2023 Audi Q4 e-tron

The Audi Q4 e-tron is an all-electric compact crossover. It’s a bit smaller and more affordable than the Q8 e-tron. What makes the Q4 e-tron more accessible is that it uses a similar platform and technology as the Volkswagen ID.4. However, as an Audi, it is loaded with fancy equipment and luxury appointments. The interior offers leather upholstery, heated front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof. Audi also throws in a fancy 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster. It also includes lots of safety equipment to ensure your drive is serene and safe.

Performance

The Q4 e-tron is powered by a pair of electric motors, one at each axle which delivers all-wheel drive. Combined, they make 295 horsepower, which isn’t class-leading, but is adequate to provide the Audi EV a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 6.1 seconds. Natural Resources Canada has rated the Q4 e-tron for 380 km of range on a single charge. The 82 kWh battery can be recharged in just 38 minutes with a DC fast charger, while Level 2 and Level 1 recharge times are expected to be far slower.

A recent over-the-air update gave the Q4 e-tron faster charging speeds, and custom charging profiles, letting owners hold the charge at 80 per cent. The car also added support for Plug & Charge, which can pay for a public charge without needing to tap a car or use an app.

The 2023 models also get 1,400 kWh of complementary DC fast charging sessions from Electrify Canada, though they have to be used within four years of the purchase.

Practicality

As mentioned before, the Q4 e-tron uses the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4. With a wheelbase of 2.76 metres, it offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo. As a result, it offers 701 litres of space behind the rear seats, which can expand to 1,504 litres when the rear seats are folded down. The overall length of 4.6 metres is also shorter than the always-popular Audi Q5, which should make it easy to maneuver in both rural and urban settings.

Canadian Pricing

The Audi Q4 e-tron is one of the more affordable luxury EVs on the market, with a starting price of $59,950 for the 50 e-tron quattro Komfort model. Shoppers can upgrade to the $63,350 Progressiv model, which adds a super cool virtual cockpit digital dashboard along with other nice features like power lumbar adjustment for the front seats, navigation, Audi’s virtual cockpit, and fancier interior trim and appointments. The fully-loaded Technik model costs $68,350 and includes some superficial but fun features like ambient lighting, and a Bang and Olufsen sound system, along with LED lights, and additional safety and driver assists. The Q4 e-tron should be eligible for government incentives to help bring the cost down by at least $5,000 (the federal incentive) while other provinces may provide additional stimulus.