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Expert Rating

Audi Q4 e-tron

(2021 – present)

Expert Rating

New car score:

76
%
A

Used car score:

73
%
A

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

75
%
B

Safety Rating:

78
%
B

Eco Rating:

100
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

72
%
A

How are our Expert Rating scores calculated?

Expert Rating

New car score:

76
%
A

Used car score:

73
%
A

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

75
%
B

Safety Rating:

78
%
B

Eco Rating:

100
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

72
%
A

Summary


Launched in 2021, the Audi Q4 e-tron is a mid-sized electric SUV and the fourth addition to Audi’s EV line-up.

Available in both SUV and Sportback versions, the Q4 e-tron built on one of Volkswagen Group’s dedicated electric vehicle platforms, just like the similarly sized Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq.

The Audi Q4 e-tron offers plenty of choice, with two battery options and three power levels on offer. The entry level 125kW ’35’ and mid-range 150kW ’40’ versions both have a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the top-spec 220kW ’50’ models are powered by two electric motors that drive all four wheels.

The Audi Q4 e-tron has been praised for its price point but criticised for its costly options packages, which can take the price up to more than £65,000. What Car? refers to the entry-level Q4 e-tron as “temptingly priced”, while Business Car is quick to note the “lofty pricing” of the ’50’ models.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is mechanically identical to the more conventional SUV version, with the main difference being a more sharply raked roofline that sacrifices some boot space and rear headroom for slightly sleeker styling. Top Gear concludes that there’s little point opting for the Sportback variant of the Q4 e-tron, saying that “the Sportback e-tron gives you less for more”.

Overall, the Q4 e-tron has had a lot of praise from across the media for its high levels of build quality, comfortable driving experience and roomy interior. Auto Express is impressed, suggesting that the Q4 e-tron will “become the German company’s biggest seller behind the A3 hatchback.”

As of April 2024, the Audi Q4 e-tron has an Expert Rating score of A for both new and used car calculations (76% and 73%, respectively). The only caveat to this excellent set of results is that we don’t yet have any meaningful reliability data as the model simply hasn’t been around long enough.

Q4 e-tron highlights

  • Choice of power levels and battery sizes
  • Competitively priced entry level models
  • Cabin quality a step above rivals
  • Well-equipped and practical
  • Roomy interior

Q4 e-tron lowlights

  • Bland driving experience
  • Too many features are optional rather than standard
  • Cheapest models have a short battery range
  • Too expensive to qualify for the UK plug-in car grant
  • Sportback models have poor rear visibility

Key specifications


Body style: Medium SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £51,440 on-road

Launched: Spring 2021
Last updated: Autumn 2023
Replacement due: TBA


Media reviews


Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

+

Auto Trader

+

Autocar

+

Business Car

+

Car

+

Car Keys

+

Carbuyer

+

Carwow

+

Company Car Today

+

Discover EV

+

Electrifying.com

+

Fleetworld

+

Green Car Guide

+

Heycar

+

Honest John

+

Move Electric

+

Parkers

+

The Sunday Times

+

Top Gear

+

What Car?

+

Safety rating


Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 66%
Safety assist: 80%

Eco rating


Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: July 2022
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 10 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 9.2 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.5 / 10

The Audi Q4 e-tron had its emissions tested in Summer 2022 – the top-of-the-line version receiving a full five-star rating. Compared to other electric SUVs, Green NCAP says that the Q4 “demonstrates high powertrain and climatization management efficiency together with an efficient charging process.”

Reliability rating

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Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of April 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Audi Q4 e-tron to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Q4 e-tron, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
EV models313 milesA198 – 328 milesA – B
Electrical efficiencyAverageScoreVariationScore
EV models3.8 m/KWhC3.4 – 4 m/KWhC – E
Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
All models34C26 – 40B – C
Service and maintenanceCostScore
Year 1£260B
Year 2£541B
Year 3£884B
Year 4£1,085B
Year 5£1,447B
Overall£4,217B

Particularly when compared to petrol-powered Audi SUVs, the Q4 e-tron is pretty cheap to run, according to data exclusively provided by out technical partner Clear Vehicle Data.

It’s electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) meets the market average, while insurance premiums should be good compared to upmarket rivals as well. But the even better news is that scheduled servicing costs for the Q4 e-tron are very good.

In addition, an official battery range of 313 miles (which varies from 198 miles to 328 miles, depending on which model you choose) is well above average. So you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of charge in normal day-to-day driving.

Similar cars


If you’re looking at the Audi Q4 e-tron, you might also be interested in these alternatives

BMW iX3 | BYD Atto 3 | Citroën ë-C4Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia EV6 | Lexus RZ | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Nissan AriyaPolestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq | Subaru Solterra | Tesla Model Y | Toyota bZ4X | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volkswagen ID.5Volvo XC40 Recharge

Electric crossovers are rapidly growing in number, and the Audi Q4 e-tron sits between a number of potential rivals that are slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive, or slightly smaller or slightly larger.

Buy an Audi Q4 e-tron


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The Audi Q4 e-tron electric SUV offers quality, practicality and comfort, but optional extras can drive the price up very quickly.Audi Q4 e-tron