Audi Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron test: the access electric

If there is a brand that has taken a giant step in the world of electrification, that is Audi. It was the first to show its firm commitment to the Audi e-tron when it was still rare to have a vehicle with a battery and plug in the range. Also in showing its cards, as far as its portfolio is concerned, until 2025. The last to arrive was the one in the test, the Audi Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron, which, as the electric car for access to the range, It will be one of the most important and, clearly, the best seller.

design and interior

Among its ‘brothers’ from the Volkswagen Group, ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq, with which it shares the MQB platform, it is the one with the most attractive design. It maintains the image that was shown at the beginning of 2019 in the prototype, and that, in its case, is a total success. Short front overhang, wide wheel arches, large closed Singleframe grille in inverted color and, in the case of this body, a descending roof that ends in a rear where the spoiler is above a moon divided into two parts.

But the designers have not only wanted to create a suggestive car, which it is clear they have achieved, but also efficient, since a low aerodynamic coefficient means greater autonomy, and that, especially in an electric car, is of the utmost importance. . The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback achieves a Cx of 0.26 -0.28 if it is the Q4 e-tron-.

And if compared to the Enyaq and the ID.4 the exterior design is more ‘elaborate’, the interior design is light years away, even more so if we talk about materials, especially compared to that of Wolfsburg.

It had been a long time since a car caught my attention when I sat in it for the first time; the Q4 has succeeded. It may seem silly to you, but keep in mind that I have a rear like a monkey, ‘pelao’, from testing cars and it is very rare that when I see the command post I come to think: “Finally, something different”. Perhaps the steering wheel, flattened at the bottom and top -I prefer a round one, by the way-, with four arms -two and two parallel- and the floating console have been the promoters of such reasoning.

It has a minimalist design, with the driver-oriented console, and although it is electric, it does not dispense with physical buttons for the most important functions. It is something that Audi maintains, regardless of the type of car or bodywork, and it is appreciated, since today, most manufacturers prefer that we navigate through menus on a screen, with the distractions that this entails, to perform a simple action. such as turning the air conditioner on or off. I’m not convinced by the touch buttons on the steering wheel because sometimes they lack precision.

The icing on that good perceived quality is put by the two screens; that of the digital instrument panel, which is 10.25 inches, and that of the MMI, of 11.6.

It should also be noted the multiple storage compartments that this car offers, highlighting the one under the floating center console, but without detracting from those of the four doors, which can accommodate one-liter bottles.

I continue the test of the Audi Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron moving to the second row of seats. Thanks to its 4.59 meters in length and 2.76 in wheelbase, passengers enjoy plenty of knee room. The one on the roof is much fairer; With my 1.78 it is only two fingers that separate my head from touching. Do you remember the advantage of the body with a descending roof in terms of aerodynamic resistance? Well here’s the downside.

Also, by having a very low tunnel, the central seat can be more comfortable than normal, although the padding of the bench and backrest is harder.

Regarding the trunk, cubic 535 liters, a good figure but lower than that of the Skoda Enyaq (585), Volkswagen ID.4 (543) and Ioniq 5 (531). The good thing is that the gate has a huge and low loading mouth and that the double floor makes it easy to both place and remove packages.

Engines

The Audi Q4 e-tron is available in the 35, 40 and 50 quattro versions. The first, the test one, has 170 hp and is equipped with a 51.5 kWh battery with which it achieves a range of up to 340 kilometers. The second produces 204 hp, has a 77 kWh battery and can travel up to 519 km on a single charge. The third and last is the most powerful thanks to its 299 CV, but not the one with the most autonomy: 486 km. Of course, it is the fastest from 0 to 100 km/h -6.2 compared to 9.0 and 8.5, respectively- and the only one with all-wheel drive -the other two are rear-.

The test is the Audi Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron, the access. But that doesn’t mean it falls short, because thanks to its instantaneous torque it offers quite fast acceleration from a standstill, although not outrageously fast… The same thing happens with its running speed, which is more than enough to move on the road and overtake. with complete confidence. Of course, it does not deliver the torrent of energy of the vast majority of electric; it is more linear.

Behavior

The driver has five modes: Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and individual. Also three retention modes with greater or lesser intensity level -level 1, with a deceleration of 0.06 g; level 2, with 0.10 g and level 3, with 0.15 g- and that are added to the normal. Mind you, it lacks ‘one-pedal driving’. Circulating in ‘Efficiency’ and treating the accelerator pedal with great care I have moved with an average consumption of 19.3 kWh.

The Q4 is a comfortable car because of its good soundproofing and because the suspension does a very good job, all without the body swinging noticeably. Also, because the batteries sit on the ground, the center of gravity is low, allowing it to corner efficiently and at high speed.

And braking this vehicle of almost two tons (1,970 kg) is in charge of a system that does its job well. I would highlight the feel of the pedal, firm and much more successful than many of the electric ones on the market.

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Price

The price of the Audi Q4 35 e-tron starts at 52,190 euros, a figure that does not include discounts and does include complete standard equipment consisting of: LED headlights and pilot lights, 19″ wheels, electric trunk lid, traffic sign recognition, Audi Parking System plus, Cruise Control with Limiter, Lane Keeping Assist, Obstacle Avoidance Assist and Turn Assist, Audi connect Navigation & Infotainment plus, Audi drive select, seat heating in the front, front windscreen thermal insulating glass, automatic climate control, stationary comfort climate control, projection of Audi rings on the exterior mirrors, MMI plus and Audi phone box, among many other elements.