2025 Audi Q4 e-tron Review

It’s been a long time coming for the 2025 Audi Q4 e-tron – the mid-size German luxury electric SUV.

While the Q4 e-tron has been available in overseas markets for several years, Audi claims it was waiting for the updated model before bringing it to Australia – and now it’s finally arrived, complete with upgraded battery technology.

Buyers have a choice of four models: the entry-level Q4 45 e-tron wagon, the coupe-styled Sportback 45 e-tron, the 55 e-tron Quattro wagon, or the Sportback 55 e-tron Quattro.

Based on the same MEB platform shared with the rest of the Volkswagen Group, the Audi is available as a rear-wheel-drive Q4 45 with 210kW, or the dual-motor Q4 55 with 300kW and all-wheel drive.

So, does the Q4 e-tron have the goods to win over electric-car buyers in Australia? Let’s check it out.

How much does the Audi Q4 e-tron cost?

Just prior to the Q4 e-tron’s launch in Australia, Audi announced it was slashing prices – by as much as $3310 – making the electric SUV more attractive even before it’s hit the ground.

Kicking off the range is the Audi Q4 45 e-tron wagon, priced from $84,900 before on-road costs.

Those wanting a sleeker coupe-styled rear-end can step up to the Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron, available from $86,500 plus on-road costs – $1800 cheaper than originally announced.

For those wanting a wagon back, all-wheel drive, and more power, the Q4 55 e-tron Quattro is priced from $105,900 before on-road costs – $2510 less than before.

At the top of the range is the Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron Quattro, which, at $107,500 before on-road costs, is $1510 less than originally advertised.

In the same segment is the slightly smaller Mercedes-Benz EQB, which starts at $89,100 plus on-road costs, and the BMW iX3, which is available from $91,000 before on-road costs.

2025 Audi Q4 e-tron Australia pricing:

• Audi Q4 45 e-tron wagon: $84,900
• Audi Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron: $86,500
• Audi Q4 55 e-tron Quattro wagon: $105,900
• Audi Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron Quattro: $107,500

Note: All prices are before on-road costs and are subject to change.

What is the exterior of the Audi Q4 e-tron like?

As mentioned, buyers have the choice of the wagon and coupe SUV – the latter referred to as the Sportback in Audi nomenclature.

While traditionally the wagon offers more space, because of the way manufacturers measure boot space, in this case the Sportback actually eats slightly more luggage than its counterpart. Having said that, the squarer wagon is probably more practical for stacking larger boxes in the real world.

The Sportback offers two additional advantages: the first being that it delivers slightly better aerodynamics, which translates into better range. The second is that it doesn’t look like the wagon.

My entire time with the Audi Q4 e-tron wagon, every time it caught the corner of my eye, my brain recognised it as a Corolla Cross. While there’s nothing wrong with a Corolla Cross – they’re good cars – I suspect nobody would be happy having their Audi mistaken for a Toyota.

Having said that, the Audi is a good-looking thing. It sits like it’s ready to pounce, with sculpted edges and a modern front-end – but without being overly busy in its approach. The Sportback is particularly svelt, and looks even better in some of the press images when it’s completely blacked out.

Wheel size depends on the variant chosen, with the 45 wagon getting 19-inch alloys, the 45 Sportback and 55 wagon getting 20-inch alloys, and the 55 Sportback fitted with 21-inch alloy wheels. Bigger certainly looks better, but if you’re somewhere with poor roads, you may want to reconsider going for the larger wheels – more on that later.

What is the interior of the Audi Q4 e-tron like?

If you’ve sat in an Audi in the past three decades, you know the company knows how to deliver clean, upmarket, comfortable cabins in their cars – and the Q4 e-tron is no different.

I was a little surprised to find the interior was slightly smaller than I was expecting. Which isn’t to say it’s bad, but the exterior has some presence, some buff, and something in my brain told me the inside of the car would be bigger than it was.

Audi designers sure do love their angles. From the steering wheel, to the vents, and the screen housings – everything is angled this way and that. I suppose that’s the latest design trend nowadays, particularly when it comes to luxury automobiles.

Perhaps a little disappointingly was the use of hard plastics on some of the surfaces. Cars that are half the price of the Audi are doing away with these hard panels, so it would be nice to see a premium German brand doing the same.

Does the interior work, though? Sure does. Real buttons for the heating and air conditioning, reasonably intuitive switches and stalks, comfortable seats, and – embarrassingly, my favourite feature – angled bottle holders built into the doors near the top hinge. One of those rare times you sit back and think, ‘why hasn’t this been done before?’

While I couldn’t exactly put my finger on why, the Sportback I drove felt as if it was slightly more airy inside compared to the wagon.

Ahead of the driver is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, while an 11.6-inch display looks after infotainment duties, and includes satellite navigation, 360-degree cameras, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – all of which responds quickly – running through a very good 180-watt eight-speaker sound system.

There are also two USB-C chargers and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

The leather seats are comfortable and supportive, and feature adjustable lumber support and heating in the front row. There’s also ambient lighting, tri-zone climate control, and keyless entry and start. At no point was I in the car and wanted for anything that wasn’t there.

What about back seats?

There’s decent enough back seat room, both in terms of legroom and headroom. The second-row is neither the best nor the worst in the segment, but I imagine would be adequate for a family or transporting a car full of adults.

The seats are also comfortable, and provide a good vantage point out the front – with the sloping roof of the Sportback not overly impacting passenger headroom or comfort.

Those relegated to the rear get their own climate controls and two USB-C chargers.

What’s boot space like in the Audi Q4 e-tron?

For the first time I can think of, the coupe-styled Sportback actually offers more boot space – on paper at least – than its wagon counterpart.

While the wagon’s official number is 520 litres, the Q4 Sportback has an additional 15 litres of space, for a total of 535 litres.

As previously mentioned, car companies have their own way of measuring luggage space which isn’t, strictly speaking, universal – but it doesn’t really take into account the space above the window line. If that were the case, the wagon would surely dominate the Sportback.

The seats can be put down for those needing more space, but Audi hasn’t provided the numbers.

What’s powering the Audi Q4 e-tron?

The Audi Q4 45 e-tron is powered by a single electric motor, sending 210kW and 545Nm to the rear wheels – fed from an 82kWh battery.

This is good for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.7 seconds, while offering up to 524 kilometres of claim driving range for the wagon, and 540km in the Sportback.

Step up to the Q4 55 e-tron and you get all-wheel drive, with dual electric motors producing a combined output of 300kW and 664Nm – dropping the 0-100km/h time to a claimed 5.4 seconds.

However, the 82kWh battery remains, meaning a reduced driving range of 488km in the wagon and 503km in the more aerodynamic Sportback.

Audi claims between 17.4 and 18.5kWh per 100 kilometres of energy usage, with the vehicle capable of 175kW DC charging.

How does the Audi Q4 e-tron drive?

The Audi Q4 e-tron strikes a nice balance between being an engaging electric SUV to drive, but without needing to overthink anything. That is to say, it delivers decent enough power, ride, and handling for the driver, but is also easy to captain to a destination without being fatiguing.

Between the 45 and the 55, I actually preferred the driving dynamics of the 45 more. There’s slightly less weight – 2145kg versus 2235kg – providing a slight edge on the all-wheel-drive variant. While it does a good job of hiding its weight, you can’t completely overcome physics.

The steering on the 45 is also marginally better, with positive turn-in and neutral handling at everyday speeds.

Having said that, the Q4 55 e-tron offers a lot of bonuses. The benefit of all-wheel drive in wet weather is tremendous, and the additional performance is fun to exploit on open roads. The trade off, of course, is extra weight and less driving range.

With a good mix of city, suburban, and rural roads under our wheels, the Audi Q4 e-tron proved itself just as capable on the open road as it did stuck in traffic. It’s relaxed and relatively quiet at cruising speeds, but has the power to go for gaps when needed – without ever feeling like a sports car. And I mean that in a good way.

Is the Audi Q4 e-tron safe?

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program – better known as ANCAP – awarded the Audi Q4 e-tron a five-star safety rating, with the test conducted in 2021.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking with junction assist
• Lane departure warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Exit warning
• Driver fatigue monitor

How much does it cost to run the Audi Q4 e-tron?

The Audi Q4 e-tron is offered with a six-year service plan, costing $2050.

Services intervals are for every 24 months or 30,000 – whichever comes first – breaking down to approximately $683 for each trip to the dealership.

As part of the launch, buyers can also score a home charger for $799, with installation an additional cost from partner JetCharge.

What do you get with the Audi Q4 e-tron as standard?

• LED headlights
• LED daytime-running lights
• Automatic high-beams
• Auto-folding heated side mirrors
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry and start
• Leather-appointed upholstery
• Electric heated front seats
• Tri-zone climate control
• Ambient lighting
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 180-watt eight-speaker sound system
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• 2x front USB outlets
• 2x rear USB outlets
• 19-inch alloy wheels

Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron (adds over wagon)

• 20-inch alloy wheels

Q4 55 e-tron Quattro (adds over 45 e-tron)

• Matrix LED headlights
• Animated LED indicators
• Animated headlight start-up signatures
• Side mirror memory
• Privacy tint
• Electric sports seats
• Sports leather steering wheel
• Black headlining
• Stainless steel pedals

Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron Quttro (adds over wagon)

• 21-inch alloy wheels

Final thoughts on the Audi Q4 e-tron

For those ready to make the jump into an electric family car, but don’t want to go down the obvious choice of a Tesla – or some of the bizarre designs currently seen in showrooms around the country – the Audi Q4 e-tron ticks a lot of boxes.

Priced from $84,900 before on-road costs, the entry-level Q4 e-tron seems like a relative bargain – though that argument becomes a lot harder at more than $107,000 for the range-topping Q4 55 Sportback e-tron.

For the majority of people, the Q4 45 e-tron wagon will perform superbly day-to-day – particularly if you live in the city or suburbia. While we recommend cross-shopping with the other German marques, the Audi offers a more understated luxury, perhaps the less obvious choice – arguable making it cooler than its competitors.

While the Q4 stopped short of truly wowing us on a grand scale, it’s a solid performer on all fronts and a great value alternative to many of the electric SUVs currently on sale.