AUDI Q4 E-TRON
A fresh perspective on our Sportback might give Audi pause for thought
MILEAGE 5612 WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT
To find out whether Audi can retain its premium appeal in the EV age
Irecently borrowed editor Tisshaw’s Q4 E-tron Sportback for a week. It was the last of the medium electric SUV class I hadn’t already tried, so I was keen to complete the set and compare with my impressions of its siblings.
It used to be that the hierarchy between Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi was very clear. VW was the happy medium, classless and suitable for almost everyone. Skoda was the value option, while Audi felt (and was) more expensive and would be the first to introduce new technology.
With the Meb-platform cars, that distinction is far less clear. In many ways, the Q4 E-tron feels like the car the VW ID 4 should have been. The interior doesn’t exactly feel plush, but it’s solid, spacious and, most notably, ergonomically sound. The seats are comfortable, there are buttons for the climate control and the screen is logical and responds well.
The trouble is that the Audi is considerably dearer than an ID 4 or Skoda Enyaq. What’s even more problematic is that an Enyaq feels like the more expensive car inside.
And with exactly the same amount of instantly available electric power, wide tyres and a low centre of gravity, they are very similar to drive. The Audi seems to ride a bit more smoothly than the others, but I wouldn’t be surprised if an Enyaq with adaptive suspension would wipe that difference out again.
I often read and hear that all modern cars look the same and all electric cars are identical to drive. That sort of generalisation strikes me as quite facile and plain wrong, because the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 prove it doesn’t have to be that way. Like the VW Group cars, they use essentially the same underpinnings.
However, while there are some clear similarities in some of the interfaces (the screens, the different levels of regen, the switchable button panel), they couldn’t look more different inside or outside. The Hyundai goes for a lounge-on-wheels vibe, whereas the Kia is much more like a traditional executive car.
That’s reflected in how they drive, too. The Hyundai rolls more and has heavier steering, making it feel slightly ponderous in the bends, but the ride is lovely. The Kia sacrifices some ride comfort for more dynamic handling. Neither is significantly better than the other but they neatly stay out of each other’s lane.
Over the years, Audi has cleverly built a brand that is perceived as cool and high-tech. I suspect it will have to do rather more than it has done with the Q4 E-tron to maintain that.