Audi Q4 e-tron Review & Prices

The Audi Q4 e-tron is a staple of the posh, electric family SUV category. It’s comfortable, spacious, practical and very easy to drive, but a big 2026 update means the interior isn’t as premium as it once was. Alternatives still offer more range, too.

It’s mechanically similar to the Cupra Tavascan, Volkswagen ID4, Skoda Elroq and Ford Capri, but with a more upmarket image. If they made up a pop group, then the Q4 e-tron would be Posh Spice.

There are plenty of standalone offerings when it comes to electric SUVs these days, from the fashionable Peugeot E-3008 to the popular Tesla Model Y. The premium BMW iX1 is a more direct alternative, as is the Mercedes EQA (which isn’t as good).

They may not be immediately obvious, but a 2026 facelift did bring a host of changes to the Q4’s exterior. Promise.

Okay so the silhouette, front bumper and larger details are all the same, but more intricate lights, simplified grilles, a sleeker rear bumper and new wheel designs have improved on what was already a handsome - if understated - family car.

Audi Q4 e-tron: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 269 - 352 miles
Efficiency: 3.8 - 4.0 mi/kWh
Battery size: 59kWh, 77kWh (usable)
Max charge speed: 160kW - 185kW
Charge time AC: 13hrs, 0-100%, 7.4kW
Charge time DC: 27mins, 160kW / 19 mins, 165kW / 27mins, 185kW, 10-80%
Charge port location: Right side rear
Power outputs: 204hp, 286hp, 340hp

Step inside and you’ll notice a far larger change, because Audi has brought the Q4 e-tron’s interior bang up to date with the rest of its model range…unfortunately. It’s not the end of the world, because the swoopy infotainment screen looks nice and most of the surfaces are still as plush as they were previously, but the driver’s screen is now a total let down compared to the excellent item in the pre-update cars. Boo, Audi. Boo.

Passengers can now have their own display, too, which comes as standard in top-spec Vorsprung models, but it’s as gimmicky as in the rest of Audi’s range. At least cars without it now have a trimmed dashboard, rather than a gloss black plinth - so that’s something.

Fortunately the Q4 e-tron is just as practical as ever, with some of the best cupholders on the market built into the doors, while a new centre console means there’s space for two phones side-by-side, as well as under-console storage. It’s easy to get comfortable both front and back, but three abreast is a bit of a squeeze. The 515-litre boot lags behind alternatives, too.

Two battery options across the three power outputs mean range varies from 269 miles in the entry-level car to 352 miles in the middle-ground e-tron Performance. Four-wheel drive models split the difference with a 330-mile range.

On the road, the Q4 is a supremely comfortable way to get around. It absorbs potholes and speed bumps with ease, whether on the smallest or largest wheels. Visibility out the back isn’t great and the brakes are far too spongy to come to a consistent, smooth stop, but the steering is light and easy to twirl around bends.

It’s even better on the motorway, gliding along in near silence, though there’s a smidge of wind noise from the top of the windscreen and door pillars. Don’t expect much fun on a country lane, but the Q4 can be chucked into bends without kicking up a fuss, as there’s plenty of grip.

Verdict

There are so many electric, family-focused SUVs on sale at the moment it boggles the mind, but the updated Audi Q4 is right up there with the best of them. It’s not quite as stylish as a Peugeot 3008, nor is it as spacious as the comparably expensive (larger) Skoda Enyaq, but if you’ve got the budget then the Q4 e-tron is a brilliant choice of car.

You can check out new Audi Q4 e-tron deals on Carwow, or Audi Q4 e-tron lease deals to avoid the cash lump sum. There are used Q4 e-trons available through our network of trusted dealers, as well as other used Audis for sale. We can even help you sell your car when the time comes to switch.

The Audi Q4 e-tron is pretty expensive for a car of this size. Yes, it comes on 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, features LED lights, heated front seats and ambient lighting, but at £46,000 in entry-level guise it’s still a pricey proposition - especially when you can get a long-range Volkswagen ID4 in a high-spec for that money.

You’ll pay £3,000 more for S-Line trim with a more aggressive body kit, sporty interior bits and 20-inch wheels. Black Edition cars are the same jump again for - you guessed it - blacked-out trims, heated seats front and rear plus leatherette and suede trim inside, while the range-topping Vorsprung model starts at a mighty £58,900.

Add around £4,500 for the larger battery Performance powertrain, and £5,000 again for the sporty Quattro Performance with all-wheel drive.

It’s comfortable, but the Q4 is a little dull to drive

In town

The Q4 e-tron may not be as small as an A3 or Q2, but it’s just as easy to drive around town. It’s one of the most comfortable electric SUVs on sale (below something much pricier like a Polestar 3 or BMW iX, that is), easily dealing with potholes and sudden speedbumps without letting them spoil your journey.

Sharp edges are more noticeable with the blingy 21-inch alloy wheels and S-Line suspension fitted, but even then this is a very cushy car. The light steering and tight 10.2-metre turning circle (11.5 metres on Quattro cars) make city driving even easier, but over-the-shoulder visibility is poor due to the small rear window, which doesn’t help when glancing over your shoulder.

Still, standard-fit parking sensors and a reversing camera take the sting out of car parks and tight spaces.

On the motorway

Even with the small battery and 204hp electric motor combo the Q4 is plenty quick enough to merge on the motorway with no fuss or panic. Acceleration is even more brisk in the Performance model, but no matter which trim you go for, the sensible SUV is very comfortable at high speeds.

Motorway dips and ruts are dispatched quietly, and there’s minimal tyre roar in the cabin. There’s a bit of wind noise from the top of the windscreen and side pillars, but not enough to spoil a conversation or drown out quiet background music.

The Q4 comes with an augmented-reality head-up display which clearly shows what turn you’re supposed to be taking, right in your line of sight. It’s handy when coming up to exits which you’re not paying attention to.

On a twisty road

Don’t expect the Q4 to be a thrill ride on a country lane, because it isn’t. That being said, dynamic prowess probably isn’t your priority if you need a sensible family car - in which case the Audi is more impressive than most.

Pop it in ‘dynamic’ mode and the steering goes from overly-light to rather heavy, which gives you a touch more confidence when pitching the grippy SUV into tight bends than in the ‘comfort’ setting. That’s not to say it becomes exciting, but it’s more than adequate for narrow, twisty roads.

The rear seats are spacious, even for tall passengers, but the boot is bigger in a Skoda Enyaq and VW ID4

Space in the front is really good, and it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position. The Q4 isn’t as tall as other SUVs, but you can set the seat right up to get a good view of the road ahead.

With the flat floor, and the inherently greater space efficiency of an electric car, you’d expect just a little more space for odds and ends in the cabin. The Q4’s little lozenge-like gear selector switch sits on a panel that juts out from the centre of the dashboard, and while there’s decent storage beneath it, it does feel like the space could have been made more practical.

There are good-sized cupholders as well as some awesome bottle-holders built into the door cards; they're a great, logical solution, freeing up the door bins for odds and ends. The storage box under the armrest seems oddly small.

Space in the back seats

The Q4 isn’t a huge car but there’s loads of room to get comfortable on long journeys in the back. Legroom is particularly impressive, and you’ll easily fit a six-footer behind another six-foot tall adult in the front.

Headroom is also solid, and while there isn’t masses of shoulder space for three-abreast journeys, the flat floor helps for leg room when travelling with three in the back. When four-up, the middle backrest can be folded down to become an armrest with two cup holders.

A pair of ISOFIX anchor points in the outermost seats are accessible under very easy-to-use flip-up covers, which are convenient when loading child seats.

Boot space

The Q4 e-tron has a boot capacity of 515 litres, which is less than you’ll find in a Volkswagen ID4 (543 litres) or a Skoda Enyaq (585 litres). Still, a flat floor and a wide opening makes it very easy to load bulk items into, and if you collapse the rear seats you’ll open up 1,487 litres of space.

Lift the boot floor and you’ll reveal some extra storage space, but it’s disappointing that there’s no front boot under the high bonnet. There aren’t as many clever solutions as per the Skoda Elroq, either, which is another mechanically similar alternative.

Premium materials and slick design meet clunky screens and scratchy plastics in the Q4 e-tron

While at first glance the Q4’s interior is certainly slicker to look at than the previous model, this illusion is shattered when you get in and turn the car on. The Q4 was, until the 2026 update, one of the last models to feature Audi’s angular interior design, as well as the excellent ‘virtual cockpit’ driver display.

Now, however, the Q4 has been brought in line with younger models in the Audi line-up, receiving the swoopy two-in-one instrument and infotainment system - with an optional third screen tacked onto the side. Unfortunately, that means the driver’s screen is now an 11.9-inch sliver of information in a nasty, glossy black bezel which looks cheap, quite frankly, like an old LCD TV in a two-star hotel.

Audi has also culled the easy to use and posh-feeling physical climate controls in favour of on-screen items, which is a tragedy in itself as they’re now harder to use on the go. Conversely, the irritating haptic controls on the steering wheel have been ditched in favour of real buttons. That’s a plus, but come on, pick a lane Audi - preferably the one with more switches.

Otherwise, the 12.8-inch infotainment system is easy to use and navigate. There may be a few too many sub-menus to trundle through, but fortunately you can set a customisable series of buttons on the swipe-down menu, handy for disengaging driver assistance systems on the fly.

Top-trim models come with a 12.9-inch passenger display, which sits awkwardly to the side of the main unit, and is as much of a gimmick here as in other Audis. Fortunately, not opting for it doesn’t penalise you with an ugly block of black plastic as it does in those cars, because the Q4 is the first Audi to receive an upholstered panel in its place. Bravo.

Otherwise, material quality is largely high - better than the Q6 e-tron and A5, for example - but there are a fair amount of scratchy plastics on the door cards, door handles and centre console. It doesn’t feel as solidly assembled as the old cabin, either.

You only have two battery options in the Audi Q4 e-tron, the smaller of which has a capacity of 59kWh, the larger 77kWh. Entry-level e-tron models have a 204hp motor for the rear wheels with the small battery, which combine for 269 miles of range.

Middle-spec Performance cars have a larger battery and motor for 286hp and 352 miles of range, while the all-wheel drive Quattro Performance is the fastest with 250hp, but range dips to 330 miles.

The basic e-tron charges at a maximum 160kW, while Performance achieves a 165kW speed and Quattro Performance can charge at a 185kW rate. That means a 10-80% fast charge of 29 minutes for the middle model, while the e-tron and Quattro take 27 minutes instead.

We saw 3.4mi/kWh on our twisty, winding and motorway-heavy test route (201 real-world miles) in the entry-level model. Audi claims 4.0mi/kWh, which is realistic if you spend a fair amount of time driving in town. The S-Line Quattro cars are less efficient at 3.8mi/kWh, but that’s a negligible difference in the real world.

There’s minimal Vehicle Excise Duty to pay because the Audi Q4 e-tron is an electric vehicle, and only the most basic Sport and S-Line Q4 e-trons duck under the £50,000 luxury car supplement threshold - meaning additional tax in years two to six for everything else. Being an EV means company car drivers get a bargain basement Benefit-in-Kind tax rate, that being said.

Audi Q4 Euro NCAP Score (2025): 5/5

Adult occupant: 91%
Child occupant: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 79%
Safety assist: 73%

The Q4 e-tron has scored an impressive five-out-five stars when tested by safety experts Euro NCAP not once, but twice, in 2023 and 2025.

It comes as standard with emergency automatic braking, lane-keep assist, a driver monitoring system and two ISOFIX points in the back. The technology pack adds Matrix LED headlights, which are brilliant at illuminating the road and worth considering if you do a lot of night driving.

Audi finished 19th out of 31 brands in the 2025 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey. That said, the Q4 e-tron has actually proved to be pretty dependable. It’s based on Volkswagen Group’s ‘MEB’ architecture, and aside from some early software issues it appears to be quite reliable across the various brands that use it.

The Q4 e-tron comes standard with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is in line with most other premium car makers, but it’s also the minimum you get in the UK. The battery’s coverage stretches to eight years or 100,000 miles, at least.