What is it?
This is the one that counts for Audi. If the brand is to make a real stab at electrification, the Q4 E-tron needs to be the car doing the heavy lifting. We’ve driven the lower-powered, rear- driven Audi Q4 E-tron 40 before, so now it’s the turn of the pricier 50 Quattro.
Audi’s cousin of the Skoda Enyaq iV and Volkswagen ID 4 in this form gets a 77kWh battery (as in the 40) and two motors, together offering up 295bhp and 339lb ft. The healthy 94bhp uptick over the 40 means the 50 Quattro is 1.3sec quicker from 0-62mph, in part thanks to its small front motor giving all-wheel traction.
The flip side is a range of 291 miles, which is 25 miles down on that of the 40 and a massive 88 miles down on the Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range, if on par with the Polestar 2.
A flat floor and wheels pushed right out into the corners combine to provide plenty of room, and the three-stack dashboard arrangement looks smart. But – shock horror! – some of the interior feels a bit flimsy, especially on the steering wheel. Here, Audi’s switchgear no longer has that survive-anything feel about it.
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A good an example of less is more.
From someone who has always been hugely into cars for pretty much my whole life, I have not kept up with any of these new electric cars whatsoever. I have absolutely no interest in them nor the Governments alleged wish to have only these cars on sale (as new cars) by 2030. Nor will I ever be buying one. We don't even have the infrastructure to support everyone in an electric car but that's another conversation for another day. All I know is I'll be driving ICE cars until I am no longer fit to drive. May sound like a stubborn old man....I'm not, I'm 37.
That's a shame. You should give them a go. The performance is so much better that many ICE cars, and the running costs are so much cheaper. So glad I made the switch, and can't see why I would ever want to go back.
Audi defines quality with quilted effect leather upholstery and lots of shiny gewgaws. The same way I define naff.