Audi was a little late to the EV party, but it has now made up some ground with the launch of the Q4 e-tron. 

We did see the original e-tron and Q8 e-tron grace our shores, but those models did not particularly sell well. That is why, with the Q4, Audi is going in guns blazing. The third time’s the charm, right?

The Q4 e-tron shares its underpinnings with the VW ID.4 (and Skoda Enyaq), built on the same MEB electric platform that Volkswagen Group has spread across its brands like butter on toast.

It’s essentially the posh cousin to the ID.4 and Enyaq, but there are major differences between the three, and Audi has crafted the Q4 in a way that distinguishes it from the pack.

What’s It Like to Drive?

Singapore only receives one powertrain option – the 45 variant. 282bhp and 545Nm of torque are fed to a rear-driven motor, promising a century sprint time of 6.7 seconds. 

Audi’s always had a bit of an identity crisis when it comes to performance. Sometimes they’re razor-sharp racers, sometimes they’re silky-smooth cruisers.

Luckily, with the Q4 e-tron, they’ve found a sweet spot. Electric powertrains have a way of smoothing things out while still offering that punch of instant torque. So, you can expect a smooth, refined ride here; well-damped, for the most part, though occasionally it does get a little jittery over small ridges or bumps.

It’s not all about comfort either. The Q4 e-tron has a bit of a hustle in its DNA. With the battery’s weight keeping things grounded low, it stays impressively flat and sticks to the road, especially when you’re carving through corners.

The steering is nicely weighted. If you’re in one of the sportier driving modes, it’s sharp and accurate, and as you dial it back towards Comfort, the steering lightens up.

What About the Regen Braking?

This is one of the star traits of the Q4 e-tron. Unlike the ID.4, Audi has made the regen controllable through paddles behind the steering wheel.

It becomes second nature quickly; you’ll be modulating your speed with a few flicks rather than tapping the brake all the time. Why the VW doesn’t have this, we don’t know, but it’s a gem on the Q4.

How Quiet Is It?

Silence is golden, they say, and in the Q4 e-tron, you’ll get plenty of it. On the move, the cabin feels cocooned. So hushed that even the wipers barely make a sound when it rains. Audi’s done an impressive job of muting outside noise, but when everything else is so quiet, the odd squeak or creak from the cabin becomes all the more noticeable.

I’m Concerned About Charging

Fear not. The Q4 e-tron supports quick charging up to 125kW, which isn’t the fastest out there, but it’ll juice the car from 5% to 80% in about half an hour. Grab a coffee, stretch your legs, and you’ll be back on the road.

The 82kWh battery is a tank too; a week’s worth of travel can easily be done in the Q4 e-tron. Credit’s where it’s due, the VAG group sure know how to make an efficient battery. During my test, I managed to average 16.4kWh/100km, which is impressive considering there was no effort rendered by me in trying to keep things economical.

It Looks Rather Nice

From the outside, the Q4 looks handsome enough. Audi’s done a decent job with the proportions. But if you squint, you might struggle to immediately spot it as an Audi.

That’s the challenge when platform sharing becomes the norm; unique design can sometimes take a back seat. Still, it’s the interior where the Q4 shines. Step inside, and you’ll find a well-crafted, angular space that feels every bit the premium Audi experience.

Even if you opt for the “base-spec” Advanced variant like this, you’re not missing out on much.

Tell Me More

Can’t get away from screens these days, and Audi’s got you covered here with a 10.1-inch touchscreen front and centre, plus a 10.25-inch virtual instrument panel behind the steering wheel.

The OS is slightly more dated than what you might find in other German rivals, but it’s still reliable for day-to-day tasks.

Polished finishes are everywhere. It’s all very nice, but they will have you reaching for a microfibre cloth to wipe off fingerprints. Keep one handy in the door bin.

Physical buttons, while few, have that satisfying click Audi lovers will appreciate, and everything from the pedals to the steering wheel feels solid and well-tuned.

It Looks Quite Minimalist, Doesn’t It?

Indeed, the Q4 e-tron’s interior is pared down, clean, and sleek. The gear selector is a small nugget you nudge, and the infotainment gets an iPod-style controller.

There’s decent storage scattered throughout, though you’ll mostly be working with a glovebox and a generous central bin under the armrest. Honorary mention goes to the phone holders, they feel like gun holsters. 

The Q4 e-tron is quite large, and that space translates into comfortable room for five in the cabin. Rear passengers receive high headroom and decent legroom, alongside rear air-conditioning vents and charging ports.

As for the 535-litre boot (ironically, the SUV is smaller at 520 litres), the floor is set relatively high, but there’s a hidden compartment underneath for stashing odds and ends.

Despite a small amount of space being taken out due to the tapered roofline, it’s still quite spacious compared to its electric rivals like the Volvo XC40 Recharge or the Mercedes EQA.

Great Step Forwards

The Audi Q4 e-tron is a solid, practical family SUV that just happens to run on electricity. It doesn’t try to shove futuristic tech or outlandish designs down your throat. Instead, it feels more like a smooth, understated transition into the world of EVs.

If you’ve been waiting for others to test the waters with EVs and are now thinking of making the switch yourself, this is a great place to start.

Technical Specifications

Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron 

Engine: Single Electric Motor
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 210 kW (282 bhp)
Torque: 545 Nm
Gearbox: Two-stage planetary gearbox with single gear (A)
0-100km/h: 6.7 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 180 km/h
Battery Capacity: 82 kWh
Drive Range: 482 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 5.46 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$270,999 (Advanced), S$290,999 (Edition 1), both with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Audi Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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Fact 1: This is an entry-level EV SUV from Audi

As far as EVs go from the Ingolstadt brand, this is currently the entry-level model. Until the rumoured Q2 (all of Audi’s EVs moving forward will be designated with even numbers) is launched sometime in 2027, this is your first step into the world of Audi EVs.

Fact 2: Four variants

There are two variants for each body style, giving potential buyers four different options. The Q4 e-tron will come in a base model Advanced trim and the Edition 1 higher-specced trim. The Sportback will also have similar Advanced and Edition 1 trims.

Fact 3: Feature packed

The Advanced trim already comes with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fully digital operating system, and a decently sized 10.25-inch display for the driver.

But go crazy with the Edition 1 (at an SGD 20k premium), and you’ll get Matrix LED headlights, an Augmented reality head-up display, MMI navigation pro, a Sonos sound system, and 21-inch wheels!

Fact 4: One for the drivers?

Very few Audis (or EVs in general) are rear-wheel-driven – this is one of them. A quick drive of the Q4 e-tron impressed this writer, both from the power delivery and handling standpoint.

Both Advanced and Edition 1 models are fitted with a motor that produces a maximum output of 286bhp and torque output of 545Nm, which is all the power you would ever need in a car, especially in Singapore’s driving conditions. With an acceleration time of 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds, you can quickly get out of any tricky road situation with a prod of the throttle.

Fact 5: Practical and usable

You could easily get to Kuala Lumpur on a single charge with a range of up to 466 km for the Q4 e-tron and 482 km for the Q4 Sportback e-tron. It’ll also fit four adults, maybe five, and all their luggage, as this spacious SUV has an interior length that matches that of a typical full-size SUV.

Along with that, with some clever storage compartments, generous knee room in the rear and a boot (with electric tailgate) volume of more than 520 litres, this SUV is a practical ride for the family.

Fact 6: Compact by name only

My, how they’ve grown. The Audi Q4 e-tron might be labelled as a compact SUV, but it is, in essence, still a very sizeable car, especially on the inside.

The vehicle measures less than half a meter shorter than its large Q7 sibling. As discussed above, this translates to an airy and spacious interior. This gives occupants lots of legroom even when a driver of my height (1.75m) is comfortably seated in the front.

Fact 7: Will give the competition a run for their money

Two models come to mind with regards to the competition; the BMW iX3 is not as flashy inside (or the outside) and lacks some tech compared to the Audi, but it’s been around and remains a trusty, tried and tested model that Singaporeans have relied on for a good-sized premium EV SUV in the past year or so.

Tesla’s Model Y has a better range (up to 507 km on a single charge), and its minimalistic interior and massive touchscreen are its big selling points. But when it comes to luxury and build quality, the Q4 e-tron definitely trumps the American.

Fact 8: Cat B premium SUV at Cat A price(-ish)

Priced at SGD$254,999 for the regular SUV and SGD$259,999 for the Sportback (Advanced trim), the Q4 e-tron sits between the BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y. It is even cheaper than the Mercedes EQA, which is priced close to 300k. Once again, this is for a car that clearly punches above its weight in terms of power, practicality, and premium-ness.

In our quick drive in the Q4 e-Tron, we can confirm that it can remarkably balance luxury, tech, and practicality all at the same time while proving to be a rather nifty drive as well. It’s easy to see why the Q4 e-tron will do well; it is simply because, with such high COE these days, you would want your high price tag to give you more.

Also, with Cat A COEs inching closer to Cat B COE prices, the Q4 e-tron might be the right balance for those in the market for a premium SUV that offers a blend of style, substance, and a sprinkle of future tech. 

We definitely approve, so go check it out. The Audi Q4 e-tron will hit the streets later this month (June 2024)!

Technical Specifications

Audi Q4 e-tron Advanced

Power: 286hp
Torque: 545Nm
Drive: rear wheels
0-100km/h: 6.7 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 180km/h (limited)
Unladen Weight: 2,070kg
Battery Energy Content: 77kWh
Range: up to 466km (claimed)
Energy Economy: TBA
Price: S$254,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Audi Singapore

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