Road Test: 2024 Audi Q4 55 E-tron Quattro

European Premium Electric Compact SUV

Right-sized for city driving or taking a longer-range road trip, the 2024 Audi Q4 55 E-tron Quattro holds its own against all other premium electric compact SUVs.

It was all-new in 2022, but has received upgrades for 2024, including more power and driving range, refined steering and suspension, and faster charging.

Getting There

Straight-line performance zips the 4,850-pound Q4 E-tron 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds. With Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, the dual electric motors (front and rear) produce 335 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque for even and smooth acceleration, with instant torque at any speed going through a single speed transmission. Tromp the right pedal and the linear acceleration is unaffected by gear shifts because there are none. The Q4 E-tron has Audi Drive Select with five driver-selectable drive modes–Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual, with each adjusting the steering feel to offer a different driving experience.

The EPA rates the 2024 Audi Q4 55 E-tron Quattro at a 258-mile electric driving range. This is about what we saw in our 160 miles driving around Southern California, where our efficiency was 3.1 miles per kWh, aided in-part by the car’s 0.28 coefficient of drag.

The Q4 E-tron performs smoothly on the highway and around town, where the progressive, speed-dependent power assist steering made both easy. The steering was just heavy enough for good road feedback, but not so much that you needed to muscle it through a corner.

The 255/40 Bridgestone Alenza all-season tires, mounted on 21-inch 5-Y-spoke design wheels, gripped well and were quiet on the highway. When equipped with the trailer hitch ($650 option), towing is rated at 2,650 pounds.

Nathan Hoyt, product communications manager at Audi, told us: “It’s not meant to be a sports car by any means, it’s raison d’etre is very much “approachable, premium electrification, to make the car engaging and appealing to everyday drivers.”

Charging

The 82 kWh battery charges three ways. Most owners will install a 240-volt Level 2 charger that with the 11.0 kW on-board charger, will take between 7.5 and 9 hours for full charge. Using a DC Fast Charger (at 175 kW) the time for a 10-to-80-percent charge drops to 28 minutes. Original owners receive up to 250 kWh over two years of free fast charging through Electrify America. In an emergency, a common 120-volt household outlet will recharge 0-100 percent in about 80 hours.

It is important to note cold weather can affect the charging time and driving range. To address this, Audi has equipped the Q4 E-tron with a heat pump that pre and post-conditions the battery to an optimum temperature to maximize charging.

Regenerative Recharging

Regenerative charging is where kinetic energy is converted into electricity when braking or coasting. The process of the motors slowing is controlled with paddles on the steering wheel. The Q4 E-tron does not have full one-pedal driving, where the SUV comes to a complete stop without touching the brake. It does slow to a creep, at which point the Auto Hold feature will keep the Q4 E-tron stationary without needing to press on the brake.

Refined Cabin

The Audi’s interior space is impressive and refined, with an attention to detail. The look is classic German, i.e., not ostentatious or trendy. Our interior was Parchment Beige with Steel Gray stitching; the dashboard and carpet is black and the headliner is gray to match the seat stitching. The use of soft materials, natural wood inlay, brushed aluminum and gloss black trim have a unified and complementary look.

Audi hasn’t done away with all buttons and other switchgear, but most of the controls are either on the heated leather-wrapped steering wheel or by touching the 11.6-inch multi-media interface (MMI) touchscreen. The learning curve was short to switch between maps, music playlists and vehicle settings. The 10.5-inch digital instrument cluster features traditional large round gauges with white numbers on a black background. Toggling-through the options allows you to see a wide array of screens that show the state-of-charge, speedometer with an efficiency meter and other helpful information. The menus were easy to learn and did not require going through multiple screens to find what you are looking for.

A lower screen is the read-out for the three-zone automatic climate system. There is a fourth screen of the configurable augmented reality head-up display that projects an assortment of information just above the steering wheel on the windshield.

Our Q4 E-tron came with a surround view camera, adaptive cruise control and the Sonos premium sound system with FM/SiriusXM radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There was no AM radio, but there was wireless phone charging and USB-C ports front and rear, as well as a 12V outlet for the backseat passengers.

The front seats, covered in soft leather, were supportive and power-everything including driver and passenger lumbar. The rear seats offer plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for two adults, three for shorter trips. The beauty of an electric vehicle is the flat floor makes for exceptional leg room for the rear passengers.

The panoramic sunroof has a power shade, and the power lift gate’s kick feature worked better than most we have tried recently. The cargo area goes from 24.8 cubic feet with the rear seat upright, to 53.1 cubic feet with the rear 40:20:40 seat folded down. Interior storage is found in the doors, under the cargo area floor and the floating console. Alas, there is no frunk (front trunk).

Choice of Exterior Designs

There are two models–the Q4 E-tron and Q4 Sportback E-tron, with the latter being more aerodynamic with a fastback roofline compared to the former that has a more conventional SUV shape.

Color choices begin with Pebble Gray that comes with no charge, while the metallic finishes of Mythos Black, Navarra Blue, and what we drove, Glacier White, are all available for an additional $595. Opting for a premium color is a small investment if feeling good about showing-off and riding around in your Q4 E-tron are important.

The Prestige package included head and taillight animation, Matirix-design LED headlights, an alarm system with motion detectors, heated auto-dimming exterior mirrors and a heated windshield.

Safety and Warranty

The E-Tron comes with an extensive standard and optional list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including eight airbags, forward collision warning and avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure and blind-spot warning, electronic stability and traction control, along with four wheel anti-lock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2024 Audi Q4 E-tron has earned 5 Stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), its highest safety rating. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has not tested the 2024 model, but gave the 2023 Q4 e-tron its highest rating of Top Safety Pick+.

The Q4 E-tron comes with these warranties:

• New Vehicle – Four years/50,000 miles
• Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
• Maintenance – One year/10,000 miles        
• Roadside Assistance – Four years/Unlimited miles 
• Corrosion – 12 years/Unlimited miles

Pricing

Available in two models, these are the base prices that include the mandatory $1,195 destination charge.

Q4 55 e-tron                  $56,395

Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron  $59,395

Clean Fleet Report drove the 2024 Audi Q 55 4 E-tron quattro. With $9,545 in options and the $1,195 destination charge, it brought the total price to $65,940.

Note: Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the MSRP of electric vehicles must be $80,000 or less for SUVs, vans and trucks. All other electric vehicles must be $55,000 or less. But, there are other caveats and restrictions to qualify for a federal tax credit, or a state tax credit, so speak with your CPA before visiting an Audi dealer.

Observations: 2024 Audi Q4 55 4 E-tron Quattro

The simple and clean design of the 2024 Audi Q4 55 E-tron Quattro means that for years to come it will not look dated. Now in its third year, the upgrades and improvements make either the Q4 55 E-tron or Q4 55 Sportback E-tron desirable premium electric SUVs. The exterior is understated and classy, and the interior is a place you will want to spend time.

The all-electric compact SUV category is getting more crowded all the time, with the Q4 55 E-tron facing competition from the Kia EV6 GT, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, Tesla Model Y Performance, Lexus RZ 450e, Acura ZDX, Volkswagen ID4 AWD, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Polestar 2 AWD, Nissan Ariya, Mercedes EQB SUV, BMW iX3 and soon the Cadillac Optiq. Links to more details on these competitors follows this article.

So how will the Q4 55 E-tron Quattro match up? Visit your local Audi dealer, take a lengthy test drive, and let us know if you agree it does just fine against the competition.

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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Audi.

What We Know About the Competition (in alphabetical order):

Flash Drive: 2024 Acura ZDX

News: BMW iX3 Spotted

News: 2025 Cadillac Optiq

Road Test: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Flash Drive: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Road Test: 2024 Kia EV6 GT

Flash Drive: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e

News: 2023 Nissan Ariya

Flash Drive: 2024 Polestar 2 AWD

Road Test: 2024 Volkswagen ID4 Pro AWD

Road Test: 2023 Volvo C40 Rcharge