The Audi Q4 e-tron was available in the United States with two different powertrain options: the Q4 40 e-tron and Q4 50 e-tron quattro. Only the Q4 50 e-tron quattro is offered at the moment.
Rear-wheel drive and a single motor are standard on the Q4 40 e-tron. Its electric motor has 229 lb-ft of torque and 201 horsepower. Also respectable are the top-speed and acceleration numbers. The highest speed is capped at 99 mph, while the dash to 60 mph takes 7.9 seconds.
For aficionados, the Q4 50 e-tron quattro is the model to select. Due to the dual-motor arrangement, it has quattro AWD. The SUV can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds thanks to the powertrain’s 295 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The top speed it can reach is 112 mph.
The typical battery pack has an 82 kWh capacity and can be charged at a maximum rate of 9.6 kW (AC)/125 kW. (DC). It takes nine hours to charge the SoC on AC at 9.6 kW from 0 to 100 percent. 80 percent of the energy can be added in roughly 38 minutes when using a DC fast charger.
The SUV has a heat pump inside. If necessary, the cabin can be heated using the heat from the high voltage electric modules. A three-stage brake regeneration is also present. The Q4 50 e-efficiency tron’s is the same as that of the Q4 40 e-tron. Only when the system detects low traction does the front axle engage. When the grip and conditions are good, it drives like a rear-wheel-drive SUV.
Customers can also select from a variety of drive modes with the Audi Drive Select system, including Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic, and Individual.
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When will the Audi Q4 e-tron go on sale?
According to a statement from Audi, the Q4 e-tron Sportback model will be offered alongside the standard e-tron models. The conventional models of the Q4 e-tron ought to be made accessible in 2021. If not, 2022 might serve as a backup date.
How long will the Audi Q4 e-tron be available?
Book your Q4 e-tron now. In the fall of 2022, the Audi Q4 e-tron will be available. There will be a waitlist due to the vehicle’s high demand and limited supply at launch. Don’t miss out; make your reservation right away. All we need to hold your place in line is a $1,000 completely refundable deposit.
What is the price of the Audi Q4 e-tron?
The starting price of the 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron, before incentives, is $43,900. A brand-new, all-electric premium compact crossover, the Audi Q4 e-tron debuts in 2022.
Where is the Audi Q4 e-tron produced?
Germany Audi intends to use its plant in Brussels to manufacture the recently released Q4 e-tron full-electric SUV.
Due to strong demand for the SUV, Audi is increasing excess Q4 e-tron production in Brussels, according to corporate sources. The VW ID3 and ID4 as well as the Cupra Born models are now produced in VW’s plant in Zwickau, Germany, along with the Q4 e-tron. The MEB electric-car platform from VW Group is used by all of the EVs.
At its meeting on December 9 to examine and approve the most recent, five-year strategic plan for the group, the supervisory board of the Volkswagen Group will make the ultimate decision about Audi’s plan.
The second EV to be produced at the Belgian factory would be the Q4 e-tron. The factory has been producing the bigger Audi e-tron and its e-tron Sportback variant from 2018.
According to company sources speaking to Automobilwoche in June, Audi also intends to replace production of the e-tron and e-tron Sportback with a battery-powered version of its top-of-the-line SUV, the Q8, in Brussels in 2026. Later, Markus Duesmann, the CEO of Audi, acknowledged the strategy.
The MLB Evo platform from Audi, which is being phased out in favor of the Premium Platform Electric developed in partnership with Porsche, serves as the foundation for the e-tron and e-tron Sportback.
Germany’s Neckarsulm Audi facility had hoped to secure Q4 e-tron overflow production.
The only Audi factory that specializes on making electric vehicles is in Brussels. Additionally, it had made a bid to make Audi’s premium electric Artemis model beginning in 2024, but it was unsuccessful because VW’s commercial vehicle factory in Hanover, Germany was chosen to build the EV.
Audi said in June that it would stop producing internal combustion engines by the beginning of the next decade, with the exception of China, as the business quickens its shift to being an electric-only automaker.
Audi Q4: Is it larger than Q3?
Audi may not have the luxury small SUV market largely to itself anymore, but with the Q3 and Q4, it is still one of the top competitors. There is lots of choice while preserving the four rings on the snout because both are offered as traditional “SUV estates” or slightly less practical Sportback variants. Since the EV is more expensive to lease but less expensive to run, the choice between gasoline and electricity is not as clear-cut.
With the original Q3, Audi was one of the first automakers to provide a stylish compact SUV, but the market has changed significantly since then. Competitors include the Volvo XC40, Mercedes GLA, Range Rover Evoque, and the BMW X1 and X2 models. Additionally, the all-electric Q4 E-Tron and the Sportback versions of the Q3 and Q4 with their steeper sloping tailgates are competitors within its own ranks.
The Q3 is available with the typical gasoline and diesel engines in addition to a gasoline-electric hybrid option for the drivetrain. Audi has converted to its E-Tron all-electric motor for the Q4, and like the most of the vehicles in its lineup, buyers must choose between 2- and 4-wheel drive. But that’s a choice that just affects drivetrains. The more powerful Q4s stick with 2-wheel drive, while the top-of-the-line Q4 50 has a quattro 4WD. Even so, things are a little different because these are rear-drive instead of front-wheel drive, which is Audi’s customary preference. This is so because the Q4 shares a platform with the Skoda Enyaq and the Volkswagen ID.4.
Leasing costs for the Q3 and Q4 are comparable, however when comparing vehicles of the same trim and quality, the Q3 fueled by fossil fuels is significantly less expensive. Will that affect your choice? We shall see.
Design Differences
The Q3 and Q4 share a lot of the same design cues because they both come from the same styling department. However, it’s obvious that the Q3 is more conventional in appearance, as Audi was unwilling to lose a loyal client base that had been amassed over the course of more than a decade. The Q4 comes from a bolder pen, on the other hand. With a massive (even by Audi standards) grille that appears to be pressing the headlights out of the frame, it has a more aggressive appearance. All of the cooling air for the batteries is brought in through the vents below, thus this grille serves just as decoration.
The Q4 is once more more style-driven at the rear and down the sides, which is not necessarily a good thing because the Q3 has much simpler lines that feel far less “look at me.” The Q3 uses a more subdued approach to integrating the Volkswagen Group twin-screen dash into its interior, which is also true outside. With the elevated center console and angular steering wheel that feels curiously bumpy as it passes through your hands when you maneuver, Audi has pushed the dial up to 10.5 for the Q4. The inside of the Q4 is annoyingly sensible in most aspects and irritatingly stupid in others. We simply wish Audi had turned up the design dial all the way.
We can clearly notice the technical changes between Q3 and Q4 when we put on our X-ray glasses. Depending on the model you choose, the Q3’s engine is positioned in the usual transverse configuration to drive either the front wheels or all four. We chose the all-wheel drive quattro model with the 190hp 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and 7-speed automatic transmission for our comparison.
With the R8 supercar serving as its sole actual antecedent, the Q4 is the first rear-wheel-drive Audi model to be built in significant quantities. Due to the usage of the same platform as the Skoda Enyaq and VW ID.4 for cost savings, Audi has been obliged to make this significant change despite its longstanding aversion to rear-drive. All-wheel drive is an option for the Q4, but you’ll need to spend more money on the 50 model because it’s not available for the 35 or 40 models, which are both less potent.
Driving Differences
Here, we’ll start with the Q4. This EV is among the best of its kind for controlling the tug-of-war between the body and the wheels over bumps on a normal British A-road. It rivals the Skoda Enyaq’s level of comfort and outperforms the Jaguar I-Pace by a significant margin. The adjustable suspension, which enables you to customize its responses to the road ahead, is a must-have addition if you want the highest level of comfort in the Q4. The Q4 is significantly more polished than a Ford Mustang Mach-E in how it deflects noise away from the cabin, even with the stock setup, which is still quite impressive. The Q4’s 2-wheel-drive models have a surprisingly small turning circle, and they handle in a typically Audi manner with reassuring amounts of grip without ever seeming to engage much with the driver.
Depending on the model you select, the Q4’s acceleration ranges from passable to “cor blimey.” The 50 is hot-hatch quick, while the 35 is sufficient for the majority of purposes. With the 40, we’d choose a vehicle in the middle that has sufficient oomph for all circumstances without rapidly depleting its battery.
Here is the Q3. The petrol-powered Q3 in this comparison did not lag behind the refinement of its Q4 sibling by a significant margin despite having an internal combustion engine and all the fiery explosions that comes with it. At all speeds, the engine has a little bit more growl, although at higher speeds, road noise is effectively muffled and wind rustling is not a problem.
In order to provide a fair comparison, the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine with 190 horsepower was chosen instead of our recommended 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine for the Q3. It moves at a quick pace comparable to the Q4 50, and its 7-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission is so seamless that you don’t notice when it shifts gears.
Which model you choose will determine how well the Q3 handles rough roads. The adaptive suspension found on the Q4 is available if you choose the top-tier Vorsprung, and the same is true for the Q3. You can obtain the stiffer suspension that Audi plainly deems as sch-porty if you choose the S line or Edition 1 models. However, we have to say “Nein Danke” because it’s frequently too jiggly and unsteady, which has a negative impact on refining. The Sport model we have here has a basic suspension that is much superior. It performs admirably for this class of vehicle, striking a similar balance between comfort and body control to that of a Volvo XC40 or Hyundai Tucson.
Practicality Differences
The change between the Q3 and Q4 is most noticeable from the driver’s seat more so than everywhere else. In the Q3, you sit slightly higher than any hatchbacks around you, but in the Q4, you sit upright and have a better view of most other vehicles. Although you won’t be looking directly at van drivers, the Q4 gives off a greater sense of SUV freedom of view and has better all-around vision for parking.
The digital dash from Audi is programmable in the Q3 and Q4. Is it useful? Perhaps, however unless using the satnav, we’ve discovered that we choose a screen we like and keep with it. Both vehicles have a 10.1-inch screen with a crisp and logical infotainment display. Oddly, despite the fact that they are all from the same general automaker, Audi’s approach to this is simpler and better to use than those found in the Volkswagen ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq. In order to make regulating the temperature while driving easier, we also appreciate that Audi equips each of its vehicles with physical buttons for the heating settings.
When you climb into the back seats, the larger Q4 is ideal for taller passengers and gives adults greater space in all directions. Your children will be more than content in the Q3, but your friends will only want to stay for a maximum of an hour. They’ll be content in the Q4 all day if you put the same friends in the rear.
The Q4 has a somewhat smaller trunk than the Q3, which is a compromise made because of the rear-mounted electric powertrain that takes up some space. The Q3 has 530 liters of room with the seats up and 1525 liters with the back pews folded down, so you can pack it to the brim. In the same configurations, the Q4 can hold 520 and 1490 liters, respectively.
Running Cost Comparison
The Q4 E-Tron is in a lower insurance classification than the petrol Q3 in a break from the norm. Choose the EV, whose premium is based on a group 29 rating, as opposed to our preferred Q3, which is in group 30. With its Vehicle Excise Duty of 555 as opposed to $0 for the Q4, the Q3 continues to be financially burdensome. Additionally, the Q3 will cost a low-rate tax paying company driver 2666 per year whereas the Q4 is only 84 over the same time period.
The Q4 E-Tron 40, according to Audi, can drive 317 miles on a single charge. The Q3 40 TFSI quattro can travel up to 490 miles on a full tank before running out of gas. The gasoline vehicle requires a service visit every 9000 miles or 12 months, whereas the electric vehicle may travel twice as far and for twice as long before requiring a dealer visit. The Q4 has an additional 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty, and both vehicles are covered by Audi’s 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
Living With the Electric Car
The 40 model we choose here, in contrast to the entry-level Q4 E-Tron 35, can use chargers of up to 125kW, allowing you to recharge the battery from 10 to 100 percent charge in as little as 35 minutes. In addition to a cable to connect the car to a domestic 3-pin socket in case of an emergency, Audi also includes a Mode 3 cable for use with Type 2 public chargers, albeit doing so will take a lot of time.
With the Q4, you can use the MyAudi app to perform all of the standard smartphone tasks, like checking the battery charge, charging progress, and remaining range remotely. Additionally, it allows you to find the vehicle in crowded parking lots, download locations to the satnav, and even monitor the level of the screen washer fluid. The ability of the app to locate nearby charging stations and pre-warm the cabin to your preferred temperature while connected to a charger to extend driving range may be more practical on a daily basis.
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