So just the other week in Europe Audi boss Gernot Dollner stood up and basically said: “We’ve buggered up and we’re starting over”.
Or words something like that anyway.
Audi’s gonna be a lean, mean fighting machine going forward, not what Dollner reckons it’s been of late.
So in that context, what to make then of the Audi Q4 45 e-tron after a week living with it? Is the most affordable EV from the German luxury brand you can buy in Australia just not that good?
To be honest, I reckon Dollner’s being a bit harsh. Hopefully his declarations just mean what’s coming down the track from Audi is just that bit better.
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2025 Audi Q4 45 e-tron price and equipment
The 2025 Audi Q4 45 e-tron is priced at $84,900 plus on-road costs. That’s $1600 less than the Sportback version, which is differentiated by a more sloping roof.
That pricing makes both Q4 45s luxury car tax beaters and eligible for the FBT discount. That potentially saves thousands of dollars, but be aware of the traps and pitfalls. Toby Hagon guides you through all that stuff here.
The Q4 is based on parent Volkswagen Group’s MEB EV architecture along with the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, Cupra Born and many more including a couple of European Fords, the Capri and Explorer.
In Q4 45 e-tron form it’s pretty straight forward. A 210kW/545Nm e-motor sits on the back axle driving the rear wheels via a single speed reduction gear. The 6.7 second 0-100km/h time feels pessimistic More on that shortly.
Keeping the fire burning is a 77kWh (useable) lithium-ion battery pack that delivers a claimed 524km range at an average 17.4kWh/100km.
Speaking of pessimism … more on that shortly too.
The AC charging rate is 11kW and the DC fast charge rate 175kW. Sadly, we only had access to 50kW chargers while the Q4 was on-test and couldn’t see how close to the latter figure we could get.
The Q4 slots in neatly between the ICE Audi Q3 and Q5 at just under 4.6m long. It has five seats and claims a substantial 520 litres or 1490 litres of luggage space depending on whether the rear seat is up or down. Surprisingly, there is no frunk.
The Q4 also doesn’t do that well for standard gear considering the price. Clearly a lot of dosh is swallowed up by the battery pack.
Highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with daytime running lights, high beam assist and range control and a power tailgate with gesture control.
Metallic paint is a $1350 option.
In the cabin you’ll find a 10.25 digital instrument display, an 11.6-inch digital infotainment touchscreen with embedded sat-nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an eight-speaker audio system.
Comfort equipment includes tri-zone climate control, seats appointed in leather and power adjustment of the driver’s seat only. Both front seats get heating and manual lumbar adjust.
Standard Q4 45 safety equipment includes front- and front-side airbags and curtain airbags that protect passengers in both compartments, a suite of driver assistants led by autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
Tyre pressure loss is also monitored, but there is no spare tyre.
Safety stuff you have to pay more for includes active lane assist, a 360 degree camera and auto parking assist.
The Q4’s five star ANCAP rating comes from 2021, which essentially tells you how long this thing has been around overseas before it showed up in Australia last February.
Like all new Audis, the Q4 e-tron comes with a five-year warranty, while the high-voltage battery is protected for eight years.
2025 Audi Q4 45 e-tron: What we think
It’s actually quite stunning just how economical the 2025 Audi Q4 45 e-tron can be.
Remembering the official claim is 17.4kWh/100km, our average over a week and more than 600km of varied driving emerged at 16kWh/100km.
In efficiency or range modes this thing is stinginess personified. During a slow stop-start 60km drive in peak hour freeway traffic the range dipped only five km.
Obviously, you’re going to use more electricity if you work the system harder, but why on earth would you drive anything other than an EV in urban traffic?
This level of efficiency also means the claimed range is within reach. That’s really impressive.
And on a side note, I’m so happy Audi includes driver adjustable regen paddles on the steering wheel of the Q4 45. It boggles my mind that some premium brands – hello Porsche – ignore this feature.
Now, the acceleration. That also felt much stronger than the specifications promised. The Q4 45 e-tron was smooth, quiet and pretty much effortless in the way it performed.
But even with all that grunt and rear-wheel drive don’t expect it to be some sort of sports car.
It’s heavy (2145kg) and it’s ponderous. But it also rides very well on its independent suspension. So let the e-motor take care of the straights and just cruise through the corners enjoying all that refinement.
In the end the weakest part of the driving package proved to be the brakes, which required a noticeable push to get to the mechanical stoppers when they were needed.
Thankfully, the complex looking vehicle controls proved to be user-friendly, admittedly after some study. The screen contents are easily adjustable and there are hard buttons and touch points to ensure things like audio and air-con don’t require drilling into a screen.
The in-cabin is storage is generous with a huge amount available in the centre console, which is presented in a rather spectacular way like diving boards protruding from the dash.
But other stuff, like the plain grey plastic in the centre console that then breaks for the dashboard before stretching miles away to the windscreen underwhelmed for this money.
2025 Audi Q4 45 e-tron: Verdict
OK, I kinda get where Gernot’s going with his self-criticism. The 2025 Q4 45 e-tron has some great elements, but you pay a lot for them.
If the lean, mean new Audi delivers vehicles with this powertrain capability – or better – at a lower price with more gear I’m all in.
But if you can’t wait, this is a decent EV. It’s got performance, space and comfy road manners. Add in the FBT discount and it looks quite appealing.
SCORE: 3.5/5
2025 Audi Q4 45 e-tron specifications
Price: $84,900 (plus on-road costs)
Basics: EV , 5 seats, 5 doors, medium SUV
Range: 524km (ADR)
Battery capacity: 77kWh lithium-ion
Battery warranty: 8 years/unlimited km
Energy consumption: 17.4kWh/100km (ADR)
Motors: 1 rear, 210kW/545Nm.
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 175kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 6.7 seconds
