Price: NIS 320,000Competitors: BMW iX1, Mercedes EQA, Lexus UX, Genesis GV60, Volvo XC40 ElectricLiked: Spaciousness, charging compartment, range, priceDisliked: Road behavior, human engineeringRating: 8/10
Audi was the pioneer of electric propulsion in the luxury category in 2019 when it landed the first E-Tron here. Since then, much electricity has flowed in the sockets, traditional competitors have crowded lines, and new competitors have emerged from all directions. In the meantime, it too has expanded with its electric family, with the E-Tron GT at the sporty end sharing a platform and components with no less than the Taycan from the other side, and from the recent past is the Q4 E-Tron, her entry ticket into the electric world. It hit the roads exactly a year ago and has already received a mid-life facelift, including a significant power boost and minor range improvements. 600 km on its bright face told us what has changed.
Design: Well, so in terms of exterior appearance, it hasn't really changed. The look remains solid, not flashy, very balanced, Audi classic in that sense. In fact, except for the solid grille in the front, there are almost no signs closing the fact that behind it there is no combustion engine but only a sealed box and cables running from it to the wheels. But it's not really different in this sense from the BMW X1 or Mercedes EQA, and also the Volvo XC40 and Lexus UX, all wrapped in a similar appearance to their gasoline versions and the exact opposite of competitors like the Genesis GV60.
Passenger cabin: In the passenger cabin, there is not much change, for better or for worse. For the better, the driver's environment is clear and easy to navigate, with high-quality materials throughout, comfortable seats for long journeys, and the easy tilt of the central console towards the driver is also appreciated. What is less good? The driving position itself is fine, but the design of the dashboard creates reflections and lots of space for dust. Dust that also stands out on the black piano finish in the central console, which also houses the almost annoyingly complex sound system controls, like a touch surface where rotating your finger clockwise increases volume and counterclockwise decreases it - precision level: UAV Iran. I would also replace the low quality language that wasn't necessary with a normal one.
The rear space is good for two, I wouldn't seat three adults here, maybe not even three children due to its structure, but the floor structure is completely flat and the passengers here have separate air conditioning vents and controls. Phones will need to be charged before leaving, as you won't find USB ports here.
The cargo area has a capacity of 520 liters, which is a lot, in fact the largest in its class. But even with all this space - is there any room left for spare tires?
Equipment: The Q4 E-Tron comes with a high level of finishing, equipped in an elegant manner. It features a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch multimedia system with integration for Android and Apple, parking sensors, 3-zone climate control, electric adjustment for the front seats with driver's memory, partial leather upholstery, electric opening for the charging compartment, panoramic roof, and more. To these, you can add the tech package that includes surround cameras, navigation system, traffic assist, head-up display with augmented reality, and a SONOS audio system. The price of the package is NIS 28,000. In the list of safety systems, there is off-road vehicle detection, door opening alert when another vehicle is passing by, deviation correction from the lane, and adaptive cruise control.
Performance: The Q4 E-Tron arrived before the facelift with 204 horsepower, the performance was reasonable, no more. In this round, the engine received an upgrade and now delivers 285 horsepower. An improvement seen in all models sharing the platform like the Volkswagen I.D4, Skoda Enyaq, and others. It still doesn't provide the power kick of electric vehicles, but the quick responses and power availability are definitely improved. At least in feeling, it shows more agility than its official 6.7 seconds to 100 km/h. Even in the economic mode, the car delivers a decent pace and in other situations, the regenerative braking system behind the wheel is still the best driver interface solution.
Electric consumption: The battery of the model remained unchanged - 77 kWh, but according to the manufacturer, they improved their management system and the chemical composition of the batteries in the cells. I myself refrain from chemical substances in batteries, so I did not taste it. Anyway, the good electricity consumption it had in the past was preserved and even improved. Calm managerial driving yielded an electricity consumption of 15 kWh per 100 km. This means a practical range of just over 500 km. In summary, the test considering dynamic segments, the consumption stood at 17.9 kWh per 100 km, meaning a practical range of 430 km.
Comfort and behavior: With rear-wheel drive, 285 horsepower, and even an interesting tire combination with different sizes for the front and rear (235/55 in front and 255/50 in the back), there was some thought in mind about the fun and joy that was going to be there. And in practice, it was well checked in controlling the angles of the chassis, precise in its response to commands, having a lot of grip - but I wouldn't put it close to its team's sporty mark - the iX1. It lacked communication from the steering, accuracy from the brakes (rear drums, according to Audi, the majority of the electric braking is done in combination of the engine with the front brakes).
The urban comfort is good as long as it's about bumps or mild potholes, it is less successful on bumps, the suspension is doubled to the rigid side to support its weight and struggles with the quick compression-recoil action. It improves outside the city and at speeds of 60-70 km/h and northward. Noise isolation is very good up to Highway 6 and north from it.
The bottom line
For years, Audi proudly carried the motto "Vorsprung Durch Technik" or "Advancement through Technology" as my grandmother used to say. She had many good reasons for this, starting from the introduction of Quattro all-wheel drive, pioneering work in turbo diesel engines (or TDI, that story didn't end so well...), safety, and semi-autonomous capabilities.
Even in the electrical field, Audi was innovative with the original e-tron, but in the case of the Q4, it mainly presents advancement through conservativeness. It doesn't revolutionize design, performance, or behavior, but it does offer a complete package of space, comfort, range, and nice equipment. On top of all this, with a slight increase from its original price due to tax increases, it also offers something that is not always said about Audi - an attractive price (compared to its group, right?). Not only compared to the other two Germans, but also in comparison to cars with a good value proposition in their own right like the Genesis GV60.
In short, if you are looking for an electric luxury that doesn't look like one, it is definitely a worthy recommendation.
Technical specs: Audi Q4 e-tron
Engine, Drive: Electric, Rear-wheel drivePower/Torque: 55.6/285Transmission: Single Gear
Dimensions:Length (m): 4.59Width (m): 1.86
Cargo compartment (liters): 520
Performance:Acceleration 0-100 (seconds): 6.7Maximum speed (km/h): 180Electric consumption (test): 17.9 kWh per 100 kmElectric consumption (manufacturer): 16.9 kWh per 100 kmRange (test): 430 kmRange (manufacturer): 525 km
Safety:European crash test rating: 5 starsActive safety: lane departure correction, vehicle detection in blind spot, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, alert for door opening in a non-clear path