Audi Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron advanced Review: The Favoured Cousin

What we like:

Fast and efficient drivetrain

Rear seat space

Interior storage

Pricing

What we dislike:

Ride is still not very sorted

Not particularly inspiring to drive

We had a promising taste of the Q4 e-tron in Germany in April, which gave a hint of Audi’s most competitive electric model yet, and certainly its most affordable. Although pricing was estimated to be below $300k, Audi surprised observers with a starting launch price of $255k ($259k for the Sportback). Although prices have risen slightly since then due to COE, this is still within spitting distance of the Volkswagen and Skoda BEVs sitting on the same MEB platform.

The model on test here is the more affordable advanced variant that differs from edition 1 in some specifications including s-line bumpers, rims (19 inch versus 21 inch), sport s-line seats, SONOS sound system and augmented reality head-up display. You’d have to shell out an additional $20k for edition 1 goodies; I reckon of the lot, the SONOS sound system is probably the most tangible upgrade. The standard sound system on the Q4 e-tron is simply inadequate. I prefer the ride on the smaller 19-inch rims though. Otherwise, the two variants are mechanically similar with the same power outputs.

While the endless strip of the Autobahn made the 180 km/h top speed of the Q4 e-tron a little suffocating, on Singapore roads the car feels fast, very fast. A 0-100 km/h time of 6.7 seconds is respectable and you’d never wish for more power. It is rather efficient too, netting a consumption of 17.4 kWh/100km which is comparable to the official figure of 18.3 kWh/100km.

Interior space is indeed generous especially for rear passengers, who enjoyed lounging in the Q4 e-tron with its great sound insulation and refinement. The swooping roofline of the Sportback didn’t affect headroom noticeably either. However, its ride like its MEB siblings remains a little jiggly although it has improved with the smaller 19-inch rims. It still needs a little work, though. 

The storage space on the doors is a simple yet effective innovation in the Q4 e-tron which I found myself constantly using. It’s conveniently located, large enough for a 1.5-litre bottle or the myriad toys that my son is carrying with him at any given moment!

The Q4 e-tron is Audi’s ticket to success in the BEV space, as it has only been offering much higher priced BEVs that sell in far lower volumes, until now. We are sure we will be seeing many of these on Singapore roads very soon.

Photos by James Wong

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