2025 Audi Q4 e-tron/Q4 e-tron Sportback bodystyles SUV...

The entry-level Q4 e-tron 40 comes with a single 201-hp electric motor that powers the rear wheels. We haven’t had a chance to drive the Q4 e-tron with this setup yet but weren’t impressed with it in the mechanically similar Volkswagen ID.4. With an electric motor powering each axle, the all-wheel-drive Q4 e-tron 55 and Q4 e-tron Sportback 55 models make 335 horsepower. The Q4 e-tron's road manners are polite; the ride is smooth and the Audi feels reasonably maneuverable thanks to a tight turning radius. We'd stop short of calling it fun, though, as it feels heavy in corners and its steering feedback feels artificial.

0–60-MPH Times

Audi says the Q4 55 e-tron can dash to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds flat, which is far more satisfying than the 7.9-second estimate for the Q4 40 e-tron, and quicker than the gasoline-powered Audi Q5 SUV. Around town, the Q4 e-tron’s powertrain feels like more than enough even if its initial shove is more muted than rival SUVs such as the Genesis Electrified GV70 and the Tesla Model Y. At higher speeds though, such as when passing on the highway, the powertrain feels less energetic but still more than adequate

Overview

If you're shopping for a compact luxury EV SUV with a long driving range, the 2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback won't be your first choice; they don't lead the segment in that aspect. They do, however, deliver on Audi's tech-focused ethos and the brand's typical good looks outside and in. Front-wheel drive 40 models are poky by EV standards but provide the longest driving range; the all-wheel drive 55 improves performance significantly and sacrifices very little range. The Q4 e-tron recharges reasonably quickly on a 175-kWh DC charging connection. The main problem for the Q4 e-tron is that the competition is a step ahead in two key areas: rivals like the Tesla Model Y and the Volvo EX40 offer more range and even faster charging. That said, Audi’s advantage has always been technical aptitude, like the high school kid voted Most Likely to Succeed. The 2025 Q4 e-tron looks sleek and smart, like it’s wearing a designer three-piece suit. The interior is well-appointed and, according to the EPA, there's actually slightly more rear cargo room in the swoopier Q4 Sportback than in the conventionally shaped standard model. Devotees to the German brand will appreciate the effort Audi put into differentiating the Q4 e-tron from its platform-mate, the Volkswagen ID.4, but its ability to win hearts is hampered given its middle-of-the-road range and performance.