AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8.0/10
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Safety8.0/10
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PRACTICALITY9.0/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8.0/10
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FEATURES8.0/10
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POWER9.0/10
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COMFORT9.0/10
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DRIVING FEEL9.0/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8.0/10
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VALUE7.0/10
If you’re in the market for an electric vehicle (EV) but the ravings of a megalomaniac have taken a certain brand off your shortlist, you aren’t alone.
Reuters reported earlier this year that a growing percentage of shoppers have become too disenchanted to consider driving a Tesla, which is unfortunate but entirely understandable. It also means Audi’s most unassuming electric crossover could be a viable alternative. While it’s still short of the likes of the Tesla Model Y when it comes to range, mid-year updates make the 2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron more competitive than ever.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
The 2024 Q4 might look like the same crossover that was introduced a handful of years ago, but beneath that familiar styling you’ll find tweaked battery chemistry that allows it to travel farther than before. The all-wheel-drive version tested here, dubbed the Q4 55 E-Tron, is good for an estimated 415 km on a full charge — a number that was easily matched during this test — instead of 380 km.
(It’s important to note that not all versions of the 2024 Q4 benefit from these updates. As they were introduced midway through the production cycle, units built earlier will retain the features and functionality from before.)
The changes to the 82-kWh battery also allow it to be topped up at higher speeds when connected to a DC fast-charger, according to Audi. The Q4 can now hit 175 kW in ideal conditions compared to 150 kW. That means making the benchmark jump from 10 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes — eight minutes faster than before.
If that’s not enough for you, opting for the rear-wheel-drive Q4 45 E-Tron offers an estimated 467 km on a full charge, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). That’s more than the rear-wheel-drive Model Y is rated for, although it uses a smaller battery pack to cover a little less than 400 km. Likewise, the Mercedes-Benz EQB can go just 359 km in base rear-drive format. (The all-wheel-drive EQB 300 is good for a paltry 330 km.)
Power: 9/10
Another benefit of the changes to the 2024 Audi Q4 55 E-Tron is the extra power that’s delivered by its twin electric motors. They now generated a combined 335 hp, up from 295 hp before, while torque registers at 99 lb-ft up front and 413 lb-ft in the back. (Audi doesn’t publish a combined torque figure for the twin-motor Q4.)
Like any other EV out there, this Audi can take off in a hurry when called upon. Such are the benefits of electric torque, which comes online instantly, unlike mechanical force that takes some time to build up. Audi claims it takes just 5.3 seconds for this twin-motor model to reach 100 km/h, which is a full second quicker than before. For some gas-powered perspective, that’s only slightly slower than it takes the performance-focused Audi SQ5 to do the same sprint.
Driving Feel: 9/10
In an EV market where numbers matter, the Q4’s acceleration times and output might both seem rather modest — and they are. But that’s because the focus here is on delivering a luxurious drive experience, and it’s one the Model Y simply can’t match. While the Q4 is closely related to the recently updated Volkswagen ID.4, there’s nothing mainstream about it. (In fairness, there’s nothing wrong with the ID.4, either.)
There’s substance and upscale swagger that comes with the way the Q4 cruises around, both of which are enhanced by the smooth and silent electric powertrain. While the steering system lacks the sort of feel some of its siblings are known for, there’s no questioning that this is a premium product.
Comfort: 9/10
The ride quality warrants similar praise, with a suppleness that’s superior to what most conventional suspension systems are capable of. Indeed, the Q4 doesn’t have fancy features like adaptive dampers, relying instead on a five-link setup in the back to go with simple struts and springs up front. And while the damping rates have been tailored to account for the extra mass being moved, it manages to float along like it’s been outfitted with a little something extra.
Likewise, the optional sport seats inside this tester that make up part of the Premium package ($5,850) offer enough support and adjustability for all-day cruising comfort. Regardless of the style of seats, three-stage heat is standard — as is a heated steering wheel — although ventilation isn’t offered. Heated rear seats can’t be had, either.
Practicality: 9/10
With a flat floor throughout the cabin courtesy of the dedicated EV platform on which it’s built, the Q4 feels more spacious inside than a similarly sized crossover with a conventional powertrain. That’s because there’s no tunnel for a transmission and driveline that would otherwise encroach on occupant space, with large footwells and a narrow centre console up front, and room in the back for three passengers.
Ditto the small-item storage inside, with a large cubby stashed beneath the console controls, and nifty bottle holders stashed in the door armrests front and back. Cargo space isn’t far from what’s offered in the slightly larger Genesis Electrified GV70, with 702 L behind the back seats compared to 813 L. That bench folds in a 40/20/40 split, leaving two full rear seats with space to store long items like skis in the middle.
Safety: 8/10
The 2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron comes with advanced safety and driver-assistance systems like forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles sold in Canada. However, adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic and automatic high-beam control are both stashed in the optional Technology package ($5,050), which can only be added alongside the Premium pack that comes with those cozy sport seats.
Features: 8/10
Neither package is explicitly necessary as far as creature comforts are concerned, with plenty of good stuff included in both the rear-wheel-drive Q4 45 E-Tron and the all-wheel-drive Q4 55 E-Tron tested here. Tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel and front seats, and a panoramic sunroof are all included, as is a power tailgate. Also standard is subscription-based satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument display.
Between the two trims, the only noteworthy difference — beyond the extra motor and traction that comes with it, of course — is the absence of a heat pump in the rear-wheel-drive version. Without such a system, which recovers waste heat from the powertrain and uses it to warm the cabin, you could find yourself relying on the climate controls in the Q4 45 E-Tron that much more during the winter months, negating any range advantage it would otherwise have in the process.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
The infotainment system is a straightforward one, with smartphone pairing a simple task. Better still, the wireless Apple CarPlay connection worked flawlessly during this test — a rare occurrence in the modern auto market. The climate controls are just as approachable, with a row of buttons low on the dash and a dedicated display that shows the various settings.
Where the user experience comes apart at least a little is the awkward slider-style gear selector that isn’t especially intuitive, while the audio control module just behind it — as well as some of the steering wheel controls — could use some work. That they’re touch-based requires precise care and attention to operate, otherwise expect excessive (and oftentimes unintentional) audio adjustments. That the Q4 doesn’t feature full one-pedal driving capabilities is also disappointing.
Styling: 8/10
The Q4 boasts the unmistakable aesthetic simplicity of an Audi, with sleek and inoffensive proportions and styling cues. That’s particularly the case with the optional Black Optic package ($800), yet another that can only be added if the Premium upgrade is, too. Either way, it replaces the standard silver finish on the front end with a black one that’s far less in your face, while the accompanying mirror caps, window trim, and roof rails round out the look.
Value: 7/10
With a starting price of $63,400 before freight and tax, the 2024 Audi Q4 45 E-Tron is priced similarly to the Tesla Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive ($63,990 at the time of this writing), while the Q4 55 E-Tron tested here is $68,400. That’s close to the Model Y Performance All-Wheel Drive ($68,990), but then the one tested here was decked out with almost every imaginable option, pushing its pre-tax price to $86,940. Such is the going rate for a proper premium EV this size. Both versions of the Q4 qualify for federal, provincial, and territorial rebates, where available.
The Verdict
The 2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron might not be the brand’s newest EV, but the updates make it easier to live with while leaving its sophisticated sensibilities entirely intact. No, it won’t be cheap to build one with desirable options and extras, and it can’t go as far as a Model Y on a full charge, but if the idea of owning a Tesla has become entirely untenable, the Q4 is a prime — and properly premium — alternative.
| Engine Displacement | 250 kW |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Dual electric motors |
| Peak Horsepower | 335 hp |
| Peak Torque | N/A |
| Fuel Economy | 2.6 / 2.2 / 2.4 Le/100 km city, hwy, cmb, 19.5 / 22.7 / 21.0 kWh/100 km; 415 km est. range |
| Cargo Space | 702 / 1,504 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2024 Audi Q4 55 E-Tron |
| Base Price | $64,950 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,850 |
| Price as Tested | $86,940 |
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Optional Equipment
$19,040 — Premium package, $5,850; Technology package, $5,050; Navigation w/MMI Plus package, $2,400; 20-inch Y-spoke wheels, $1,500; Sonos premium sound system, $950; Glacier White Metallic paint, $890; Black Optic package, $800; Trailer hitch, $650; Intelligent park assist, $500; Audi phone box, $450
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