It’s not quite got the wow-factor of the BMW iX1 or the Peugeot E-3008, but it’s fairly smart to look at. Better still, there’s a simple row of physical climate-control buttons sitting beneath the main infotainment display.
Materials and build quality
Audi’s perceived quality has taken a dip in form from its high point around 10 years ago, and the Q4 is one of its cars that doesn’t quite live up to the lofty standards that built the brand’s reputation. It’s not shoddy by any means, but the E-3008, iX1 and even the Skoda Enyaq from VW Group stablemate Skoda feel at least as plush inside.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
At 11.6 inches, the Q4’s touchscreen is almost modestly sized by the standards of some rival systems. But this, in many ways, works in its favour; it’s not so large that it overpowers the cabin design, yet it’s large enough that the on-screen keys are easy to use, even on the move.
The main menu page has large shortcut tiles that are colour-coded and easy to understand, while the Google Earth graphics on the navigation screen look great. Our only complaint is that buyers must pay more for wireless smartphone charging and extra USB ports in the back; they’re part of the £750 Tech Pack.
Expert view, on design
“The Q4’s squared-off steering wheel reminds us of the Austin Allegro’s wheel. As with BL’s most infamous of machines, the shape actually works quite well in practice, but we have issues with its touch-sensitive buttons, because on more than one occasion, I clipped the ‘skip track’ button by accident while driving.” – Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, compared the latest Q4 e-tron against the new Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 in a triple test
Compact dimensions belie the fact that there’s a generous amount of space in the Q4 e-tron
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The Q4 e-tron’s cabin is impressively spacious, offering nearly as much leg and headroom as the larger Q6 e-tron. The boot is on the larger side of the class average, too.
Dimensions and size
As its name suggests, the Q4 e-tron’s falls squarely between the Q3 and Q5 in terms of length, but thanks to its electric platform, there is nearly as much space inside as you’ll find in Audi’s next largest electric SUV, the Audi Q6 e-tron. There are short overhangs front and rear, but again, this doesn’t compromise boot space.
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4,588mm |
| Width | 1,865mm |
| Height | 1,639mm |
| Number of seats | Five |
| Boot space | 520-1,490 litres |
Driving position, seats & space in the front
The Q4’s driving position is high, so there’s a decent view of the road ahead, and the seat has loads of adjustment. Beneath the floating central dash section is a storage area for a smartphone, while the door bins are large and deep, too. The glovebox is only half-sized, however, due to the fuse box taking up part of the space.
Seats & space in the back
Passengers have loads of space to stretch out in the back of the Q4, and the seats are very comfortable, too. The angle of the backrests is a little more reclined than in a Tesla Model Y, which works in the Audi’s favour, while there’s loads of foot space, too.
Boot space
At 520 litres, the boot matches the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 for overall volume. The Audi’s is more usable though, because the load bay is deeper, allowing for more bulky items to be loaded inside. Drop the rear seats and the volume grows to 1,490 litres. But the Q4 doesn’t have a front boot.
Expert view, on practicality
“The Q4 e-tron is more like a large hatchback than a 4×4, with a fairly standard ride height and short overhangs front and rear. Despite this, passengers won’t complain about a lack of head or legroom because it’s roomy inside, and there’s enough space in the boot for all their stuff.” – Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, compared the latest Q4 e-tron against the new Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 in a triple test
There’s a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, but Audi’s reputation isn’t quite as stellar
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Audi has a reputation for producing stylish, premium cars with a high standard of fit and finish. But the brand came 27th out of 32 firms in our rankings for 2024, based on customer feedback from the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey. That’s a small improvement from the 30th place Audi achieved the year before, but it still means that the company finished behind both Mercedes (25th) and BMW (14th).
