Audi Q4 e-tron review: range, battery & charging

For a time there was a choice of two battery sizes in the Q4 e-tron – 52kWh or 77kWh – but only the larger unit is fitted now, which Audi says allows drivers to cover over 300 miles on a single charge regardless of the model. Speaking of charging, base models can now charge at speeds of up to 135kW, while quattro cars get faster 175kW speeds – we’ll explain what this all means in real terms in a moment.

Audi Q4 e-tron range

As mentioned, all Audi Q4 e-tron models come fitted with a 77kWh (useable) battery. The range now kicks off with the entry-level Q4 45 e-tron, which replaces the old 40 e-tron model. According to Audi, this new variant boasts several efficiency enhancements which means its maximum range has been boosted to 330 miles, up from 321 miles on the old car. Audi also offers the Q4 45 e-tron with quattro four-wheel-drive, although the trade-off here is a slightly reduced range of 319 miles as a result of the extra weight of the second electric motor to drive the front wheels.

Finally, there’s the flagship Q4 55 e-tron quattro which takes over from where the old Q4 50 e-tron quattro left off. Range has once again increased with this model, with Audi quoting a maximum of 319 miles on a charge (up from 312).

While we are yet to drive the updated models, our tests of the Q4 40 e-tron in the UK only returned around 270 miles of range on a full charge (compared to the official number of 322 miles) and its efficiency on our test drive suggested that was a realistic estimate.

We’ve also lived with a Q4 50 e-tron quattro for some time and saw it return on average around 2.8 miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in cold winter weather. That equates to a real-world range of around 220 miles. City driving did help improve the car’s efficiency, though, boosting it to 3.2 miles per kWh, or a usable range of just under 250 miles.

Annoyingly, Audi makes you pay extra (roughly £1,000) for a heat pump on all models – even the Q4 55 e-tron quattro flagship. With how cold it can get in the winter in the UK, we think this is an option box worth ticking as it’ll help the Audi to get as close to its claimed figure as possible during the winter months.

Charge time

Not only do the latest Audi Q4 models get more range, but they also get faster charging, too. While entry-level Q4 45 e-tron models still charge at a peak DC rate of 135kW, quattro cars can charge at even faster 175kW speeds. This allows for a 10-80% in as little as 28 minutes when using a sufficiently fast public charger. The 45 e-tron models take exactly the same time but while they can add 93 miles in 10 minutes, you can get 106 miles in the faster charging quattro cars.

No matter which model you choose, all Audi Q4 e-tron models are capable of charging at up to 11kW from a three-phase home wallbox or public AC charger. However, if you use a regular 7.4kW home wallbox, it'll take you 11-and-a-half hours to fully replenish the 77kWh battery.