Audi Q4 e-tron review - Range, charging and running costs

Audi decided to remove the smaller battery option from the Q4 e-tron lineup in the UK, meaning every model is now powered by a single 82kWh unit. This applies to both the regular Q4 e-tron and the Sportback variant. 

Audi quotes a 76.6kWh usable capacity for the battery and range varies depending on both the roofline and number of motors it has to feed. So, while dual-motor 50 e-tron quattro models don’t go as far as single-motor 40 e-tron versions, the sleeker Sportbacks can go a little further than the conventional SUV.

The 40 e-tron manages 310-322 miles in regular form and 317-328 miles as a Sportback (the range of figures illustrating that different wheel sizes and other options can alter your efficiency), while the 50 e-tron quattro is good for 301-312 miles, or 307-318 miles in Sportback form. 

We covered well over 5,000 miles when we ran a Q4 50 e-tron quattro as a long-term test car, and managed to average 3.2 miles per kWh efficiency. That equates to a real-world range of around 250 miles from a full battery and driving in a mixture of conditions.

But when we used a Q4 40 e-tron in Sport trim for our twin test against a Mercedes EQA, we found that when we were just driving in town, the Audi was hovering around the 4.2mi/kWh mark, meaning it could cover 323 miles on a single charge – further than its official WLTP range. However, that figure dropped to 3.4mi/kWh once we began covering some miles at higher speeds on the motorway, dropping the predicted range to 262 miles. This still feels like a perfectly usable range, but perhaps something to consider if you spend lots of time driving on faster main routes and highways.

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Both versions of the Q4 e-tron models have a maximum charging speed of 135kW, which allows for a 5-80 per cent top-up from a suitably fast rapid charger in about half an hour. If you need to do the electric equivalent of a splash and dash (a volt and bolt?) and you find somewhere capable of charging at that maximum 135kW rate, you can theoretically add another 90 miles of range in just ten minutes.

Fitting a domestic wallbox charger at home will make life a lot easier, as you can recharge the car overnight or at your own convenience. Fully recharging the Q4 e-tron at that rate will take close to 12 hours, but that’s only if the battery is completely flat.

As with all fully-electric cars, the Q4 e-tron produces zero CO2 emissions and so benefits from road tax (VED) exemption, while business users will appreciate the low Benefit-in-Kind tax rate, too.

Insurance

Regardless of which trim level you pick, the Q4 40 e-tron falls into insurance group 31 (out of 50), which isn’t too bad as far as electric SUVs are concerned. The much cheaper Kia Niro EV sits in groups 28 to 29 for instance, while the even the entry-level Tesla Model Y lands itself in group 46.

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Unsurprisingly, the all-wheel drive Q4 50 e-tron quattro is a little more pricey on premiums with its group 38 to 39 ratings, depending on your chosen trim level. The BMW iX1 xDrive30 (also dual-motor) falls into insurance groups 37-38, so should cost about the same to cover.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Our latest expert data is projecting the Q4 e-tron range will hold onto between 45 and 52 per cent of their original value after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, depending on the trim level, with the coupe-esque Q4 e-tron Sportback is expected to hold onto the most value. For context the Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge are expected to retain about the same amount of their list price come trade-in time, but none of them can match the 57-58 per cent the BMW iX1 is due to keep hold of.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...