The Audi Q4 e-tron is coming in for a midlife update. Modest changes mark out the revised exterior of the electric crossover, though the cabin is significantly new, adopting the same digital technology seen in Audi's other cars. Under the skin, Audi has upgraded the electric powertrains to offer more performance, longer range and faster charging.
How far will the new Audi Q4 e-tron go on a charge?
Up to 592 kilometres according to the official numbers. That figure is for the Q4 e-tron Sportback in 'performance' guise and telling you that makes us realise we should probably go through the lineup in a little more detail.
The entry-point is simply called the Q4 e-tron, available with the upright SUV body or the lower Sportback shape. A new 150kW electric motor drives the rear wheels in either case providing up to 204hp and 350Nm of torque.
This model features a 63kWh battery pack (of which 59kWh is usable) for a range of 440km or 451km, depending on which body style is chosen - the Sportback has a more aerodynamic form, so it always manages a little more range. This car can be charged at up to 160kW on DC chargers.
All the other variants announced use a larger battery of 82kWh capacity (77kWh usable), including the range champion mentioned above. The regular Q4 e-tron performance is powered by a single rear motor like the standard car, but with higher outputs - up to 285hp and 545Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds.
More importantly, the larger battery allows for a range of 578/592km depending on the body style, and the peak DC-charging rate is quoted as 165kW.
Audi offers two quattro variants as well (in both SUV and Sportback styles), using two electric motors for all-wheel drive. The Q4 e-tron quattro has peak power of 299hp, does 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds and can do 558- or 573km to a charge on the WLTP cycle.
Topping the lineup for now is the Q4 e-tron quattro performance models, producing up to 340hp for a 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds. This is the only version to charge at up to 185kW, while the official range numbers are 541km and 554km for the SUV and Sportback, respectively.
Ok, that's a lot of numbers... let's talk design next
There's a lot less to say about the exterior of the revised Audi Q4 e-tron, as the makeover is mild. The 'grille' has been restyled a bit, using the body's main colour, while the S line cars are denoted by silver-matte 'blades' on each corner of the car. This can be finished in black if the black exterior package is specified.
Audi has worked on the aerodynamics of the Q4 e-tron as well, introducing extra airflow measures in the nose, a new diffuser at the back and a reprofiled roof spoiler.
New colours and wheel designs are part of the upgrade of course, while as ever, Audi is particularly proud of its lighting technology, adding digital LED lighting and OLED rear lights to the Q4 e-tron for the first time, with selectable daytime running light signatures when you upgrade to the matrix-LED tech.
And it appears to have fitted ALL the screens to the cabin...
Indeed. Audi calls this setup the 'digital stage'. All models will get an 11.9-inch display for the digital instruments, and a 12.8-inch touchscreen integrated seamlessly behind one surface. A 12-inch passenger touchscreen is optionally available, as is a head-up display using augmented reality.
With all those screens to stare at, the car's occupants can put their own down for charging, and there are plenty of ways to do that, including two 15-watt wireless charging pads with cooling and two USB-C ports under the middle armrest. It's possible to add another couple of USB-C sockets to the back of the car.
On the subject of practicality, the Q4 e-tron comes with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability for the first time in any Audi, while the all-wheel-drive Q4 e-tron quattro can now tow up to 1,800kg of braked trailer.
Any word on Irish pricing of the new Audi Q4 e-tron?
Not as yet. The outgoing car is priced from €48,390 for reference.