Espy, Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is a car that has an identity crisis.
It’s an electric car styled as if it had an internal combustion engine. It’s an SUV trying to be a sports coupe. It’s as if Audi is trying to be sharp and play it safe, at the same time.
The Sportback, as its name suggests, has more sloping rear pillars than the less expensive, more practical hatchback-style Q4 e-tron with which it shares European showroom space.
But otherwise, it’s identical in terms of powertrain specification and trim levels.
From the outside, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron seems to be Audi’s reassurance in its design and execution, from the sharp creases in the bodywork to the bold front ‘radiator grille’.
However, peel back the skin and you’ll find hardware identical to the one used in Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV Electric SUVs, among others. That’s because the Q4 Sportback e-tron is built on the same Volkswagen Group MEB electric vehicle architecture.
There’s nothing wrong with that, in theory. Platform sharing – building different cars using many of the same components to cut costs – is a smart business strategy and the Volkswagen Group is a master in this area.
Even today, some non-enthusiasts are aware that a VW Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia basically the same car underneath. But could this trick work in electric vehicles with identical smooth and silent powertrains?
How much does Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback cost?
As it has not been confirmed for the Australian market, there are no relevant specifications and prices locally.
Heading to the UK overseas market, the Q4 Sportback e-tron starts from £45,475 ($79,031) for the entry-level Sport 35 e-tron, climb £62,290 ($108,254) for the top version 1 50 e-tron quattro. The Sportback body style brings a premium of around £1500 ($2606) over the comparable Q4 e-tron SUV.
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron starts at a few GBP over top specs Q3 Sportbackwith other examples around the £45,000 bracket including a VW Golf CHEAP or Audi S3 Sportback.
While direct conversions from the UK market don’t necessarily show Australian prices, it’s a rough guide when you’re locating other vehicles sold here.
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Detail
What’s inside the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback?
Like the exterior, the interior of the Q4 Sportback e-tron has the familiar Audi style.
Strong geometric shapes and splashes of glitter abound, though form is perhaps more functional in the form of a flat rudder above and below and feels odd to use when you are scrolling from one padlock to another.
The dashboard features Audi’s excellent configurable virtual cockpit display and a touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, and is tilted towards the driver, which controls the infotainment system.
Thankfully, not everything is controlled via the touchscreen. The heating, cooling and ventilation controls are physical buttons located below the touchscreen like the new A3 and Q3, which are easy to find and use without looking.
Auxiliary controls such as the start-stop button, Audi drive and drive mode selector, neutral and reverse controls are located on a small dashboard that protrudes from the instrument panel and is within easy reach of the driver. .
Below is the center console with compartments, cup holders, USB ports and central armrests.
Audi can make modest plastics look expensive. The grainy materials in the Q4 Sportback e-tron look almost like leather, the shiny material looks like metal, and even the piano’s black color looks like it belongs in a grand piano.
But the interior of both Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 allows this Audi to race against its money in terms of perceived quality.
This is not a push against Audi. Rather, it’s an indication of how good Koreans have become at these things.
What’s under the bonnet?
As with most EVs, the things that make the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron go are all hidden from view.
German specification, our flagship Prestige 50 e-tron quattro model boasts a total production twin engine. 220kW and 460Npowered by a usable 82kWh battery 76.6kWh of the repository.
The Q4 Sportback e-tron is also available in two rear-wheel drive versions. Base 35 e-tron has a 125kW / 310Nm electronic motor and 55kWh battery, while the 40 e-trons are powered by an e-motor with the same torque (310Nm) but produce 150kW and fed by older people 76.6kWh The battery is used in the dual motor model.
Despite being the heaviest of the three, the 2140kg twin-turbo 50 e-tron quattro is the fastest, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2 secondsfight with 9.0 seconds for model 1895kg 125kW (35 e-tron) and 8.5 seconds for 2054kg 150kW 40 e-tron.
Audi claims Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro has mid-range 418km to 498km on WLTP combined cycle, while 125kW 35 e-tron with smaller battery provides 317km to 349km depending on specification.
The range king of the lineup is the 150kW e-tron 40 single motor with a long-range battery, which Audi claims will include 452km to 528km on the WLTP association cycle.
How does the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback drive?
In the default Auto mode, the Q4 Sportback e-tron does a lot of thinking for the driver.
During our test drive in Germany, it predicted speed limits and intersections, automatically increased regenerative braking when approaching them while also prompting you to lift the accelerator to slow down and increase quality.
However, if you enjoy driving, you’ll want to turn off lane-keeping assist to kill off those nasty aggressive reactions through the steering wheel.
You’ll also want to play with three levels of regenerative braking – low, medium and high – or let the Q4 Sportback e-tron simply glide when you lift the accelerator.
Levels are switched via paddles on the steering wheel, however, confusingly, plus paddles mean less regen, while minus paddles give you more.
And you’ll want to choose Dynamic Mode. Not only does this make the Audi feel sharper and more responsive, but it also puts the driver in charge, reducing interference from electronic nannies.
However, what Dynamic mode also reveals is that despite the relatively stiff suspension, the Q4 Sportback e-tron is not very dynamic to drive, especially on winding roads.
Slow in, fast out; Enter fast, slow down – no matter how hard you try, the Q4 Sportback e-tron’s handling is solid in one direction.
There’s plenty of grip and good acceleration, but little adjustability in the chassis. The steering doesn’t offer much feedback, and it doesn’t break out of corners like some other electric SUVs.
The dual-engined Kia EV6 is much more interesting.
You get what?
Is the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback safe?
Although not yet rated by ANCAP, the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron have a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Category scores include 93% for adult protection and 89% for child protection, 66% for vulnerable road users and 80% for safety assistance.
Standard UK safety features include:
- AEB with pedestrian/bicycle assist
- AEB with turn assist (AEB junction)
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Support redirects
- Rear parking sensor
- Reverse camera
How much does the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback cost to run?
Audi Australia covers its range with a five-year, unlimited km warranty.
The larger Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback also receive six years of free scheduled maintenance, as well as an unlimited six-year subscription to the Chargefox public fast-charging network.
If the Q4 e-tron range is offered in Australia, we expect the German brand to offer a similar ownership benefit scheme as their existing all-electric e-tron range.
CarExpert’s Takes On Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback
This handsome, well-finished, well-equipped Audi EV demonstrates the benefits of platform sharing, but it also reveals a downside.
Volkswagen Group’s MEB-based vehicles aren’t particularly inspiring to drive, and that includes the Q4 Sportback e-tron. It’s authoritative, but it doesn’t sparkle.
Then there’s this – the MEB-based Skoda Enyaq iV and Enyaq iV Coupe are also Australia-bound, and both will retail for significantly less of $78,000 and up, if the overseas pricing is a guide, Audi will likely charge the base Q4 e-tron or Q4 Sportback e-tron.
We’ll confirm once we can drive the two cars back and forth, but on paper, at least, if you want an electric SUV with much of the same technology, performance and range as the Audi Q4 e- tron, Skoda looks like it could be the smarter way to buy.
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Details, Color: Silver Florett
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