2024 (24) Audi Q4 210kW 45 82kWh S Line 5dr Auto [Leather]

With this further enhanced Q4 e-tron, Audi gets even more serious about Evs for the mass market. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the most recent changes.

Ten Second Review

The Q4 e-tron was the first production Audi built on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform for volume all-electric cars and has had two significant updates since it was originally launched back in 2021, the second of them creating the car we're going to look at here. This lower-mid-sized crossover remains pricier than other similarly-sized full-battery-powered VW Group SUVs. But it aims to deliver a slightly more up-market feel that'll help ease you into your new electrified phase of motoring ownership. That objective's helped by this second update, with its substantially upgraded cabin.

Background

The Q4 e-tron wasn't Audi's first EV. Prior to its introduction back in 2021, we'd already had three Ingolstadt full-battery models (the e-tron, the e-tron Sportback and the e-tron GT quattro). But the Q4 e-tron was the brand's first really significant and accessible electric car. Initially, it sold well, despite quality glitches and high depreciation, but in recent times sales have slowed as segment competition has fiercened. To keep its money-spinner afloat, Audi announced a far-reaching package of updates in Autumn 2023, following this up with a package of further changes in Spring 2026, these creating the car we're going to look at here. It's tempting to merely dismiss this model as Audi's version of other similarly-sized VW Group crossover EVs like the Volkswagen ID.4, the Skoda Enyaq and the CUPRA Tavascan. Certainly, all the engineering bits that matter are common between the four cars, namely the MEB platform and the battery tech. Yet Audi claims to have put its own stamp on the way this car drives and feels. Let's see.

Driving Experience

With this further Q4 e-tron update, the car benefits from the VW Group's latest torquier and more efficient APP350 motor. Its power output depends on the size of battery you choose. As before, things kick off with a 63kWh (net) battery model offering 204PS, which in standard SUV form now goes 18 miles further on a charge than the equivalent pre-facelift Q4 40 e-tron SUV - think 274 miles. Performance in the base Q4 e-tron isn't especially rapid (0-62mph in 8.1s en route to 99mph). Ideally though, you'd stretch to the larger 83kWh (net) battery most Q4 e-tron customers choose. This comes with a choice of two powertrains. Most will be looking at the Q4 e-tron 'performance' model, which like the base version also has a rear-driven single motor, in this case putting out 286PS, and makes up to 360 miles between charges (up from 338 miles previously). Your other option with the 83kWh battery is the twin motor 'quattro performance' top variant, which puts out 340PS and makes 337 miles between charges. That's between 10-20 miles better than the equivalent pre-facelift model, depending on the spec you choose. With the 'quattro performance', the 62mph sprint can be dispatched in just 5.4s on the way to 112mph. Towing capacity for the 'quattro performance' version has been improved as part of this update - to 1,800kg. All the range figures we've given by the way, are for the Q4 e-tron SUV body shape; you'll get about 10 miles more range with the sleeker Sportback version. Otherwise, things are much as before with this Audi. As previously, there's the option of what Ingolstadt calls a 'character sound' powertrain soundtrack, which is offered as an option and varies according to load and speed. The Q4's pretty straightforward to get to grips with behind the wheel. You select drive using a slider-type shifter situated on the centre console and once underway, there's the kind of instant throttle response you'd usually get from an EV of this sort. The rear-driven versions have an impressively tight urban turning circle.

Design and Build

You'll find the visual changes made to this further updated Q4 e-tron to be uber-subtle, whether you order it in standard SUV or sleeker Sportback forms. For reference, the LED headlights have been revised, the SingleFrame front grille is now colour-matched to the body and the daytime running lights now offer a choice of four different graphics, which can be changed on the fly. The 'S line' trim package most will choose adds vertical blades in Selenite silver matte to the corners of the front and rear bumpers. 'Black Edition' versions get these blades finished in high-gloss Mythos black. As before, the regular SUV model's dimensions (4,588mm long, 1,865mm wide and 1,632mm tall) place it neatly between a Q3 and a Q5 size-wise. Changes made as part of this further update are easier to spot inside, where this Q4 e-tron gains the curved display cluster we've seen on Audi's most recent combustion models (the A5, the Q3 and the Q5) and as part of this, the two main screens get bigger. The instrument display is now 11.9-inches in size (up from 10.25-inches) and is now viewed through a round rather than a squared-off steering wheel, that faux leather-stitched tiller now featuring physical scroll wheels rather than the previous fiddly haptic buttons. Less welcome is the deletion of the previous physical climate controls in favour of touchbar menu options on the new centre screen, now 12.8-inches in size (up from 11.6-inches before). For the first time in this segment, an optional 12-inch passenger display is also now available - the largest ever in an Audi, featuring a customisable standby design. As before, an optional augmented reality head-up display can be fitted. One of our issues with the original version of this car was whether the cabin finish was really 'premium' enough to properly suit the Audi badge. Well you could still possibly criticise on that score (especially if you haven't chosen up-market trim), but things have certainly much improved. Details such as cushioned knee pads, premium stitching and scratch-resistant surfaces lift the interior. As before, there's a rising centre console that seamlessly connects the dashboard to the rear seats and optional plus and pro ambient lighting packages set the mood after dark. Plus optional dynamic interaction lighting below the windshield enhances the atmosphere and improves usability and safety. Sport seats come as standard and a high quality Sonos premium sound system remains available. The need to house the big battery under the rear bench brings with it the benefit of positioning back seat folk 70mm higher than those in the front, giving them an excellent view forward, though a little at the expense of headroom. It's also wider cabin than you'd expect a relatively compact mid-sized SUV to be able to provide and with no central transmission tunnel to obstruct things, three adults could actually fit reasonably easily into the back of this car. Power assistance for the tailgate is standard across the range and it rises to reveal a 520-litre space in the SUV model - curiously, it's actually more in the Sportback version, 535-litres. In the SUV, the boot's extendable to 1,490-litres when the 40:20:40-split seatback is lowered.

Market and Model

Prices haven't changed much as part of this further update. So Q4 e-tron SUV asking figures were still starting from just over £46,000 at the time of the announcement of this facelift in Spring 2026. Allow a further £1,900 on top of the cost of the SUV if you want the sleeker Sportback body shape. There's a choice of four trim levels - 'Sport', 'S line', 'Black Edition' and 'Vorsprung'. The previous '40', '45' and '55' badges have been ditched, with Q4 e-tron variants now mainly identified by output (204PS, 286PS or 340PS). All the key equipment features you'd expect for the money are in evidence. Base 'Sport' variants get 19-inch Graphite Grey alloy wheels, those rims upgraded to 20-inches in size with the mid-level 'S line' trim level most customers will choose. Even base 'Sport' trim includes LED headlights, front sports seats, 3-Zone air conditioning and an 'MMI navigation Plus' media system with a 12.8-inch centre screen powered by Android Automotive OS. The later includes navigation, a WiFi hotspot and Amazon Alexa integration. There's also a 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument screen, an 8-speaker 180-watt sound system, rear parking sensors and cruise control. Across the line-up, there's lots of sophisticated equipment available - much of it optional. Like the Matrix LED headlights and the bespoke Sonos sound system upgrade package. We'd also want to look at the optional heat pump. This upgraded Q4 e-tron introduced improved driver assist systems. Depending on the vehicle's specification, Technology, Comfort, and Dynamic packages are available. Standard features include: parking system plus with distance display, cruise control (including speed limiter) with preparation for adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with emergency assist, traffic sign recognition, attention and fatigue warning with driver monitoring, and active front assist with evasion and turn assist, front cross traffic assist, and front emergency brake assist. Audi also offers an 'Adaptive driving assistant plus' package that helps with acceleration, braking, maintaining speed and distance, and lane guidance. Above 56mph, the system can also assist with lane changes on the highway. The driver activates the function via the MMI. The system uses arrow symbols in the instrument cluster and head-up display to indicate whether a lane change is possible; once the turn signal is set, it actively assists the steer. Optional trained parking, reverse assist, park assist plus, and four wide-angle surround view cameras are a further convenience boost, especially in the city.

Cost of Ownership

What about battery replenishment? For DC charging, standard rear-driven 63kWh models charge at 165kW, while the 83kWh versions can now charge at up to 185kW (up from 175kW before). Under ideal conditions, the battery's state of charge increases from 10 to 80 percent in 27 minutes when charged at a DC fast-charging station. Up to 111 miles of range can be added in 10 minutes. The brand's 'Plug & Charge' system is now standard: with this, at compatible charging stations, the car automatically authenticates itself with an Audi charging contract when the cable is plugged in, starts the charging process, and handles billing automatically at session end. As before, charging times are optimised thanks to the car's intelligent route planner and the automatic battery-preconditioning function connected to it. Drivers who like to plan their charging stops themselves now have the option of manually enabling battery preheating. The manual preconditioning is carried out via the MMI centre screen, which shows how many kilowatt are currently available for fast-charging the high-voltage battery and how much additional charging power is available thanks to the preconditioned battery. Manually preconditioning the battery ensures the best possible charging results at every charging station. As for AC home charging, well all variants have been engineered for charging speeds of up to 11kW. If you're using a conventional 7.4kW garage wallbox, an 83kWh Q4 e-tron can charge 255 miles of range in eight and a quarter hours. Or receive a full charge in eleven and a half hours, a figure you can reduce to about eight hours 30 minutes with a three-phase 11kW wallbox. However you choose to charge, it's worth noting that in this updated form, the Q4 e-tron now features post-conditioning. With that, the vehicle's thermal management system cools the battery, for example, if it exceeds a fixed temperature threshold after driving or charging. Using the myAudi app, owners can activate charging remotely using a smartphone. The app also provides access to the comfort remote preconditioning system, which enables remote adjustment of the cabin temperature and seat heating functions to ensure that the cabin climate is always comfortable well before a journey begins. Not so good is the issue of depreciation; the Q4 e-tron doesn't hold its value anything like the way you would expect an Ingolstadt model to do - a problem afflicting so many EVs just at present. This updated Q4 e-tron is the first Audi with bidirectional charging. With that Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) set-up, the car directly powers electric devices. It does so via a domestic power socket in the boot (providing continuous power of 2.3kW at 230V AC) or an optional adapter on the side charging port with a domestic power socket (2.3kW) or a camping power socket (3.6kW).

Summary

If, like us, you've never been quite convinced by the 'premium' credentials of Audi's Q4 e-tron, then the Ingolstadt brand hopes you will be by this further updated version. The new front-of-cabin experience is certainly a decent step forward. And there's now all the technology you could want in terms of infotainment provision and drive assist features. But much of this can also be had with the more affordable Volkswagen, CUPRA and Skoda EV models that share virtually all this Audi's engineering. So you'll still need to be convinced that a Q4 e-tron is worth the extra money it demands. You might be. This is, after all, a much better car than it was half a decade ago back at launch. But then it needs to be because the segment competition is a whole lot more challenging than it was back in 2021. And lots of less expensive rivals will tempt you if you've a Q4 e-tron-sized budget. Will any of them feel quite like this Audi to own though. You might think not.