Audi enter the ever increasing small EV SUV market with two new offerings. The Audi Q4 e-tron is now available as either a conventional SUV or a coupe-SUV Sportback model.
The Q4 e-tron line-up starts at €41,465 for the Q4 e-tron 35 model, it has 335km range and uses a battery with 52kWh of usable capacity mounted under the car’s floor.
This battery powers a 168bhp electric motor at the rear axle, with 310Nm torque. Audi claims 0–100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 160 kph. Audi also says the car will cover 335 kilometres between return charges. The Q4 e-tron 35 comes with 7.2kW AC compatibility for home wallbox recharges, and can also charge at 100kW from a CCS rapid charger.
The Q4 e-tron 40 is priced from €51,800 and features a larger battery pack, rated at 77kWh net, as well as a more powerful rear motor with 201bhp and 310Nm of torque. Audi suggests a 0–100km/h time of 8.5 seconds, although its top speed remains limited at 160 kph.
Thanks to the larger battery, range increases significantly to 511 kilometres and, although the Sportback version of the 40 model has not yet been fully homologated, Audi expects it will improve further on that figure due to its slightly better aerodynamics. The Sportback will arrive in Ireland around September 2021. Rear space is said to only be slightly curtailed in the Sportback, boot space overall is around 520 litres. Interior space is on par with a Q5 and yet the Q4 has the turning circle of an A1.
The Q4 e-tron heralds the introduction of the Audi augmented reality head-up display. Unfortunately it wasn’t available for demonstration just yet, but the new system is said to use clever technology to make it appear as if key driver information is not being shown on the windscreen itself, but instead being projected into a live space ten metres ahead of the car. Navigation prompts float over the road ahead and guide the driver to the correct exit at a roundabout or the correct lane at a junction.
The augmented reality tech works with some of the Audi’s extensive driver assistance and technology features too, including an adaptive cruise control system with steering assistance.
The Q4 e-tron is the first production Audi built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform. As well as being Audi’s MEB debut, the Q4 e-tron is also the first premium brand car on the platform. As such, it comes with several key differences keeping it at an arm’s length from its more mainstream Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV siblings. Better materials, more tech and more power are all in plain view from the moment you sit in the cabin.
The Audi Q4 e-tron SUV is available to reserve now (€950 deposit), with prices starting from €41,465. This positions the newcomer firmly above its Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq siblings.