The 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron compact luxury SUV is the most affordable way into a new all-electric Audi. Maximum range is 258 miles. Pricing starts at $56,395. Available as a conventional SUV or with a sleeker Sportback tail, the Q4 e-tron is full of appealing Audi qualities. This model launched for the 2022 model year, so it remains fresh and strong against rival electric vehicles (EVs) even if some of them have better ranges. Although it’s a small SUV, it’s still quite roomy inside, thanks to electric drivetrains taking up less space than combustion equivalents. The battery is stored in the floor. The Q4 e-tron could even be an alternative to the Audi Q5 or others of the gasoline-fed compact SUV class, like the BMW X3 or Lexus NX. We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury electric SUVs, including the Audi Q4 e-tron.
What's New for 2024
Adaptive cruise control with lane guidance is now standard, along with brake regeneration paddles on the steering column. A remote garage door opener is integrated into the rearview mirror and becomes part of the optional Convenience package offered with Premium trim, or standard in Premium Plus and Prestige versions. Halfway through this model year, Audi has updated the 50 drivetrain, renaming it the 55. There’s greater power, increased range, and suspension tweaks for a more satisfactory driving experience. Yet prices stay the same. A slight downside to this is that the more affordable variant with the 40 drivetrain has been discontinued at the same time, so the base price has gone up in a way.
2024 Audi Q4 e-tron Pricing
The 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron has a starting sticker price of $50,995, with the range-topping Q4 e-tron 55 Prestige kicking off at $63,395. But Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Pricing currently suggests paying $2,377 to $2,955 less than MSRP, depending on trim and equipment. These prices are updated weekly.
MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
40 Premium | $50,995 | $48,618 | ||
40 Premium Plus | $55,695 | $53,099 | ||
50 Premium | $56,395 | $53,766 | ||
55 Premium | $56,395 | $54,015 | ||
50 Premium Plus | $61,095 | $58,247 | ||
55 Premium Plus | $61,095 | $58,516 | ||
50 Prestige | $63,395 | $60,440 | ||
55 Prestige | $63,395 | $60,719 |
Looking at what else is out there, the Tesla Model Y with all-wheel drive starts at about $50K. Comparable Volvo XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2 variants kick off in the mid-$50Ks. The all-wheel-drive Lexus RZ 450e, Genesis GV60, and Cadillac Lyriq begin at around $60K.We know the Kia EV6 doesn’t have the same prestige as an Audi, but we love how it drives, and it begins at around $50K (with all-wheel drive). For those not quite ready to switch to electric, the gasoline-powered Audi Q5 starts in the $46.5K region. Before buying a new Q4 e-tron electric SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Projected Audi Q4 e-tron resale values are a little below average for the class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.
Power, Ride, and Handling
The new-for-halfway-through-2024 Q4 e-tron 55 has two electric motors (one up front, one at the back) and all-wheel drive. Compared with the outgoing 50 setup, this drivetrain makes 40 more horsepower for a total of 335 horses. This update is a win-win situation because, as well as improving range, it also takes less time to sprint from a standstill to 60 mph. Audi claims five seconds, which is almost a second quicker than the 50 and more competitive against the Tesla Model Y and Genesis GV60. We tend to like the way an Audi drives, how it plots a well-judged course between the sportiness of a BMW and the smoothness of a Mercedes-Benz. The Q4 e-tron is like that, comfortable yet composed — able to take city driving, freeway stretches, and mountain roads in its capable stride. Audi has also given this area some attention for the 2024 Q4 e-tron’s midyear upgrade — enhancing comfort, body control, stability, and steering response. The paddles on the steering wheel change the level of brake regeneration. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t perform the one-pedal driving trick that other EVs can, but think of these actions as downshifting or upshifting a transmission.
Roomy Interior
Here’s something odd. It would be logical to assume that the sleeker Sportback variant would have less space for rear passengers and cargo. There’s something to this because rear headroom is reduced by 1.3 inches compared with the regular SUV version’s 38.3 inches. However, the rear legroom stays the same (an eminently usable 37.2 inches), and cargo space increases slightly. Behind the SUV’s rear seats is a luggage area of 24.8 cubic feet. The Sportback has 26.1. Fold those seats down, and the SUV’s maximum cargo volume expands to 53.1 cubic feet. The Sportback’s goes to 54.4 cubic feet. To compare, the Tesla Model Y has a maximum cargo area of 76 cubic feet. And a tad more than 40 inches of rear legroom. Either way, the Q4 e-tron has plenty of space, almost as much as the larger Q5. We also appreciate the wonderfully comfortable and supportive front seats. The overall interior design incorporates a low-clutter approach with refinement and flair — typical Audi, in other words. We’ve found a few things that might take a little getting used to, like the volume control on the steering wheel and the large switch-like gear shifter.
Two Body Styles
Typical SUV or sleeker Sportback — the Q4 e-tron offers a choice. Sizewise, the Q4 slots between the subcompact Q3 and the compact Q5. So it’s easy to park and maneuver while not taking up too much garage space. The main design elements follow the usual Audi language of attractive understatement. We think that’s a good call, considering most Audi vehicles have weathered the years remarkably well from an aesthetic point of view. Audi now offers 21-inch alloy wheels for the Q4 e-tron 55.
Our Favorite Features and Tech
Squared-off steering wheel Sportback All-wheel drive Big bottle holder Sonos audio Augmented reality head-up display
Well, it’s flattened at the top and bottom, which makes it easier for drivers to slide their legs under, and it just looks kind of cool and futuristic. Like an Audi EV should.
We’re all for people having choices, so kudos to Audi for providing the SUV-like Q4 e-tron and the arguably more stylish Q4 e-tron Sportback.
After the midyear changes, every new Q4 e-tron now has the added grip of all-wheel drive.
Audi seems extremely keen on keeping its customers hydrated. A big bottle holder is built into the driver’s door, positioned perfectly for easy reach.
Sonos built a reputation for making excellent home audio setups and Bluetooth speakers. Now, the company is supplying Audi with systems like the one in the top Prestige trim of the Q4 e-tron.
Another feature in the Prestige trim will superimpose arrows on navigation instructions to make life easier for the driver. We’ve found that it doesn’t work so well with polarized sunglasses, though.
Range and Charging
Maximum range of the Q4 e-tron 55 is 258 miles, an improvement of 22 miles over the 50 drivetrain. That applies to both the SUV and the Sportback. Among the rivals with all-wheel drive, the Tesla Model Y can run for 310 miles from a full charge, the Cadillac Lyriq manages 307 miles, the Volvo XC40 Recharge does 254 miles, and the Genesis GV60 has a 248-mile range. Audi has also optimized the battery for faster DC charging. It now takes about 28 minutes to go from 10% to 80% capacity, eight minutes quicker than before. Some EVs will perform the same task in around 20 minutes, but 30 minutes is more usual. A 240-volt home charger can perform a full replenishment in about 7.5 hours. Audi’s new-car warranty lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. That’s par for the course among European manufacturers. The battery pack is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. The Audi Q4 e-tron has been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and took a 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, intersection assistance, and blind-spot monitoring.4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty
Safety Ratings
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Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
