Audi Q4 e-tron review: Do the four rings still hold up?

Join us as we take a closer look at the Audi Q4 e-tron — one of the best Audis we've driven yet

When the Audi Q4 e-tron arrived at Carparison HQ, heads turned.

It's one of the better-looking electric SUVs on the market right now — sleek, planted, and unmistakably Audi without shouting about being electric. And once you're behind the wheel, it drives to match. In fact, out of the six Audis we've had our hands on in the last three months, this is the one that impressed us most.

But here's the thing. Chinese rivals are arriving with more tech, more car, and significantly lower price tags. And they're only getting better. The Q4 e-tron has to prove it's not just a good car, but that the Audi badge still justifies the asking price in a market that's moving fast.

Let's find out if the four rings still hold up.

Model: Audi Q4 e-tron Sport 40

Body style: SUV

Power: Electric (150 kW / 204 PS)

Battery: 63 kWh

Range: Up to 337 miles (WLTP Comb)

Acceleration: 0–62 mph in 5.4 seconds

Colour: Mythos Black

Specifications correct at the time of publication

Does it look the part?

Sitting between its siblings, the Q3 and Q5 in size, it carries itself like a proper premium SUV — no question there.

It's got a commanding presence on the road, helped along by a full-width rear LED light bar, a sleek silhouette that keeps drag to a minimum, and Matrix LED headlights (available in the Technology Pack).

It doesn't shout about being electric either, which feels very on-brand for Audi.

Where many EVs ditch the front grille entirely, the Q4 e-tron keeps Audi's signature grille shape purely for aesthetics.

It's a bit Marmite, and honestly? It doesn't quite land for us. A bolder design choice might have served it better.

That said, there's no mistaking what you're looking at. It's unmistakably Audi, and it wears those four rings with confidence.

Step inside: A tale of two halves

Step inside and there's no denying the premium feel. Materials feel solid, the layout is driver-focused, and it just feels like a proper Audi cabin.

The dashboard is dominated by an 11.6-inch infotainment screen angled toward the driver, which sounds great in theory.

It's functional and easy enough to use, but next to newer rivals it feels a generation behind. It almost feels like someone from the ‘70s tried to design a futuristic car screen.

Think the sets from the original Star Wars trilogy and you’ll see what we mean – particularly above the steering wheel.

Any passengers will also struggle to use the screen when it's not facing them, and that's before the sun starts glaring down on it.

Compare that to something like the Changan Deepal S07 (a car that costs significantly less) where the screen turns to face whoever needs it, and the Q4 e-tron starts to look a little behind the times.

To Audi's credit though, they haven't jumped on the extreme minimalism trend.

There are physical buttons for temperature, fan speed, and hazards, and the heated seat controls are buttons too — no digging through menus to warm up on a cold morning.

In an era where some manufacturers have buried hazard lights in a touchscreen (yes, really), this feels like a sensible choice.

The floating console adds to the premium feel, housing the controls neatly beneath the screen with useful storage space underneath. It keeps things feeling spacious rather than cluttered.

The sat nav voice sounds like a robot doing a very unconvincing impression of a posh English accent. Not a deal-breaker, just quietly amusing on a long journey.

Space is good throughout, with plenty of head and legroom, plus the boot comes in at 520 litres, 1,490 litres with the rear seats down.

Now for the lesser half.

On Sport trim, electric seat adjustment isn't standard. You're pumping the seat up manually and pulling a lever to move forwards and backwards.

It's not the end of the world, but it does feel at odds with the premium positioning, and it's worth knowing before you spec up.

Where it earns its badge

We've had six Audis through the doors at Carparison in the last three months, and we can safely say the Q4 e-tron is the best to drive so far.

Now, it's not perfect. The handling won't blow you away, and it doesn't soak up bumps quite as smoothly as some rivals.

But here's where it wins: power.

It's more powerful than you'd expect from the entry-level 40 — and significantly more responsive than the Q6 e-tron, which takes a moment to gather itself under the weight of its larger frame.

The Q4 e-tron is smaller, lighter, and the instant torque hits differently for it.

Pull away from a standstill and there's a real eagerness to it; that characteristic electric surge that makes you smile every time, whether it's your first EV or your tenth.

It's composed and confident through corners too, without pretending to be something it's not. This isn't a sports car, it's a family SUV, and it does that job brilliantly. It knows what it is, and it commits to it completely.

At motorway speeds, that composure really comes into its own.

The cabin stays hushed, the ride settles into a relaxed rhythm, and it just eats up miles without complaint. As a long-distance cruiser, it's genuinely impressive. For a lot of drivers, that's exactly what matters most.

Can it go the distance?

The Q4 e-tron range offers a maximum range of 337 miles (WLTP Comb), though this varies by model and spec.

We drove the entry-level Sport 40 model which had the smaller 63kWh battery, so you can expect a figure below that headline number — worth factoring in when choosing your spec.

That said, the charging credentials are strong across the board.

The Q4 e-tron supports up to 175kW DC rapid charging, meaning you can top up from 10–80% in approximately 24 minutes at a compatible rapid charger. Battery preconditioning also helps here; the car optimises the battery temperature ahead of a charging stop to make sure you're hitting those peak speeds when you need them most.

For day-to-day life, home charging is where most drivers will spend the majority of their time.

A standard 7.4kW wallbox will have the 63kWh battery full charged overnight — plug in when you get home, wake up to a full charge.

You can also manage everything remotely through the myAudi app, including monitoring charge levels and planning routes with charging stops built in.

What's good, and what's not

The Audi Q4 e-tron is a great EV, but it's not without its faults:

The good bits:

• Smoothest Audi we've driven — the drive quality is the standout
• Physical controls — buttons for temperature, fan, heated seats and hazards
• Charging speed — 10–80% in approximately 24 minutes is genuinely impressive
• Premium cabin feel — materials and build quality justify the badge
• Rear passenger space — generous legroom and headroom for the size of car

The not-so-good bits:

• Infotainment screen feels dated and faces away from the passenger
• Manual seat adjustment on Sport trim — feels at odds with the premium price
• Chinese rivals offer more tech at a lower price point — hard to ignore in 2026

What’s the verdict?

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

The four rings still hold up — but only just.

The Q4 e-tron is a genuinely impressive car. It's refined, well-built, and the best Audi we've driven yet. But at this price point, Audi need to start asking some harder questions about what buyers are actually getting for their money.

Chinese rivals are arriving with more tech, more features, and significantly lower price tags — and they're not slowing down.

The Q4 e-tron still makes a strong case for itself on driving refinement, build quality, and badge appeal. But manual seat adjustment on a near-£50,000 car? These things matter when the competition is raising the bar this quickly.

The Audi badge still carries genuine weight andfor a lot of buyers, that's enough. But the real question is: How much longer Audi can rely on that alone?

Would we recommend leasing an Audi Q4 e-tron?

Absolutely. It's refined, well-built, and the most enjoyable Audi we've driven yet.

The Sport 40 is a great entry point — well-equipped, lighter on its feet, and genuinely good value within the range.

Just go in with eyes open. The interior tech is showing its age and the Chinese competition is closing in fast. But if you want a premium electric SUV that drives beautifully and wears its badge with confidence, the Q4 e-tron still delivers.