2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron: First Look Review

The 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is one of the brand’s most affordable EVs in the U.S., and it goes against the slightly older and better-established Volvo C40 Recharge. Recently, I got a chance to see the electric SUV-coupe in the metal and check out all its features in detail. Here are my observations:

Design

At first look, it’s not hard to tell that the 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is bigger than the Q3 Sportback that’s not sold in the U.S., although not as big as the mid-sized Q5 Sportback. I like its athletic body, which radiates power and gives it a strong presence. My favorite part about its exterior is the snazzy headlamp design, which gives it a high-tech, futuristic impression.

I like how Audi has created two separate tiers for the daytime running lights and the low beam and high beam without any gap in between. When low and high beam lights are off, the lower half remains concealed, making the headlamps look much slimmer than they are. That’s not even the best part, though.

The upper half of each headlamp consists of five flat DRL segments at the top, a fixed DRL line that can double as a dynamic turn signal in the middle, and four flat DRL segments at the bottom. The driver can choose from four different digital light signatures, and depending on the option selected, some of the flat DRL segments turn off to give the desired visual. This is a world-first feature, and I think it shows Audi’s commitment to the compact EV.

I think the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron’s high-set, upright hood goes well with its muscular haunches on the sides. The large octagonal faux grille adds to the dominating character of the e-SUV.

When viewed from the sides, I find the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron quite smart and sporty, thanks to the striking contours at the bottom of the doors. I’m left yearning for the 21-inch wheels, which are available in other markets and add so much more to the EV’s dynamic character.

At the back, the subtle “e-tron” embossing on the bumper does a better job of giving me the impression of viewing a high-tech, futuristic vehicle than the three-element combination lights, which are connected by a light stripe.

Interior

From its pictures, I expected the interior of the 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron to feel light, airy, and more spacious than a gas-powered SUV of the same size. When I sat in it recently, this was the impression I had in the front of the cabin. I’m six feet tall, and I found the headroom in the compact EV to be adequate. Leg space was sufficient and under-thigh support felt comfortable.

The 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron doesn’t have a center tunnel, and that, along with its floating center console, leaves more storage space for the driver and front passenger. The latter, along with the sleek dashboard, slightly gave me the vibe of a spaceship from a Hollywood flick.

I felt that the accent surfaces on the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron’s dashboard gave it a rich look, and when I touched them to get an idea of the quality of materials, I didn’t have any complaints in this aspect. Elsewhere, the plastics and other materials used in the cabin of the electric SUV-coupe vary depending on where you touch, with the frequently interfaced parts featuring higher quality and squidgy plastics and the rest just a range of hard surfaces.

Audi’s infotainment systems have been criticized for being difficult to comprehend in the past. In my experience, the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron’s unit has large icons and is easy to navigate. The customizable driver information display shows details like boost percentage, charging level, energy efficiency, range, etc. I’m not a fan of Audi’s weird two-spoke steering wheel, and to make matters worse, it has capacitive buttons. I felt relieved that at least the climate control system did have analog controls.

In the back, I felt that the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron was not for tall people like me. I had just about enough headroom, and there was adequate leg space. Under-thigh support on the bench seat felt okay for long journeys. The 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron e-tron has a flat floor, and this particularly makes a difference in comfort levels in this part of the cabin. The knee room is impressive, but the sloping roofline obviously prioritizes style over space.

Driving impressions

The 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron sports a 295-hp dual-motor powertrain that gives it all-wheel drive capability and lets it accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The powertrain gets its juice from a 76.6 kWh (net) battery pack that can be charged at up to 11.5 kW (AC)/150 kW (DC). The EPA-estimated energy consumption rating and range of the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron are 36 kWh/100 mi and 242 miles, respectively.

The 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron doesn’t have mechanical changes, so it’s safe to assume it drives the same as the previous model. The EV is zippy enough for urban conditions but not that quick to be called thrilling. Its steering feels adequately weighted and is accurate. The suspension is soft and leads to a comfortable ride, but that’s at the cost of body roll, which is a bit too much. As a result, the 2024 Q4 Sportback e-tron isn’t as confidence-inspiring on the highways as a typical Audi, and the soft brake pedal doesn’t help negate that feeling.

Price

The 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron’s prices range from USD 58,200 to USD 65,200 (excl. USD 1,195 destination charge).

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron impresses on style, space, and technology, but it isn’t the best option in its segment when it comes to performance and driving manners. Plus, it’s quite expensive for what it offers. The 2024 Genesis GV60 is a better option considering many of the aspects where it disappoints and falls behind the competition.

2024 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron FAQs