2023 Audi Q4 e-tron

The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron is a compact all-electric SUV. It joins the larger Audi e-tron SUV which was introduced in 2019. Compared to the original e-tron, the Q4 is almost a foot shorter in length, can travel further on a single charge, and has a starting price that’s $22,000 cheaper. The Q4 e-tron shares a lot of its electric powertrain components with the more affordable Volkswagen ID.4, but the Audi’s interior and features more than justify its cost.

The Q4 e-tron is offered again in 2023 with the choice of either rear- or all-wheel-drive. The single-motor Q4 40 e-tron isn’t as quick as the dual-motor Q4 50 e-tron, but it will return more range on a single charge. Within the Q4 e-tron lineup, shoppers can choose between Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels. There’s also a sleeker Q4 Sportback e-tron with a sloping rear roofline that is only offered with the dual motors.

Outside of its stablemates, the Audi Q4 e-tron competes against the Tesla Model Y, Mercedes-Benz EQB, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Genesis GV60. Each has its own set of advantages and drawbacks, but the Q4 e-tron finds a sweet spot among these for its combination of price, performance and luxury. Its maximum range estimate of 265 miles compares well against rivals, though the Tesla is estimated to exceed 300 miles.

The Q4 lineup is somewhat confusing but it breaks down to the single-motor 40 ($49,995) and dual-motor 50 ($54,995). Pricing moves upward along the trim lineup (Premium is base, then Premium Plus and Prestige at the top) for both variants. Then there’s the separate Sportback ($57,995) with only a dual-motor option across the three trim levels.

In many ways, the Q4 e-tron serves as a more familiar transition to EVs than some of its rivals. Not only does it look more like a conventional SUV, but it also drives more like one. It doesn’t have the explosive kind of acceleration as the Tesla, nor does it allow for one-pedal driving. For those new to electric vehicles, that could be an advantage. For seasoned EV drivers, it could be a drawback.

Altogether, the Q4 e-tron is enjoyable to drive and should easily exceed most drivers’ expectations. Its modern interior is both attractive and comfortable with plenty of technology features to please early adopters. Combined with quick DC fast charge capabilities and favorable safety scores, the Q4 e-tron certainly deserves consideration against the competition. We prefer the base single-motor powertrain and the midrange Premium Plus trim, but there are plenty of choices to meet your particular needs and budget.

Performance: 10/15

The base Q4 40 e-tron has an electric motor driving the rear wheels and produces 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. Audi estimates it will reach 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. The Q4 50 e-tron adds a second motor to drive the front wheels, increasing output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft. That gets it to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Both models pull power from a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

In many ways, the Q4 e-tron delivers an experience familiar to gas-powered cars. Acceleration is similar to the Audi Q5, which is more than adequate for most drivers. The Tesla Model Y Performance reaches 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds and the Genesis GV 60 gets there in 3.9 seconds.

The Q4 e-tron also slows and stops more like a conventional gas-only SUV. There’s no one-pedal drive mode capability, which means the vehicle will not come to a complete stop unless you use the brake pedal (nor will it maximize battery regeneration while braking). It will bring you down to a 3-mph crawl before you need to get on the brake pedal. The Q4’s suspension makes it feel pleasantly nimble for a 4,800-pound SUV. 

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 11/15

With estimates of 265 miles for the base Q4 40 e-tron and 236 miles for the dual-motor Q4 50, range is comparable to most other all-electric SUVs in this class. The Q4 Sportback e-tron is only offered with the dual-motor setup. Range increases to 242 miles thanks to its sleeker shape.

By comparison, the Mercedes-Benz EQB is estimated to return 258 miles, 248 miles for the Genesis GV60 and 223 miles for the Volvo XC40 Recharge. The Model Y is estimated to return more than 300 miles on a charge, but those estimates tend to be rather optimistic.

All Q4 e-tron models are capable of DC fast charging up to 150 kW. That means it takes 36 minutes to replenish the battery from 5% to 80%. On more common level 2 chargers, a full charge requires 7.5 hours. 

Compared to other small electric SUVs, the Q4 e-tron’s charge times are in line with the EQB and XC40 Recharge. The Model Y’s 250 kW maximum rate should be a few minutes quicker and the GV60’s impressive 350 kW maximum should charge from 10 to 80% in only 18 minutes.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 15/15

The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) finally published crash test results in March 2023, giving the Sportback five (of five) stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2023 Q4 e-tron a Top Safety Pick+ in July 2023, the IIHS’ highest award, after it earned the top marks in 2022, even after implementing more rigorous testing standards.

Standard safety features for every Q4 e-tron model include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts and front and rear parking sensors. Stepping up to the midrange Premium Plus trim adds adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The top Prestige trim upgrades to matrix-design headlights that selectively block portions of the high beams to prevent blinding oncoming traffic, as well as a traffic sign reader.

Audi is also an early adopter of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication which delivers extra information and warnings in regions that participate. The system alerts drivers to approaching emergency vehicles, other hazards  and can display signal countdowns at intersections.

In our experience, all of these safety systems work as advertised with no false alarms. It compares well against the Genesis GV60, which can be heavy-handed with its lane-keep assist, and the Tesla Model Y’s semi-automated Autopilot system which can be unpredictable.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

Up front, there’s plenty of space for taller occupants and the seats provide ample support. The cushioning is on the firm side, which could cause hard points on a long road trip. The leather upholstery can also be stifling on hot days and unfortunately, seat ventilation is not available. Heated front seats are standard equipment and a heated steering wheel and driver-seat memory functions are included with the Premium Plus trim.

The rear seats provide 38.3 inches of headroom and legroom, which is plenty for the average-sized adult. The Sportback reduces headroom by 1.3 inches. These figures are in line with the Volvo XC40 Recharge and Genesis GV60. The Tesla Model Y and Mercedes EQB both benefit from an additional inch of headroom and the Model Y adds an inch of legroom, too.

The Q4 e-tron strikes a good balance between handling performance and comfort. In most cases, you won’t feel bumps in the road but you will hear them with a low thud. Since there’s no internal combustion engine, road noise may seem more prominent in the form of a constant rumble. It’s very subtle though, and can easily be masked with the audio system. 

Infotainment: 14/15

The Q4 e-tron’s interior is accentuated by a digital instrument panel and 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted high on the dashboard. Wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is Audi Connect services that allow for remote monitoring and control via a smartphone. 

The Premium Plus trim adds satellite radio and a wireless phone charger. The charging pad holds your phone almost upright with a spring loaded clip and accommodates larger Max-sized iPhones with a bumper case. If you spring for the top Prestige trim, you get a navigation system, a 10-speaker Sonos audio system and an augmented reality head-up display. This head-up display overlays animated arrows to indicate where to turn if you have a destination selected as well as lines to accentuate the edge of a curved road.

Many functions are controlled with the infotainment touchscreen but we’re glad that not all are. Just beneath the touchscreen is a bank of switches and buttons for climate and there’s a circular multifunction controller on the center console for audio controls. That means you won’t have to take your eyes off the road for some of the simpler functions.

Cargo Space & Storage: 11/15

Behind the rear seats, the Q4 e-tron can accommodate up to 24.8 cubic-feet of cargo. With those seats folded, that increases to 53.1 cubic-feet. Oddly enough, the Sportback model can hold 26.1 and 54.4 cubic-feet, respectively. If you need more space, the cargo floor can be dropped down a few inches. That underfloor compartment is a convenient place to store the included charge cable, especially since the Q4 e-tron does not have a front trunk, or “frunk.”

Those cargo capacities are larger than the Mercedes EQB, but the EQB’s boxy shape can accept larger objects with greater ease. The Volvo XC40 Recharge and Genesis GV60 are comparable to the Audi, but the Tesla Model Y has them all beat with 34.3-cubic-feet.

In addition to the wireless charging tray, the Q4 e-tron has enough storage space for your personal effects. The cupholders, armrest bin and door pockets are about average in size. We are particularly pleased with a novel water bottle holder in the front doors. These pockets are just ahead of the window controls and can securely hold a one-liter water bottle.

Style & Design: 8/10

From the outside, the Q4 e-tron could easily be mistaken for a gasoline-powered Audi SUV. That’s most evident in the nose, as the Q4 sports a more conventional-looking grille and air inlets, whereas other EVs opt for a smooth plastic nose for improved aerodynamics. Around the sides and back, there’s also little to suggest it’s an EV besides the subtle badging.

The interior is also more inline with Audi’s design for its gas-powered vehicles. The angular dashboard is accentuated by a bold metallic element and the infotainment screen is angled toward the driver. The steering wheel features flat sections at the top and bottom, dovetailing nicely with the rest of the cabin’s faceted styling. The touch-sensitive buttons can take some getting used to though, as they’re prone to occasional unintended inputs.

There is an abundance of plastic surfaces inside, but they all have a solid construction and seem appropriate for the entry-level luxury space. The interior materials and build quality are noticeably better than the Model Y or GV60 and either meet or slightly beat the Mercedes EQB and Volvo XC40 Recharge in this regard.

Is the 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron Worth it? Which Q4 e-tron is the Best Value? 

The base Q4 40 e-tron starts at $49,995 (including $1,195 destination). The dual-motor Q4 50 e-tron costs $5,000 more and the Sportback model will set you back $57,995 to start. We recommend the rear-drive Q4 40 e-tron since it returns 29 more miles on a charge than the dual-motor Q4 50 e-tron. That said, the dual-motor’s all-wheel drive is a better choice for those in weather-prone regions.

The Q4 40 e-tron is offered in the base Premium or midgrade Premium Plus trim. The top Prestige trim is only available with the dual-motor setup. The Sportback variant is offered in all three trim levels, but only with the dual motors. We’re partial to the Premium Plus trim as it adds adaptive cruise control, the wireless charging pad and many other comfort and convenience features. 

The larger Audi e-tron SUV that was introduced in 2019 costs $22,000 more and has a shorter projected range. It’s also worth noting that the related Volkswagen ID.4 has a starting price that is $11,000 less than the Q4 e-tron, but the differences in interior quality and technology more than justify the added cost.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron?

The Q4 e-tron should cost a little less to insure than some of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium under $3,000, though this averages all 50 states. The Q4 is still new, however, so more data is needed for a more accurate estimate. A VW ID.4 owner might pay around $2,100 per year, while a Tesla Model Y is $3,100 and the Mercedes-Benz EQB is $2,600. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.