Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback Review 2024

Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Sporty coupe styling combined with silent electric power and an interior that outclasses its rivals. The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback might appear to lack the practicality of the regular Q4 e-tron SUV, but it’s still a compelling all-rounder.

+Great looks, the silent luxury of electric drive and one of the best interiors available.

-Boot space isn’t as useful as the regular Q4 e-tron. Some plastics feel less than luxurious.

New prices start from £47,565, brokers can source from £44,335

Audi’s switch to electric started with the e-tron SUV and quickly expanded to include the sporty Audi e-tron GT, luxurious Audi Q8 e-tron, the Audi Q4 e-tron and this, the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback. It gives you all the premium quality of the regular, SUV-shaped Q4 e-tron, but with a sleeker, coupe-like design. It does mean compromising on interior space, but it’s slightly more sporty than its conventional sibling.

Initially, we didn’t take coupe-like SUVs seriously. After all, why would you buy an SUV that loses some practicality in the back seats and boot – the things that make these cars so appealing? Well, those and their higher ground clearance, the ability to sit above the other traffic (until everyone else bought SUVs as well) and some lifestyle benefits. But more and more car manufacturers started following the lead of the BMW X6, including Audi and Mercedes-Benz, until even Porsche and Lamborghini joined in. Now there are loads of coupe SUVs on our roads.

Style is clearly winning over practicality, and as the world moves towards electric, we are naturally seeing more electric SUV coupes. Audi has given its Q4 e-tron the treatment with the Q4 e-tron Sportback. It’s a sporty-looking thing that takes the Volkswagen ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV platform and moves it into premium territory.

There are three main Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback models: the 40, 50 and 50 quattro – the latter using two electric motors to provide Audi’s famous all-wheel drive. Each uses an 82kWh battery (76.6kWh of which is usable) and claimed driving range is up to 332 miles.

There are some strong choices if you want an electric SUV, including the BMW iX3, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-Benz GLA. You won’t find so many premium electric coupe SUVs yet, although the Audi has its work cut out to take on the superb Genesis GV60 and Polestar 2. Slightly less premium choices include the Volkswagen ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV, with more rivals on the way.

Ask Honest John

What's the best 4x4 electric estate car?

"We're looking for a medium-sized electric car with all-wheel drive and an estate bodystyle (to carry our large dog). Mileage needs are low (typically 50-60 miles per day). The Skoda Enyaq is a bit larger than we would like and I've read bad reviews of the ID.4's infotainment system. What do you suggest I buy?"
I don't think you'll find an electric car with four-wheel drive that's much smaller than the Enyaq. You could try the Audi Q4 e-tron – it's a more premium choice, based on the same platform as the Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4. Also consider the new Hyundai Ioniq 5. If you're willing to compromise on AWD, a Kia e-Niro could be a good option.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback cost?

Buy new from £44,335(list price from £50,745)