Audi Q4 e-tron review - Range, charging & running costs
The Q4 e-tron offers fast charging speeds and driving ranges that are competitive rather than class-leading
Audi has created a hierarchy in the Q4 e-tron range, so, depending on which version you go for, the car's range and charging speed will be affected. A range of up to 316 miles in the most efficient version is competitive and should suffice for most buyers but the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3 can go further.
Audi Q4 e-tron range and charging
The Q4 35 e-tron is the most affordable version but it has the smaller 52kWh battery, which is around the same capacity as the one in the Peugeot e-2008. This can provide up to 208 miles between charges but this drops to 193 miles for the Vorsprung trim with bigger wheels and lots of kit. Charging is possible at up to 100kW using public rapid charging, while a 7.2kW home wallbox can recharge it in around 7.5 hours.
With a 77kWh battery, the Q4 40 e-tron can hit 317 miles, but this drops to 294 miles for the most luxurious trims and for the Q4 50 e-tron with its four-wheel drive. During our testing, the Q4 40 e-tron showed around 270 miles of range from a full charge, which appeared realistic given the efficiency figures of our drive. These versions can now charge at up to 135kW, up from 125kW for cars built until March 2022, while home charging is also possible at up to 11kW using a three-phase domestic charger. A 7.4kW home wallbox will take 11.5 hours to fully charge the Q4 e-tron, so even with very little range left you can wake up with a full battery.
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Charging at 135kW will top up the battery from 5-80% in 29 minutes for the 40 e-tron and 36 minutes for the 50 e-tron. Cars that can accept the slightly lower charging rate (125kW) will take 38 minutes, regardless of the model you pick. A 10-minute top-up can add around 80 miles of range.
Like other electric models, the Q4 e-tron benefits from VED (road tax) exemption, along with a very low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) liability for company-car drivers. The Audi will also be exempt from the London Congestion Charge until 2025, with large potential savings for those who commute in the city.
All Audi Q4 e-tron models use the same size battery, an 82kWh unit with a usable capacity of 77kWh. Despite this, there’s a definite hierarchy in terms of efficiency which means that, depending on which version you go for, the range and charging speed will be affected.
A WLTP combined range of 292 to 330 miles is the best the Q4 e-tron can muster in the most efficient ‘45’ rear-wheel drive form SUV form and Sportback models are seven to nine miles better than that because of their superior aerodynamics. That’s competitive with rivals but the longest range cars in the mid-size SUV class can now top 350 miles – like the Tesla Model Y Long Range and the Renault Scenic. The Polestar 2 can top 400 miles on a charge.
If you step up to the 45 quattro model the range is between 287 and 319 miles and the 55 quattro is rated as the same level. These quattro cars can charge at 175kW thanks to their different battery chemistry but the charging time over the typical 20 to 80% increment is the same 28 minutes as for the 135kW rear-wheel drive models. The quattro is faster on a quick charge though, able to add 106 miles of range in 10 minutes at a suitable charger compared to 90 miles in the RWD models. Using a 7kW home wallbox it will take around 12 hours to fully charge the Q4 e-tron.
We tested the old Audi Q4 e-tron 50 model over a 5,000-mile long-term test and averaged 3.2 miles per kWh, which would equate to a 250-mile real-world range. On a shorter test of the old 40 model driving mainly around town, we were able to average 4.2 miles per kWh, equating to a 323-mile range. This bodes well for the current 45 and 55 variants with their extended ranges resulting from efficiency improvements to the electric motor. They should be able to get very close to their claimed range figures in real-world use, and our shorter drives in the current variants on German roads also back this up.
Like other electric models, the Q4 e-tron benefits from VED (road tax) exemption, along with a very low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) liability for company-car drivers. The Audi will also be exempt from the London Congestion Charge until 2025, with large potential savings for those who commute in the city.
Insurance groups
The Q4 e-tron is more powerful these days so insurance is predictably more expensive. All the rear-wheel drive 45 versions sit in group 36, the 45 quattro is in group 37 and the 55 sits in groups 39 to 40. This means buyers are going to pay more to insure the Audi than you will for cheaper cars like the Kia Niro EV (groups 28 to 29) but about the same as you would for a BMW iX1 (37 to 38), which is a direct rival. Tesla’s Model Y is in group 46.
Warranty
The standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty from Audi isn't especially generous but the battery does get a longer eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for extra reassurance. It's similar cover to Volkswagen, Skoda and Ford but Hyundai, Kia and Toyota offer longer no-cost cover.
Servicing
Unlike many petrol and diesel cars, the Q4 e-tron only requires servicing every two years instead of annually. Buyers can pick between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 servicing plans, with the most affordable costing around £400 and providing a service, plus pollen filter and brake fluid change. Costing just under £800, Level 2 doubles the offering of Level 1, while Level 3 costs just under £900 and includes two MoT tests in years three and four of ownership.
Which Is Best?
Cheapest
- Name125kW 35 55.52kWh Sport 5dr Auto
- Gearbox typeAuto
- Price£44,975
Most Economical
- Name150kW 40 82.77kWh Launch Edition 5dr Auto
- Gearbox typeAuto
- Price£49,875
Fastest
- Name220kW 50 Quattro 82kWh Sport 5dr Auto
- Gearbox typeAuto
- Price£56,295