Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron review

Put simply, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron gives you less for more. Despite having a higher price than the regular Q4 electric SUV, its body is lower and therefore not quite as spacious inside.

That might sound like a bum deal, but the sleeker roof means the Q4 Sportback uses less electricity to punch itself through the air, increasing the range by a not inconsiderable amount. In other words, this is one of the few coupé SUVs you can find a sensible – rather than simply aesthetic – reason to buy.

As with the standard Audi Q4 e-tron you’ll find the same guts as a Skoda Enyaq Coupé and Volkswagen ID 5 under the slinky skin, while this Sportback version goes up against the Ford Mustang Mach-e, Genesis GV60 and Volvo EC40.

Over the next few sections we cover the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron's abilities in detail, including what the performance is like, how far it’ll go on a charge and how it stacks up for cornering and comfort.

The entry-level 40 model of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron has a single 201bhp motor that powers its rear wheels and gets you from 0-62mph in a respectable 8.1 seconds. A punchier, 282bhp 45 version cuts the sprint time down to 6.6 seconds and can also be had with a second motor to give it four-wheel drive (named Quattro).

The range-topping 55 Quattro is even quicker and feels eager to get up to motorway speeds with little hesitation. Even so, there are even more powerful options with the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volvo EC40 that would leave the Q4 for dead. 

Our preferred 45 version offers the longest range with an official figure of up to 347 miles. That's on a par with a VW ID 5 Pro but a little less than a Skoda Enyaq 85 and Volvo EC40 Extended Range. Quattro versions lose about 20 miles, while the entry-level 40 with its smaller 59kWh battery (vs 77kWh for the others) has the shortest range of up to 256 miles.

Even the sportier S line and Black Edition versions that come with 20in wheels and stiffer sports suspension remain supple enough most of the time. Pockmarked surfaces and large bumps can mildly jostle occupants around in their seat, but it’s well controlled enough and there’s less head toss than there is in a Mustang Mach-E.

We recommend sticking with Sport trim for the most comfortable ride, which comes with smaller 19in wheels and what Audi calls Comfort Suspension. It’s a more forgiving setup that doesn’t amplify bumps so much and results in less vertical movement. A rear-wheel-drive Enyaq Coupé is just as comfortable, although the pricier GV60 is even more polished.

The more stiffly-sprung S Line model with sports suspension resists body lean better than Q4 Sportback models equipped with adjustable suspension (especially set to its softest mode).

The adjustable set-up does improve in its Dynamic setting – although the steering feels more accurate in the Balanced and Comfort modes. On a more positive note, the Q4 Sportback grips strongly, giving you the confidence to carry speed along a twisty B-road. There’s more composure than an ID 5 GTX but it’s still easy to trigger the stability control system to flow down a country road to have much fun.

Rear-wheel drive (non Quattro) Q4 Sportbacks have a tight turning circle for a car of this size, which is a real boon when you're parking. Four-wheel-drive 55 versions are less manoeuvrable because the extra mechanical gubbins reduce the amount the wheels can turn.

The Q4 Sportback e-tron can’t match the refinement of the more expensive Genesis GV60 but it is fractionally better at shutting out road noise than the Volvo EC40 and fewer vibrations than the Mustang Mach-E. Wind noise is light unless there’s a heavy crosswind, in which case you hear it gusting around the door mirrors. The mild level of tyre rumble reverberating is easily drowned out by the stereo.

Many electric cars (including the Mach-E) can be hard to stop smoothly because they struggle to blend their normal friction brakes and the regenerative braking that tops up their batteries as you slow. The brake-pedal response in the Q4 Sportback isn’t as reassuringly consistent as it is in the EC40, making it a bit trickier to slow down smoothly, but it is a bit better than the lighter response in the VW ID 5.

‘The 55 S line has an even better ride and handling balance than a Volkswagen ID 5 GTX but it’s still far from what I’d call a sporty SUV." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

You sit quite high up in the Q4 Sportback, even if it’s not as commanding a position as it is in a Volvo EC40. There’s a wide range of adjustment to help you get settled, including electric lumbar support, while front passenger seat height adjustment is also standard across the range. Full electric adjustment is an option on all trim levels.

A 10.3 digital driver’s display (named Virtual Cockpit) is standard and remains one of the best set-ups fitted to a car. It’s clear, easy to read and has a wide range of lay-outs, including a full-screen sat-nav mode. An augmented-reality head-up display that’s part of the optional Technology Pack Pro projects the speed and sat-nav directional arrows at eye level so it appears to be on the road ahead. It’s more of a gimmick and distracting than it is useful.

Better news is the climate controls are operated by conventional switches, which are far less distracting to use on the move than the touchscreen icons you get in the Skoda Enyaq and Volvo EC40, let alone the touch-sensitive panels of the VW ID 5.

The long sloping front windscreen pillars can sometimes obscure your view at junctions, but a low side window line and small windows around the chunky rear pillars means the view over your shoulder is less obscured than it is in the EC40.

The small rear screen with its integrated rear spoiler hinders your rear view too, but at least you get a rear-view camera as standard, along with front and rear parking sensors. Powerful LED headlights are standard across the range.

Above the climate controls in the Q4 Sportback sits an 11.6in infotainment touchscreen. Some rivals offer an even larger screen but it’s still highly usable, with a quick enough response time, clear graphics and menus that don’t require too much time to get used to. You don’t have any configurable shortcuts like you can in an Enyaq or ID 4, though.

You also get a DAB radio, built-in navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, two USB-C ports and a three-year subscription to online services including Google maps and weather and hazard alerts.

An eight-speaker stereo is standard while the optional Technology pack adds a bassy Sonos premium stereo, although some rival systems (such as the EC40) sound clearer and more immersive.

The large electric car class includes some seriously plush and pricey models – including the much bigger BMW iX – and the Q4 Sportback fares a little above average in this area.

Despite feeling classier than the Enyaq and the ID 5, as well as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, it still features some disappointingly hard plastic on the doors and around the centre console. The slightly pricier EC40 features denser soft materials and buttons that feel better damped.

"I know the touchscreen isn’t as big as what some rivals offer nowadays, but I also don’t have to rely on it as often, thanks to those physical ventilation controls." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

You’ll have plenty of head and leg room in the front of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, even if you’re well over 6ft tall. The car is wide enough that there’s no danger of the driver and front passenger banging elbows.

You get a huge storage bin between the front seats along with two cupholders and a stowage space at the base of the dashboard, and the door bins are a good size. You even get a couple of bonus cubbies on the doors in front of the electric window controls that are perfect for a selection of chocolate bars.

A pair of six footers are well catered for in the rear seats, with the Q4 Sportback offering significantly more knee room than the Volvo EC40 and more head room than the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Unsurprisingly, the regular Q4 and the Skoda Enyaq are better for rear head room, with those over 6ft tall likely to find their heads close to the ceiling.

A passenger in the central rear seat will be reasonably comfortable if they're not too tall because the floor is virtually flat, but they'll have even less head room than those in the outer seats.

All versions of the Q4 Sportback now come with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatback as standard (it used to be limited to top-spec versions), making it slightly more versatile than rivals that have a 60/40 split and a skit hatch, such as the EC40, Enyaq Coupe and ID5. 

However, the rear seats don’t slide or recline (like they do in a Hyundai Ioniq 5) or do anything else that’s particularly clever.

Curiously, the slinkier Q4 Sportback actually has a slightly bigger boot (at least below the load cover) than the regular Audi Q4 e-tron – its 535 litres is about 15 litres more. That’s a bit more than an Audi Q5 Sportback, and enough room for seven carry-on suitcases when you don’t have the optional height-adjustable boot floor.

True, the Tesla Model Y can take 10 cases, but that's split between its two boots (one is in its nose) and it has a narrower saloon-car opening. The Q4 Sportback’s wide aperture and tailgate mean it’ll fit much bulkier items, plus that tailgate is powered on all versions.

If you specify a height-adjustable boot floor (part of the optional Function Pack) and set it to its highest setting, there is no step up to the folded seats, making it easier to slide in big, heavy loads. That also lets you keep the charging cable beneath the floor, away from your luggage. 

"It’s good to see the Q4’s sleeker looks haven't negatively impacted rear seat space, but I find access to them is a bit tighter than a Volvo EC40’s." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

In terms of list price, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron undercuts the Volvo EC40 but costs slightly more than a Skoda Enyaq Coupé or VW ID 5. It’s likely to hold its value well, which should make for attractive leasing deals and PCP finance rates. As with all electric cars the Q4 Sportback is very cheap to run if you’re a company car driver because it's in a very low BIK tax band.

The 45 and 55 versions can charge at speeds of up to 175kW. That means it's possible to charge the battery from 10-80% on a public rapid charger in less than 30 minutes, while a 0-100% charge at home on a 7kW charger takes more than 12 hours. The lesser 40 has a lower 165kW limit, but because it has a smaller capacity (59kWh usable compared with 77kWh on the 45 and 55), it has quicker charging times of 9.5 hours at home, or 24 mins on a rapid charger.

Even our favourite entry-level Sport trim is decently equipped, getting 19in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, three-zone climate control, heated front seats and a Type 2 charging cable.

Upgrading to S line brings 20in wheels, silver exterior highlights, privacy glass and additional ambient interior lighting. Black Edition has black exterior highlights, 21in alloy wheels and paddles behind the steering wheel that let you quickly change the level of energy recuperation.

In addition to all of the above, an EV heat pump is optional on all versions as well as a Comfort Package that brings a heated steering wheel and electric seat adjustment with memory function.

In the electric SUV class, the regular version of the Q4 e-tron finished in seventh place in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. That’s a mid-table finish in a class of 16 cars. Meanwhile, Audi finished in a disappointing 24th out of the 30 brands included – behind Kia, VW and Volvo.

Audi gives you a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. BMW and Mercedes give you the same term but with unlimited mileage. That’s nothing special when you consider that the main warranty on the Kia EV6 stretches to seven years/100,000 miles. The Q4’s battery warranty lasts for eight years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Although the Q4 Sportback hasn’t been crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, the five-star rating the regular Audi Q4 e-tron received in 2021 still applies. It scored more than 90% for adult occupant protection and 89% for child occupant protection.

Audi also fits lots of safety equipment as standard, including lane-keeping assistance and an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other cars.

There’s also a driver attention monitor and traffic-sign recognition that indicates the speed limit. You have to pay extra for blind-spot monitoring and a system that warns you if another vehicle is passing behind you when you’re reversing out of a parking space as part of the Technology Pack Pro.

"The optional ‘e-tron sport sound’ won’t be a priority for many buyers, but my passengers described it as giving my car a pronounced spaceship sound." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

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