2022 Audi Q4 e-tron Finally Debuts as Audi’s New Electric SUV

Published on April 14, 2021 in New Models by Gabriel Gélinas

Audi just unveiled its new electric utility vehicle called Q4 e-tron. It will be available in traditional SUV and coupe-like Sportback configurations, with RWD or AWD and either a 52-kWh or 77-kWh battery.

Sharing its MEB platform with the new ID.4 from parent company Volkswagen, the Q4 e-tron is positioned to attract a large number of potential customers globally. In Canada, however, only the AWD variant with the bigger battery will be available.

The standard Q4 e-tron will land on our shores sometime in the fourth quarter of 2021, while the Sportback configuration will follow in early 2022. Prices, options, colours and trims will be detailed next month.

Advanced Aerodynamics

The 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron is 4.6 metres long, slightly shorter than the popular Q5. It has a long wheelbase of 2.76 metres since the wheels are pushed to the corners and the battery lies under the floor.

The highly aerodynamic shape of the Q4 e-tron results in a drag coefficient of just 0.28 for the SUV and 0.26 for the Sportback, the latter boasting a swoopier roofline and a unique spoiler at the base of the rear window.

Q4 e-tron lead designer Amar Vaya says the production models are 95 percent identical to the Q4 concepts that were previously shown. Their visual signature includes four-mode programmable daytime running lights and a thick light bar connecting the taillights. Wheels range from 19-21 inches in size.

Quattro Only For Canada

As mentioned above, we Canadians won’t get the RWD-equipped 35 and 40 models sold in other markets. The Q4 e-tron 50 will be the only one available here.

According to head of development Martin Krause, our model will feature two electric motors (one for each axle), as well as a 77-kWh battery providing a range of 488 kilometres (SUV) or 497 kilometres (Sportback) based on Europe’s WLTP standard. Expect lower figures from Natural Resources Canada.

Output is rated at 220 kilowatts (295 horsepower), while peak torque is 339 pound-feet. This allows 0-100 km/h sprints in 6.2 seconds and a towing capacity of up to 1,200 kilograms (2,650 pounds).

As for charging, Audi says the Q4 e-tron can regain 130 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes when plugged into a 125-KW charging station. Krause adds that 90 percent of kinetic energy from braking can be recovered. In fact, there are three available levels of regenerative braking: 0.06, 0.1 and 0.15 G, with up to 0.3 G when braking.

Clean Interior

The 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron offers a clean yet high-tech interior highlighted by an 11.6-inch centre display and Audi’s virtual cockpit in place of the conventional instruments. Also, there is no shifter; only shift buttons on the centre console.

The steering wheel is a new design with backlit controls offering haptic feedback. Elsewhere, a number of finishes are available, some of which use recycled materials. One example is the floor mats which are made of 88-percent recycled fibres.

For entertainment, Audi has partnered with Sonos to create a new sound system specifically tailored to the Q4 e-tron. Drivers will also enjoy an advanced head-up display with augmented reality. The information provided by some of the assist systems and the turning arrows of the navigation system as well as its starting points and destinations are visually superimposed in the corresponding place on the real-life outside world.

Remember, the 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback are coming to an Audi dealer near you in late 2021 and early 2022, respectively.