Audi Q4 e-tron - Range, charging and running costs
The Audi Q4 e-tron has enough driving range and charges quickly to appeal to drivers who routinely cover longer distances
Audi decided to remove the smaller battery option from the Q4 e-tron lineup in the UK not long after the car launched, meaning every model is now powered by a single 82kWh (76.6kWh usable) battery pack. This applies to both the regular Q4 e-tron and the Sportback variant.
The range varies depending on both the roofline and number of motors it has to feed. So, while dual-motor 55 e-tron quattro models don’t go as far as single-motor 45 e-tron versions, the sleeker Sportbacks can go seven to nine miles further than the conventional SUV because of the better aerodynamics.
The 45 e-tron manages 292 to 330 miles of range in regular form, depending on the trim level and wheel size. Go for either the 45 or 55 e-tron quattro models, and it’s 287 to 319 miles of range.
When we ran the now discontinued Q4 50 e-tron quattro as a long-term test car, we covered well over 5,000 miles and managed to average 3.2 miles per kWh efficiency. That equates to a real-world range of around 250 miles from a full battery and driving in a mixture of conditions.
But when we used the old Q4 40 e-tron in Sport trim for our twin test against a Mercedes EQA, we found that when we were just driving in town, the Audi was hovering around the 4.2mi/kWh mark, meaning it could cover 323 miles on a single charge – further than its official WLTP range. That figure dropped to 3.4mi/kWh once we began covering some miles at higher speeds on the motorway, dropping the predicted range to 262 miles. This still feels like a perfectly usable range, but perhaps something to consider if you spend lots of time driving on faster roads.
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Cash £20,605The Q4 e-tron 45 models have a maximum charging speed of 135kW, which allows for a 20 to 80 per cent top-up from a suitably fast rapid charger in about 28 minutes. If you need to do the electric equivalent of a splash and dash (a volt and bolt?) and you find somewhere capable of charging at that maximum 135kW rate, you can theoretically add another 90 miles of range in just ten minutes.
Interestingly, due to different battery chemistry, the quattro Q4 models can now charge at an improved rate of 175kWh. This doesn’t impact the 20 to 80 per cent charging time, but a quick 10-minute charge could add 106 miles if the charger was able to supply the full whack.
Fitting a domestic wallbox charger at home will make life a lot easier, as you can recharge the car overnight or at your own convenience. Fully recharging the Q4 e-tron at that rate will take close to 12 hours, but that’s only if the battery is completely flat.
As with all fully-electric cars, the Q4 e-tron produces zero CO2 emissions and benefits from road tax (VED) exemption, while business users will also appreciate the low Benefit-in-Kind tax rate.
Insurance
Regardless of which trim level you pick, the Q4 45 e-tron falls into insurance group 36 (out of 50), which isn’t too bad as far as electric SUVs are concerned. For instance, the much cheaper Kia Niro EV sits in groups 28 to 29, while even the entry-level Tesla Model Y lands itself in group 46. The 45 quattro models are one group higher than the RWD cars in group 37.
Unsurprisingly, the all-wheel drive Q4 55 e-tron quattro is a little more pricey on premiums with its group 39 to 40 ratings, depending on your chosen trim level. The BMW iX1 xDrive30 (also dual-motor) falls into insurance groups 37-38, so should cost about the same to cover.
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Depreciation
Our latest expert data is projecting that the Q4 e-tron range will hold onto between 42 and 46 per cent of their original value after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, depending on the trim level. The coupe-esque Q4 e-tron Sportback is expected to hold onto the most value. For context, the BMW iX1 is due to hold onto 46 to 51% of its value.
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