Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron review: reliability & safety rating
Audi’s electric coupe-SUV has a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, but the German brand’s performance in the 2022 Driver Power consumer survey leaves a lot to be desired
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2021) | 93% | 89% | 80% |
The Audi Q4 e-tron was put through independent Euro NCAP crash-testing in September 2021 and received a five-star rating, which also applies to the Sportback version. Audi as a brand hasn't excelled in recent UK customer-satisfaction surveys, however.
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron reliability & problems
Both the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron are too new for any wide-ranging reliability data to be available, although given that they use the same MEB mechanical platform that underpins the Skoda Enyaq iV and Volkswagen ID.4, and no major issues have arisen with those models so far, you shouldn't be too worried.
However, it must be said that in the 2022 edition of the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, Audi ranked a disappointing 22nd out of 29 rated brands in the UK, with just over 19% of owners reporting a fault with their car within the first year of ownership. In comparison, Tesla, whose reputation for build quality isn’t the best in the industry – over 40% of owners reported faults – finished second overall.
Safety
In 2021, the Q4 e-tron went through Euro NCAP's battery of crash safety tests, receiving the maximum five-star rating for both the standard Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron variant. Individual scores were 93% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection and 80% for safety assistance.
All Q4 e-tron models get cruise control, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors and road-sign recognition as standard. Cars specified with the Assistance Package Advanced also come with side assistance, cross-traffic assistance, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and emergency assistance.