Audi Q5 vs Audi Q4 E-Tron
What's the difference?

Audi Q5

$84,500 - $100,400

2026 price

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Audi Q4 E-Tron

$74,800 - $121,990

2025 price

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Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Summary

2026 Audi Q5

2025 Audi Q4 E-Tron

By Emily Agar

By Byron Mathioudakis

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Not Applicable, 0.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.7L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Interior glow-up is gorgeous
Comfortable ride with well-tuned suspension
Strong standard tech and safety features

Interior packaging and design
Efficient yet powerful EV drivetrains
Easy and enjoyable driveability

Dislikes

Still manages to remind you its a base-grade
Rear seat & boot space on smaller side
Steering assist tends to overcorrect

No spare wheel
Needs single-pedal driving/braking
Base equipment levels a bit stingy

2026 Audi Q5 Summary

Audi’s latest Q5 Sportback brings mild-hybrid power, updated underpinnings, more technology and a genuinely impressive interior glow-up.

It’s clearly aimed at buyers drawn to a more athletic take on the mid-size SUV, where style plays a bigger role than outright practicality. We're testing the base petrol spec to see how it sits alongside the BMW X4 xDrive20i, Genesis GV70 2.5T and Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Coupe.

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2025 Audi Q4 E-Tron Summary

Here’s a fun fact.

Audi has only ever offered two rear-wheel drive (RWD) production cars in its entire 116-year history… the spectacular R8 supercar and the electrifying e-tron GT.

Now there’s this, the Q4 e-tron – a small-ish medium-sized SUV electric vehicle (EV), and Audi’s overdue response to the BMW iX1 and iX2, Polestar 4, Volvo EX40, Mercedes EQA and, of course, the Tesla Model Y.

Overdue? It’s been in production since March, 2021, making it very, very late to Australia.

But, you know what? You might be very glad the local team waited, because this MY25 update might be the premium medium electric SUV to buy right now.

To find out, read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Audi Q5 2025 Audi Q4 E-Tron

Verdict

The updated Audi Q5 Sportback TFSI is a strong example of a luxury base-grade SUV, ticking most of the boxes in styling, comfort and features. It may not always outperform its rivals on paper, but it delivers where it counts, offering a refined, practical and engaging package that will satisfy.

Verdict

Audi is famous for sticking doggedly to front-wheel drive and quattro AWD, but clearly, when it puts its mind to it, the few RWD machines it has produced over its 116 years have been exceptional.

While not as exciting as the R8 or as supersonic as the e-tron GT, the Q4 e-tron is an impressive machine. Thoroughly engineered and thoughtfully designed to be a friendly, refined, comfortable, safe and capable family SUV, it deserves to be on your shortlist.

With a couple of choice option packages, the base 45 seems remarkably complete, but there’s plenty to enjoy in the hot-shot 55 quattro as well. Either way, Audi seems to be on a winner.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Audi Q5 vs Audi Q4 E-Tron What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi Q5 vs Audi Q4 E-Tron
What's the difference?