Audi Q4 2025 review: 55 e-tron SUV long-term | Part 2

The Audi Q4 e-tron proves good things come in small packages.

It’s been a working theory of mine that, the bigger the electric car the less it makes sense. Smaller in the electric car world is better, at least until game changing solid-state battery tech comes along.

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The Q4 e-tron is a small SUV, but feels like a mid-size SUV on the inside. So think the exterior dimension of an Audi Q3 with the interior space of a Q5. 

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 means it liberates far more room inside than an equivalent internal combustion-engined vehicle.

Another benefit is extremely short overhangs. The Q4 e-tron has a very short bonnet, which makes it incredibly easy to park in tight spots and navigate confined spaces.

The Q4 e-tron is a proper family car. I’ve regularly fitted two baby seats in the second row — one forward and one rear facing — with no space trade-off for front seat passengers. The flat floor makes it easier to squeeze in three bigger kids. Three adults is probably best left for a short trip only.

The boot is a good size, too. It easily swallows the weekly grocery shop and can take a big pram and a number of small bags without any issues. 

There are plenty of usable storage spaces inside, with sizeable pockets in the door, a deep bin in the centre console plus lots of USB-C charging ports and a wireless device charging pad.

It’s a light-filled cabin with a huge panoramic sunroof and good size windows. The optional Sonos stereo in our test car is impressive, delivering sound quality above most other branded stereos we’ve experienced in cars.

The front sports seats are wrapped in a mix of leather and synthetic leather and are electronically adjustable and have a heating function. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is also heated, which is a god-send on cold winter mornings.

Speaking of cold winter mornings, these fresh starts are electric car kryptonite. It greatly reduces the efficiency of the battery and it uses a lot of energy initially to get up to temperature.

So, if you are doing lots of shorter trips when its cold, it’ll be impossible to get anywhere near the vehicle’s claim range or efficiency rating.

We averaged about 20kWh per 100km this month, which was the same as our first month,  and a little above the claimed 18.1kWh/100km. This month we also did a few longer trips on the motorway, which is where EVs are least efficient.

We also got to test the Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback for a week, which in the circa-150km distance we travelled, was noticeably more efficient at about 18kWh/100km.

Behind the steering wheel is where the Q4 comes alive.

It’s a fun, zippy and engaging electric car to drive, but is also a comfy cruiser if you are required to do long motorway stints.

It exerts excellent body control through the corners with minimal lean and excellent dry weather grip thanks to its all-wheel drive set-up. 

The Q4 has useable speed, with the Q4 55 hitting 100km/h in 5.4 seconds. The steering is direct and has a good weight to it and the brakes have good bite, which all combine for a predictable and compelling drive.

One area that could be improved is the regenerative braking, or lack thereof. There isn't much bite to the regen, and nothing remotely close to one-pedal drive, but Audi has prioritised a more relatable driving experience for buyers jumping out of petrol or diesel cars into EVs.

The Hankook Ventus tyres fitted to our test car struggled for grip in the immensely wet weather that soaked Sydney recently. 

We covered off how good the Q4 is to charge in our first instalment, but something that jumped out this time was the lack of in-car features when charging. The read outs in the multimedia screen and digital driver display when charging feel outdated and basic. There are no entertainment features either, which makes for a dull charge experience compared to some other electric cars.

Next month we’ll give our final verdict on life with the Q4 e-tron 55.

Acquired: May, 2025

Distance travelled this month: 504km (362km SUV, 148km Sportback)

Odometer: 3384km

Average energy consumption this month: 20.1 kWh/100km