2024 Audi Q4 e-tron Review and Test Drive
One of the more attractive luxury EVs just got a whole lot better.
Mark Takahashi
Audi proved its commitment to an all-electric future when it beat most other luxury carmakers to market with the original 2019 e-tron SUV (now called the Q8 e-tron). Three years later, Audi followed that original e-tron SUV up with the more affordable Q4 e-tron, and the automaker isn't wasting any time improving it.
The 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron receives noteworthy midyear upgrades to enhance its appeal. Audi says it has improved the battery, motors, and chassis to deliver more range, power, and overall performance compared to earlier Q4 e-tron models. The new electric drive system is standard, and a 55 designation distinguishes it from the discontinued 40 and 50 models.
Although the price has slightly increased, the Q4 55 e-tron remains the least expensive all-electric Audi. It comes in standard and Sportback body styles with Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. Base prices range from the mid-$50,000s to the mid-$60,000s, including the destination charge for shipping it to your dealership from the Mosel, Germany, assembly plant.
After spending a week driving the upgraded Q4 55 e-tron, I feel it's a more competitive package in the compact luxury electric SUV class, and I expect that people shopping for this type of vehicle will find it more appealing.
Mark Takahashi
The Improvements Are Invisible, But the Gains Are Meaningful
Audi makes significant changes to the 2024 Audi Q4 55 e-tron — but you wouldn't know just by looking at it. When viewed from the outside and from the driver's seat, the 2024 Q4 55 e-tron is nearly identical to previous models. Instead, the improvements enhance what you can't see, affecting some of the most critical factors to EV shoppers.
Audi has pared down the Q4 e-tron lineup, phasing out the entry-level 40 e-tron variant equipped with a single rear motor. The all-wheel-drive 50 e-tron is also gone, replaced by the new 55 e-tron, which adds more power, longer driving range, and improved recharging capability.
Starting with the all-important EPA range estimates, the Q4 55 e-tron travels 258 miles on a single charge. That's seven miles less than the old 40 e-tron but an increase of up to 22 miles over the outgoing 50 e-tron.
Mark Takahashi
Charging improvements include DC fast-charging capability at 175 kilowatt-hours (kW), up from the previous 150-kW maximum. The battery features new chemistry and enhanced thermal management that can precondition it before you arrive at a charging station. Just program the charging station as a destination within the navigation system, and it will automatically prepare the battery before you arrive.
These updates promise shorter charging times when you're on the road. Audi says it will take 28 minutes to recharge the Q4 55 e-tron from 10 percent to 80 percent. You'll also get 250 kW of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network, translating to about three or four free sessions over the first two years of ownership. When it comes to free-charging perks, this is at the low end of the spectrum.
Overall performance also improves with the Q4 55 e-tron. Power output increases to 335 horsepower compared to the 50 e-tron's 295 horsepower. Audi has also re-tuned the suspension and steering to enhance cornering performance and ride comfort.
Mark Takahashi
The Q4 e-tron Is an Artful Balance of Performance and Comfort
How do all of these changes come together on the road? Quite well, as my 2024 Audi Q4 55 e-tron test vehicle proved.
Equipped with Prestige trim, it had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $63,395, including the $1,195 destination charge. With its extra-cost paint and optional Black Optic package, the total came to $65,290. The Q4 55 e-tron is not eligible for the federal income tax credit for EV purchases.
Audi says the Q4 55 e-tron should reach 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, nearly a second quicker than the outgoing 50 e-tron. It feels more eager to get up to speed, but not significantly. I think there's plenty of power for the average driver, but some of the Audi's rivals are noticeably quicker.
Mark Takahashi
The suspension changes aim to improve the handling, but I didn't think the Q4 e-tron was lacking in that department to begin with. This small SUV can tackle my favorite serpentine roads in the Santa Monica Mountains with plenty of athleticism.
As much as I enjoy a spirited drive, I had a tough time noticing substantive improvements. That is likely due to the Q4 e-tron's 4,850-pound curb weight, which diminishes agility.
The same can be said of the revised steering, which Audi promises will deliver sharper response. I might have detected differences after a back-to-back drive with the previous model, but they don't fundamentally change the Q4 e-tron's personality. That's fine by me, as this Audi is enjoyable and somewhat entertaining to drive in any environment.
I still wish Audi would add one-pedal driving to the Q4 e-tron, a system that can bring the SUV to a complete stop without having to touch the brake pedal. Instead, it uses regenerative braking to slow down to nearly a complete stop when you select the B drive mode. A steering-wheel paddle adjusts how much regeneration and resulting deceleration you'll get in B mode, but it resets every time you tap the brake pedal, which I find aggravating.
In addition, the Q4 e-tron enjoys the same benefits as many other EVs, namely a quiet cabin and a smooth, comfortable ride quality.
Mark Takahashi
The Q4 e-tron Is an Intelligent and Capable EV That's Easy to Live With
The improvements to the battery and charging are just as crucial to EV shoppers as the performance. The previous Q4 e-tron replenished the battery from 5% to 80% in 36 minutes using a 150-kW DC fast charger. The new 175-kW rate and destination-based battery preconditioning capability will get you from 10% to 80% in 28 minutes.
In addition, though the new battery's increased range of 22 miles may seem trivial, it can make a difference on a longer road trip. On top of that, based on my observations, I could have easily exceeded the estimated range by 20 or 30 miles on a mix of highway, city, and mountain roads.
I didn't drive with the intent of squeezing every last foot of range from the battery, yet I still achieved an impressive indicated efficiency of 27 kWh per 100 miles, beating the EPA estimate of 36 kWh per 100 miles.
The touchscreen infotainment system lets you easily control those charging and battery preconditioning features. I think the large on-screen tiles and logical menus significantly reduce distraction when driving, and some of the deeper settings are only accessible after you've stopped the SUV.
Say "Hey Audi" to activate the voice recognition system, followed by your command. I found the system responds accurately, even if the technology can take a few seconds to process a response.
Mark Takahashi
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto pair well with the wireless charging pad tucked away in the center console. A spring-loaded clip keeps it from sliding around, and you don't have to be deliberate about placing it there. I could simply drop my Max-sized iPhone in place, and the charger activated a second later.
Numerous safety features reduce the burden on the driver. Standard equipment includes forward collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping and lane-centering assist. In the top Prestige trim, you also get a head-up display with augmented reality overlays, a semiautomated parking system, and a traffic sign reader.
In my time behind the wheel, I found that only the lane-departure warning system seemed overly sensitive, as it activated when I got close to the lane markers rather than when the tires touched them. By contrast, I was particularly pleased with the head-up display that overlays graphics to warn if you're following a vehicle too closely, as well as helpful animated arrows for navigation and changing speed limits.
It's worth noting that the Q4 e-tron SUV has slightly less cargo space than the racier-looking Q4 e-tron Sportback. The former accommodates up to 24.8 cubic-feet of cargo behind the back seat, while the latter supplies 26.1 cu-ft. The SUV's maximum cargo volume is 53.1 cu-ft, while the Sportback offers 54.4 cu-ft.
Mark Takahashi
The Q4 e-tron Was Already a Good Choice, Now It's Better
With its entertaining driving dynamics, high levels of comfort, and intuitive tech, the 2024 Q4 e-tron is a solid choice in the small luxury SUV segment.
Direct rivals include the competitively priced Mercedes-Benz EQB and Volvo XC40 Recharge, though the EQB falls short regarding range. There's also the Genesis GV60, which offers more range in Standard spec, or greater power in Performance trim. Prospective buyers may also want to consider some non-luxury choices, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, as the refinement on offer is encroaching on luxury territory.
As it stands, the Q4 e-tron's biggest threat might come from within Audi itself, via the all-new 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron. Because even if the base model will likely be more expensive than a range-topping Q4 e-tron, it will feature the automaker's latest technology and efficiency developments.
Audi provided the vehicle for this 2024 Q4 e-tron review.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Mark TakahashiThere's no such thing as a perfect car, but I'm convinced that there is a perfect car for you. That's why I've spent the last two decades reviewing every type of vehicle I could get my hands on. From economy hatchbacks to high-performance sports cars and pickup trucks to family SUVs, I've driven them all. I aim to deliver the most comprehensive evaluation possible so you can see for yourself which vehicle is likely to be the best fit for your life and budget.
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