The models will be available in the US at a cost of ‘under $45,000’.
Audi has gone all-in with electric vehicles. Ingolstadt began its plunge into electricity in mass quantities with the arrival of the ETron crossover in 2018. This was not counting the brief-lived R8 ETron. With the addition of the Audi Q4 E-Tron, and Q4 Sportback E-Tron, the lineup has grown by two.
These new compact offerings will compete directly with other EVs such as the Ford Mustang, Tesla model Y and Audi’s VolkswagenID.4 cousin. Audi offers three trim levels, two battery options and rear-wheel-drive configurations. It is not clear which models will be available in the United States.
Starting in June, the Q4 E-Tron, and Q4 Sportback E-Tron will be available in Germany, starting at EUR41,900. Both models should arrive in the USA closer to the end, with Audi stating that the starting price is “under $45,000”, which does not include the $7,5000 federal incentives.
Choose Your Battery Power
The Q4 E-Tron launch will be available in three flavors, with two battery options and two motor layouts. Base Q4 35 will have a 52-kilowatt hour battery pack and one electric motor at its rear. This gives it 168 horsepower (125kilowatts), and 229 pound feet (310 newton meters). Naturally, the base Q4 35 is rear-wheel driven only and can reach 60 mph in 9.0 seconds. The Q4 35 can also travel 212 miles (341 km) using the European WLTP cycle, while the Sportback model can go 217 miles (349km). These figures are expected to be lower in the USA according to the EPA scale.
The Q4 40 Etron, which is mid-range, has a 77.0-kWh battery and one electric motor on its rear axle. This setup generates 201 horsepower (150 kW) as well as 229 lbft. Again, power is sent to the rear wheels. It takes 8.5 seconds for this model to reach 60. The best range is 323 miles (520km) using the WLTP cycle. These specs may look familiar. The mid-range Q4 is almost identical to the current Volkswagen ID.4, although Audi insists that the tuning and engineering are unique to the Q4.
The Q4 50 E-Tron is the most expensive model in the range. It has a larger 77.0-kWh battery and two electric motors, one on each axle. It is the only way to get a Sportback in the US. This model can produce 295 horsepower (220 kW) or 339 lbft (460 Nm), and can reach 60 in just 6.2 seconds. The Q4 50 E-Tron can also travel 303 miles (488km) using the WLTP cycle in its normal body style and 309 miles (497km) using the Sportback body type. It has a maximum charging capability of 125 kilowatts. The base 35 and 40 models can haul more than 2,200 pounds (1,090 kg), while the 50 model will tow 2,654 pounds (1.203 kg).
Battery |
Motors |
Specifics |
Range (WLTP |
|
Q4 35 E-Tron |
52-Kilowatt-Hour | One | 168 HP / 229 Lb-FT | 212-222 Miles |
Q4 40 E-Tron |
77-Kilowatt-Hour | One | 201 HP / 229 Lb-FT | 323 Miles |
Q4 50 E-Tron |
77-Kilowatt-Hour | Two | 295 HP / 339 Lb-FT | 303 Miles – 309 Miles |
Borrowed Style, Different Dimensions
The Q4 E-Tron’s visual cues are obvious from the first glance. It has a faux hexagonal grille at the front and a full-width LED lightbar in the rear. The compact crossover also has a few unique cues. For example, the Sportback model gets a more slinky roofline in the rear than the standard Q4. You can choose from a variety of 19-, 20 and 21-inch wheels, as well as eight exterior colors. The only thing that the American market will not get is Europe’s Matrix LED headlights. They are not legal in the USA.
These two Audis are small, even for compacts. The Q4 twins measure 15.1 feet (4.6 meter) in length and have a wheelbase 109.0 inches (2 meters). This makes them almost half an inch shorter than both the Tesla and Mustang. The track width is 62.4 inches (1.585 millimeters) frontally and 61.6 inches (1.565 mm back), which is again narrower than the Ford or Tesla.
Audi carefully packaged the interior, despite its diminutive dimensions. Engineers and designers took 18.4 cubic feet out of the cargo hold behind second row in standard Q4, and 52.6 cubes if the second row was folded flat. Sportback models, however, have 18.9 cubic feet more space than the standard Q4, and 52.6 cubes with the second row folded flat. With the second row folded down, this number increases to 51.6 cubes.
Audi customers have the option of choosing between artificial and Nappa leather as their material choice. Specifically, the S Line model will be equipped with real hide. A high-quality Dinamica trim, which looks and feels similar to suede but is made from 45 percent recycled materials, joins the faux leather. As well as the plastic trim on the base model, there will be options for trims made of aluminum and wood.
Biggest. Touchscreen. Touchscreen.
Standard equipment includes a 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen and a digital cluster. An optional 11.6-inch touchscreen is available with an upgraded MMI Plus setup and wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity. This optional screen is the largest on an Audi product. The Q4 also has some features you won’t find in any other Audi products: a “Hey Audi” voice assistant, as well as an optional augmented reality head up display.
This new augmented reality system is different from others. It “projects” images onto the windshield at an average distance (32.8 feet) from the driver. You might see waypoints or arrows a little further depending on the situation. The general field of vision is 70 inches diagonally. It combines with an LCD screen and a picture generator unit (or PGU). This is all you need to know: The picture should be clear.
The Q4 also uses an E-Tron Route Planner, which calculates the fastest route as well as the best options for DC fast-charging along the way. You can also see the estimated distance at arrival, driving time, charging times, and driving time. The Q4 can also be equipped with an optional Sonos speaker system that produces up to 850 watts. Audi also notes that this is the first Sonos system installed in any car, not just an Audi.
Pricing and availability
German buyers will soon be able get the Audi Q4 E-Tron starting at 41,900, not including a possible $9,000 subsidy. The Q4 will not be available in the USA until 2021. Audi doesn’t have any pricing information, but it promises that the asking price will not exceed $45,000 and may include up to $7500 in rebates.