Audi Q4 e-tron review: reliability & safety rating
The Q4 e-tron has a five-star crash safety rating from Euro NCAP, but Audi as a brand hasn't tended to top satisfaction surveys of late
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2021) | 93% | 89% | 80% |
Audi’s latest electric SUV was put through independent Euro NCAP crash-testing in September 2021 and matched the five-star rating that had previously been awarded to its sister models the Skoda Enyaqand Volkswagen ID.4. Audi itself hasn't exactly excelled in recent UK customer-satisfaction surveys, however.
Audi Q4 e-tron reliability & problems
While the Q4 e-tron is too new for any wide-ranging reliability data to be available, it uses the same MEB mechanical platform that underpins the above-mentioned Enyaq and ID.4 – and no major issues have arisen with those models thus far. In fact, the Volkswagen ID.3 – which also shares parts with the Q4 e-tron – was ranked by owners as the 12th-most reliable EV in our 2023 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.
Audi, on the other hand, finished a very worrying 30th out of 32 makers in our brand survey. That puts it behind all of its key rivals including BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes; a relatively average 23% of Audi owners reported a fault with their car within the first year of ownership. Electrical issues made up the lion's share of problems – not a good sign for an EV like the Q4 e-tron.
Safety
The Q4 e-tron went through Euro NCAP crash-testing in September 2021 and it managed the same five-star rating as its Volkswagen and Skoda sister models were awarded earlier. The rating applies to both the standard Q4 e-tron SUV and the Sportback variant, with individual scores of 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. But more features are available as part of the optional ‘comfort and sound pack’, ‘assistance package advanced’ and ‘safety package plus’ bundles, including cross-traffic assistance, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and emergency assistance.