Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron performance, motor & drive
While it offers similar performance to a Tesla Model 3 or Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi’s coupe-SUV is more about comfortable everyday driving than thrilling engagement
| Model | 0-62mph | Top speed | Driven wheels | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 e-tron | 9.0s | 99mph | Rear | 168bhp |
| 40 e-tron | 8.5s | 99mph | Rear | 201bhp |
| 50 e-tron quattro | 6.2s | 111mph | Four | 295bhp |
The Q4 Sportback e-tron provides the instant kick of torque you’d expect from an electric SUV, and you’ll have no problems reaching the national speed limit with ease. However, in comparison to rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3, it's not quite as quick in a straight line, nor as much fun to thread through a series of corners.
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration
The 35 e-tron features a single electric motor that sends all of its 168bhp and 310Nm of torque to the rear wheels, and will do 0-62mph in nine seconds. Upgrade to the 40 e-tron and you get a slight bump in power to 201bhp, which cuts that time to 8.5 seconds, but the car remains rear-drive only.
At the top of the range is the 50 e-tron quattro, which gets a dual-motor setup for a total output of 295bhp and 460Nm of torque, making it capable of 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds. One motor sits on each axle, but the front one is only used when more grip is required, or under full throttle.
The 35 e-tron and 40 e-tron have their top speed limited to 99mph to preserve range, while the more powerful 50 e-tron quattro is limited to 112mph for the same reason.
Handling
The Q4 Sportback e-tron is by no means the most engaging electric car to drive, but it is comfortable and refined. Our test car did have the optional adaptive suspension and damper control fitted, however, so we'll add our verdict on the standard setup once we've had the chance to drive it. We can say that the upgraded setup was able to keep the car largely flat while cornering and handled road imperfections very well.
