency rating of up to 4.8 miles/kWh. Impressive.

Charging gets a little more interesting too. You’ll get 165kW of DC rapid charging as standard with a step up to 185kW on the quattro Performance model. That will net you a 10–80% charging time of about 27 minutes. It’s a slight improvement over the last Q4 that leaves this new model very much in the middle of the pack when compared with its competitors.

A real improvement comes in the form of newly added vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities. Not only can you now get an adaptor to plug into the external charging port, but there’s also a three-pin plug in the boot. In either socket, you’re offered 2.3kW of V2L capacity when using a three-pin but the external plug supports a sturdier camping power socket with a power limit of 3.6kW.

Practicality and boot space

Interior packaging is still just as impressive as the previous Q4 e-tron, with generous rear legroom and an additional 25 litres of interior storage dotted around the cabin. 

Behind the second row, there’s 500–515 litres of luggage space depending on whether you opt for the SUV or Sportback body styles. These numbers are very similar between the two body styles because they're both measured to the window line. 

Overall of course the squarer shape means the SUV is going to be better for tall loads and larger dogs.

​Towing capacity sits at up to 1,800kg on the quattro models but expect your range to take a significant hit if you’re pulling anything that heavy.

Interior, styling and technology

On the inside is where the new Q4 e-tron has had its biggest upgrades. The dashboard has been updated to a new design more in-keeping with other current Audi models and features a suite of new displays.

There’s an 11.9in binnacle screen to display Audi’s virtual cockpit, complete with current media, maps and all the other important information you’d expect in a gauge cluster. In the middle of the dash sits a new 13in curved central touch screen which contains most of your vehicle functions including the heater controls. Thankfully, there are still centrally mounted physical media buttons on the console below.

Lastly a new 12in passenger display is an option, allowing someone in the front seat to game or watch media. Best of all, should you choose not to opt for the extra passenger display, Audi’s design team has done some work to make sure the resulting space doesn’t just feel like a 12in blanking panel. Huzzah!

Other interior upgrades include improved materials with softer touch finishes throughout, new ambient lighting and dual actively cooled front wireless charging pads.

On the outside, the changes are much more subtle but features include new OLED rear lights with Audi’s famed dynamic signatures, customisable front running lights and matrix LED headlights.

Motors and performance

Fans of the outgoing Q4 e-tron will be pleased to hear that the new Q4 drives very much as it did before. It’s no sports machine, 0-62mph takes 5.9s in even the sportiest Quattro Performance trim, but it’s still a very composed car.

There are a few powertrain options, of course. Starting with the base rear-wheel drive, small battery car, 204hp delivers 0–62mph in 8.1 seconds, while the range-topping quattro Performance model gets 340hp and can sprint to 62 in 5.4 seconds. Now… look. I know this sounds weird, because 5.4 seconds isn’t slow. But actually. It kind of is? By the standards of other cars in this class, like the Tesla Model Y, for instance. It’s not masses of performance, by the standard of posh electric SUVs, let’s just say that, but I would be first to say that I don’t actually need or want masses of acceleration, so maybe Audi’s got it right? 

Yeah. I think maybe they did. I had a go in the Audi Q4 e-tron quattro Performance version out on the international launch, but every Q4 features four, simplified driving modes, Balanced, Comfort, Dynamic, Efficiency and Individual. Eco smooths throttle response and limits top speed to extract as much range from the battery as possible. Comfort is soft and relaxed while Dynamic firms things up for a sportier ride.

Most of us will spend the majority of our time in Individual mode though, which allows drivers to pick their favourite bits of all the other modes and combine them into one. I really like having the suspension in its cushiest, comfort setting with steering in Balanced. Your tastes and preferences may change, but that’s the joy of an individual mode! Ginny, for example, tends to prefer stiffer steering so may want to opt for Dynamic.

Paddles behind the steering wheel change the amount of regen braking you get, ranging for complete coasting to heavy deceleration. However, if you’re a fan of one-pedal driving, thave to engage B mode by nudging the gear selector, which allows the car to come to a complete stop without you touching the brake pedal.

You’ll certainly notice the ADAS system - which includes your speed limit warning, lane keep and autonomous emergency braking and warning systems - with its beeps and boops. Thankfully, there’s a simple one-button process for turning them off. Just tap the little car in the top right-hand corner of the central display to activate your chosen settings. Done!

Other gadgets include an augmented reality head-up-display complete with current speed, nav guidance and handy arrows mapped onto the environment ahead when that turning arrives so you never miss one again. The Q4 is also bristling with cameras which, while a disappointingly low resolution, allow you to make the car seem translucent in the infotainment so you can see what you’re parking on top of. A very handy feature for bay parking.

Anyway… Like I said - it drives like the old Audi Q4, which is no bad thing. It handles tidily, the ride is comfy enough. It’s nice, isn’t it?! And no, it doesn’t feel slow! It’s definitely fast enough.

Pricing and on sale date

We haven’t had UK pricing confirmed for the Q4 e-tron yet. But, based on the figures for the German market, we expect pricing to start around £41,000 and rise to roughly £51,000 for higher spec versions. 

Do note that the sloping Sportback body style carries an approximate £1,700 premium over the standard SUV too, for reasons we can’t work out.

It’s not cheap, but is competitively positioned, considering the amount of tech and luxury features on offer. As for on sale dates, the first deliveries are expected this summer.

Verdict

The updated Audi Q4 e-tron is well positioned to continue its role as Audi’s bestselling electric SUV and one of the bestselling EVs overall. 

However, as new competitors join the space, VW Group’s MEB platform cars are starting to get outpaced in range and charging speed. 

But if you’re after a comfortable, stylish and proven electric SUV with the image and familiarity of the Audi badge, the new Q4 e-tron is still a great option.