My three months are up and the Audi Q4 55 e-tron SUV is headed back to home base.
I am going to miss it.
I’ve driven a lot of electric cars. Some very expensive, some cheap. Some very good, some extremely bad. Some with well-known badges on the front, and some with head-scratching logos. Some long term and some short term.
But there have been few I've gelled with more than this Q4 e-tron.
I’ll be honest: it’s not the best value, or the most tech heavy, or the most efficient, or the fastest charging, or the fastest in a straight line for that matter.
On the flip side, the Q4 e-tron does a lot of things right.
The Q4 has what you come to expect from an Audi: it has solid build quality, top-notch engineering, engaging drive, conservative styling and a pleasant cabin. It is probably the most solid all-rounder I’ve tested.
Like every good yarn there are two sides to the story, so let's start with the cons and finish on a high note.
The Q4 55 e-tron I’ve lived with for the past three months is priced from $105,900 (before on-road costs).
That’s pricey.
The entry-level 45 grade is better value at more than $20,000 cheaper. That model scraps in under the Luxury Car Tax Threshold — and like a big multinational gas company, I like paying no tax — whereas the 55 gets stung 33 cents for every dollar over roughly $91,000.
The Q4 e-tron, while new in Australia, has been on sale in Europe for about four years. And EVs from that era tend to have cost savings in one or more areas to amortise the price of developing new tech.
In the Q4 that area is some of the cabin materials. While most surfaces are premium feeling others consist of chintzy hard-wearing plastics, which dulls the cabin ambience.
If you are looking for an EV with all the latest whizz-bang tech and effects then this Audi is not for you.
I was struck by how old school some of the graphics used in the multimedia screen were. For instance the display when charging is a very rudimentary graph with no rich detail or data like others churn out.
There isn’t much to do while charging, either. Newer brands are offering up gaming options, Netflix, YouTube and other time absorbing activities… the Audi has none. So few were my options for distraction I would bring my laptop to do work while I was plugged into a fast charger. Desperate times...
There is no spare tyre either, not even a temporary wheel, with owners having to make do with a fiddly repair kit. This isn’t Q4 specific but is an issue with nearly every EV.
Out of the whole Q4 line-up, the 55 SUV has the worst efficiency. Audi claims it uses about 18kWh of energy per 100km, but we averaged above 20kWh during our three months.
In the EV world that’s V8 fuel use numbers, but without the rumbling performance to go with it.
Now for the good.
The Q4 is a great family car for those with space limitations. The Q4’s compact exterior dimensions hide its cavernous interior dimensions. So think the exterior dimension of an Audi Q3 or Toyota Corolla Cross with the interior space of a Q5 or a RAV4.
That is made possible by the removal of all the mechanical parts needed for a petrol or diesel car — think engine, transmission tunnel, exhaust and more — which allows the wheels to be pushed all the way to the corners and enables a flat floor in the back.
This allows for a long wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axles — that determines how much interior space you have.
During my test I often fit a forward and rear facing child car seat in the back row easily.
The boot is generous, and has a false floor that allows you to open up more space when needed.
Two things are underrated in cars: one is a proper shade for a panoramic sunroof and the other is a top-shelf stereo. My Q4 had both. The optional Sonos stereo was a standout in my book.
Its 488km claimed driving range is solid, and more than you'll likely need on 98 per cent of your drives.
A max DC charging rate of 175kW is ok. It's not the fastest, but considering most fast chargers in Australia are 150kW or under, you don't really need anymore than that.
On the road is where the Q4 shines. Its dual motor set-up is potent without being too much. It has what I call useable speed — you can have fun without getting yourself into trouble.
The dual motors combine for 250kW and 679Nm and have the Q4 55 hitting 100km/h from a standstill in 5.4 seconds. The more powerful motor is at the rear, which gives the Q4 a rear-wheel bias that adds to the fun.
In classic Audi style the steering is well weighted and direct, which provides confidence. It isn’t too sharp or darty.
The weight of the batteries under the floor help keep it level through corners and there is minimal lean.
The brake pedal has a good feel to it with sharp responses and good stopping power, but the regenerative braking is weak and there is no one-pedal drive option.
It's quiet and refined on the road too. Electric cars often have a lot of road noise permeating the cabin as there is no engine noise to block it out, but the Q4 is serene over all surfaces.
The Q4’s safety tech needs a call out, too.
They work just as they should, no incessant bings and bongs, no annoying warnings popping up on the screens and no phantom braking for parked cars in curved roads — just well calibrated safety tech designed to work only when needed.
Acquired: May, 2025
Distance travelled this month: 434km
Odometer: 3818km
Average energy consumption this month: 20.3 kWh
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See more Audi Q4 E-Trons for sale View cars for saleAudi Q4 E-Tron 2025: 55
| Engine Type | Not Applicable, 0.0L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Fuel Efficiency | 0.0L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $79,530 - $91,410 |
| Safety Rating |
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