Review: the Q4 50 e-Tron Quattro, the most versatile electric SUV in the range
Review: the Q4 50 e-Tron Quattro, the most versatile electric SUV in the range
Its attractive aesthetics, the power of its double motor, all-wheel drive, its autonomy of 488 km, and its high technology only have the limitation of the 65,300 euros it costs.
The Audi Q4 is a compact size SUV whose length is 7 cm longer than a Q3 and 9 cm shorter than a Q5, but it is its “last name” 50 e-Tron that makes the difference because it means that it is driven by a mechanical, double in this case, one hundred percent electric.
This Zero-label SUV uses the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform specific for electric cars, the same as the Skoda Enyaq and the Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5.
As you can see, this model is fully identifiable as an Audi. Although its silhouette is classic, the designers have given it an attractive imprint, relying on strong and compact shapes. The powerful front end draws a lot of attention, as well as the aerodynamic bumpers and the rear with the light strip that joins the headlights, in addition to the lower trim with the printed “e-Tron” signature.
The unit tested is the black line edition, which is differentiated by the contrasting elements in glossy black that it carries around the lower perimeter, on the grille, on the C-pillar, and the window frames. It is also equipped with optional 21-inch wheels (450 euros) in a golden color that contributes to extol and much, the image of this Q4.
Inside we find a genuinely Audi cabin due to the design and quality of the finishes, and again there are some details in glossy black that at first glance make a good impression but get dirty with dust and fingerprints with astonishing ease.
For a 4.5-meter car, it is certainly wide inside, not in vain is a wide car (1.86 m) and quite tall (1.61 m). It has a wheelbase of 2.66 meters, which means that five occupants can travel quite widely and there is also a 520-liter trunk that, without being the largest in its category, certainly goes a long way due to its shapes and the false bottom, very practical for storing the built-in charging cables.
Of the driving position, the steering wheel stands out, flattened at the top and bottom gives a strange sensation when turning, and two digital interfaces, that of the fully customizable 10″ Virtual Cockpit instrument panel and that of the 11.6″ multimedia system. with browser, complete in terms of functions, easy to use, but sometimes a little lame.
The floating console that stands out under the physical controls (which we value very positively) of the air conditioning system also attracts attention. Also, there is the start button, the gear manager, the driving mode selector, and a circular button for managing the basic options of the sound system.
300 horsepower and all-wheel drive
Returning to the wheel, it has multifunction haptic (tactile) buttons that we found to be very sensitive, so much so that it took us a while to be accurate when handling them, and we have also accidentally activated them while driving. Fortunately, voice control is there so you don’t have to navigate through some features.
This top-of-the-range Audi Q4 e-Tron 50 Quattro has two electric motors, one on each axle, that provide 220 kW (300 horsepower) and is part of the intelligent all-wheel drive system.
The mechanics are “governed” by selecting, if desired, the different driving modes of the Audi drive select: efficiency, comfort, auto (default), dynamic, and individual (which configures the response and hardness of the steering, among other elements). ).
As expected, the 300 horsepower ensures an immediate and completely forceful response (this Q4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds), and this is accompanied by a chassis in which comfort prevails. By carrying the batteries under the floor with excellent weight distribution, the dynamic behavior is very neutral, and it also has an all-wheel drive to ensure maximum thrust. This version adds a sporty setting of the suspension so that the footing on the asphalt is more stable and secure. We are talking about a 2.2-ton car, but it is quite agile in curves and the regenerative system of the electric motor, together with the brakes, stops that great mass effectively.
On the steering wheel, there are two paddles, but they are not for the change, which is automatic without gears but to regulate the three levels of intensity of the energy regeneration with the change in the standard “D” position. In the available “B” mode, the maximum regeneration is directly activated.
More than 400 km of autonomy in practice
This version, equipped with a 77 kWh capacity battery, has an approved average consumption of 18.2 kWh per 100 km, but in practice, as soon as we put on the air conditioning (as has been the case on these cold days of the test), with normal use we have not dropped below 21 kWh. Likewise, if the accelerations are abused a lot and if we travel on roads with a lot of unevenness, the cost can be close to 30 kWh.
That means it is not easy to achieve the approved autonomy of 488 km but it is feasible to move and overcome the 400 km barrier with mixed-use in the city and on the highway, respecting legal speeds and without abusing acceleration.
When recharging at an 11 kW point full energy can be recovered in about 7 hours (at night and with a reduced rate, the better). If you travel, by admitting loads of 135 kW of power in a fast post it takes just 40 minutes to have 80% of the battery available.
Entering the e-Tron world of the Q4, as a premium car that it is, has a high price: 57,950 euros in the case of the access version 40 Advanced. The most performance 50 e-Tron Quattro rises to 65,300 euros, but the tested black line edition version reaches 69,370 euros for its specific characteristics.
The potential of this version is much greater, it has all-wheel drive and nothing will be missing in terms of comfort, connectivity, and safety equipment, but there is still room to expand the bill, in this case with the unit’s adaptive Matrix LED optics. test, which cost 1,275 euros more and even allows you to configure the way they light up.
DATA SHEET
- Motor- Electric
- Power (kW/CV): 220/300
- Length (mm): 4,588
- Width (mm): 1.865
- Height (mm): 1,617
- Trunk (liters): 520
- Maximum speed (km/h): 180
- From 0 to 100 km/h (sec.): 6.2
- Autonomy (km): 488
- CO2 emissions (gr/km): 0
- Price (euros): from 65,300
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