2023 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron

If you want a sporty yet compact electric crossover from one of the big three German automakers, Audi is currently the only one that has you covered with the 2023 Q4 Sportback e-tron. Its sub-$60,000 price is hardly cheap, but with its sloping roofline and 295-horsepower dual-motor powertrain, you won't find anything comparable from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The Merc EQB is cheaper, but it's a lot less powerful, and its boxy shape that can accommodate a third row is more about practicality than style, while BMW's only electric SUV, the iX, exists in an entirely different price and performance league. Despite being one of Audi's smallest EVs, the Q4 Sportback e-tron still has all the luxury and tech expected of an Audi, which it needs to fend off rivals like the Volvo C40 Recharge. But perhaps its biggest hurdle is the Tesla Model Y which is a lot cheaper, performs better, and has a superior range on a full charge. Can the prestige of the Audi badge and the promise of top-notch quality overcome these deficits to its Tesla rival?

The new Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron SUV comes with a few changes for only its second year on sale. The sporty S line trim for the exterior is now standard, while a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen replaces the previous 10.1-inch unit. An augmented reality head-up display is available that shows projections of directional cues for the navigation system.

The starting price for the 2023 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is $58,200 for the Premium, rising to $64,400 for the mid-range Premium Plus and $65,900 for the Prestige. These MSRPs exclude options and the destination charge of $1,195. These prices are in line with premium rivals like the Volvo C40 Recharge and Genesis GV60, but more than other non-luxury brands.

The Tesla Model Y starts at only $47,740. Besides that, the Audi isn't assembled in the USA, so it doesn't qualify for federal tax credits like the Tesla, making it an even harder sell.

Our preferred choices in the Q4 Sportback e-tron lineup would either be the Premium with the $2,500 Convenience Package ($60,700 total, adding extras like driver's seat memory and wireless phone charging) or a slight stretch to the mid-range Premium Plus. Regardless of your choice, you'd have to ask yourself if the Audi is worth so much more than the Tesla and other non-premium rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The interior of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is a bit more excitingly styled than that of the gas-powered Q5 Sportback, and besides some harder plastics here and there, the quality is in line with Audi standards. Classy leather upholstery and crisp digital displays on the dashboard leave you in no doubt that this is a premium crossover, and all models ship with features like heated front seats and three-zone automatic climate control. A leather multi-function steering wheel with a traditional round rim is standard, but a sportier flat-bottom steering wheel can be equipped. We appreciate the placement of physical buttons in the center stack, but the touchscreen is responsive when you do need to use it. High-tech features like an augmented reality head-up display are available. Well-sized door openings and an agreeable step-in height make ingress and egress effortless.

Once seated, front occupants will find sufficient legroom and headroom even if they're a little over six feet tall. However, the seats have rather firm, flat cushions, so you may want to consider the optional sport front seats before buying. On upper trims, there is a memory system for the driver and a power front passenger seat with four-way lumbar support, but all models have front-seat heating and a power-adjustable driver's seat.

Interior space at the back is adequate, but two passengers will be more comfortable than three. While rear legroom is exactly the same as in the regular Q4 e-tron, the Sportback has 1.3 inches less rear headroom thanks to that roofline, so taller people won't be quite as comfortable here.

Unusually for the coupe-style sibling of a regular SUV, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron actually has more cargo space than the normal Q4 e-tron. Behind the second row, there are 26.1 cubic feet of space, whereas the non-Sportback model has 24.8 cubes. It's by no means the most spacious trunk you'll find in a compact crossover, but it can handle most family duties without trouble. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatback can be dropped to expand the total utility space to 54.4 cubes. All models have the benefit of a standard power tailgate, but only the top two trims have standard hands-free access.

Interior storage space includes dual front cupholders, while the floating center island with the gear selector allows for storage space below that and a place for your phone. The traditional center armrest conceals a storage compartment that is deep but not particularly wide. Other than that, there are the usual door pockets and a glove box in front. Rear-seat passengers have their own door pockets, front seatback map pockets, and a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders.

Audi aficionados will be able to tell that this is one of the brand's cheaper models. On areas like the door panels and the surround for the cupholders, the plastics don't have the cushy feel typical of most Audis. It's still a solidly constructed vehicle, however, and you won't be distracted by annoying rattles and squeaks.

While leatherette is used for the door armrests, all models have genuine leather upholstery for the seats. Interior colors include black with Rock Gray stitching, Parchment Beige with Steel Gray stitching, and Santos Brown with Steel Gray stitching. The default Lime Silver Gray natural wood inlays can be replaced by brushed dark aluminum inlays if you tick the box for the Black Optic Plus Package; this package also adds embossed S emblems in the upgraded sport seats. Other materials include a leather-wrapped steering wheel that is standard, aluminum interior accents, and a light cloth headliner.

There aren't many key features missing from the base Q4 Sportback e-tron. It comes with three-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a power panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and LED interior ambient lighting. As you work your way through the trim levels, the Q4 Sportback e-tron gains a power-adjustable front passenger seat, an upgraded Audi virtual cockpit plus instrument cluster, a driver's seat memory function, dual-pane acoustic glass for the front side windows, a hands-free power tailgate, an auto-dimming interior rearview mirror, wireless phone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate.

The infotainment system runs MMI software and is improved this year with a large 11.6-inch touchscreen. Through this, customers can access Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, Audi Connect Care, and the 10-speaker base sound system. A more impressive 10-speaker Sonos premium sound system is added on upper trims, along with SiriusXM with 360L. Only the Prestige enjoys an augmented reality head-up display for the navigation system.

It's not a rocket, but the powertrain in the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron delivers a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds and a limited top speed of 112 mph. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard on the Sportback by virtue of a rear permanently excited synchronous electric motor and another asynchronous electric motor in front. Together, they deliver 295 hp which is directed to the drivetrain via a single-speed transmission. We've mentioned the Tesla Model Y several times but we have to again; despite being a lot cheaper, the Model Y is also significantly quicker than the Audi. A trailer hitch is available optionally and the Sportback has a maximum tow capacity of 2,650 pounds.

Around the city, the instant torque from the electric motors delivers snappy acceleration, but the Q4 Sportback e-tron feels less convincing on the highway at elevated speeds. It's no slouch, of course, and for a family crossover, it's more than adequate. To drive, the Q4 Sportback e-tron is much more refined than the Volkswagen ID.4 with which it shares a platform, and the ride is comfortable for the most part. It's stable and planted, too, making this a decent highway cruiser. Steering does the job without communicating much to the driver, and the Sportback maintains its composure nicely through the corners. We would not call it a sporty car to drive, however.

An 82-kWh lithium-ion battery is fitted to every version of the Q4 Sportback e-tron. On a full charge, expect a range of 242 miles, which is almost 100 miles adrift of the best-performing Model Y. The MPGe rating for the Q4 Sportback e-tron is 100/89/95 city/highway/combined, so it's also a lot less efficient than the best Model Y AWD (123 MPGe combined). All that being said, not everyone needs an EV with 300 miles of range, and with access to Level 2 charging at home and/or at the office, the Q4's range will be enough. The Audi isn't the worst off in this segment, as the Volvo C40 Recharge only manages 226 miles on a full charge.

With DC fast charging at up to 150 kW, the Audi's battery can be replenished from 5% to 80% in 36 minutes. With a 240V outlet at 11.5 kW, the charging time is 7.5 hours, so that will work will for overnight charging. At 9.6 kW, expect a nine-hour charge.

Peerless safety is what you can look forward to from the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron EV, which walked away with a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, the authority's highest recognition for safety. In every crash test, the Audi scored the maximum Good rating, and the only minor blemish was an Acceptable rating for the LED reflector headlights on the lower two trims. The more advanced headlights on the Prestige attained a Good rating. The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron also attained a five-star overall safety review from the NHTSA.

These brilliant crash scores are complemented by numerous safety features. Every Sportback has a full suite of airbags, including less common rear side airbags. Also standard are Audi pre sense basic/pre sense front (forward collision warning), regular cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, a rearview camera, front/rear parking sensors, high-beam assist, and lane departure warning. Auto-dimming mirrors (interior and exterior) can be added to the base Premium as part of the Convenience Package, but this model doesn't have access to the parking assistance and adaptive cruise control with lane guidance of the top two trims. The augmented reality head-up display and Matrix-design LED headlights that offer superior illumination are reserved for the Prestige.

There has already been one recall for the 2023 model and this pertains to a potential airbag tear that can increase the risk of an injury in a crash. 2022 models were also affected by this issue and for another recall involving an inoperative rearview camera display. No J.D Power reliability rating exists for the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron yet, but since the powertrain and platform are shared with older VW products, we don't foresee any major issues.

The 2023 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, as is the powertrain. No complimentary scheduled maintenance is part of the deal, but the electric components do get coverage for eight years or 100,000 miles.

This is one of Audi's sportiest SUVs and is far more compelling to look at than the related VW ID.4. A reinterpretation of the Singleframe grille that has been an Audi staple for so long works well, as do the stylish LED headlights, upgraded to Matrix-design LEDs with headlight washers on the Prestige model. The tapering roofline leads to a squat rear end with an integrated spoiler and taillights reminiscent of the much more expensive e-tron GT. The sporty S line exterior enhancements come standard, as do 20-inch five-V-spoke design wheels with a bi-color finish, wrapped in all-season tires. Dark accents can give the exterior a moodier look if you go for the Black Optic Plus Package, but the only truly stand-out color is the optional Navarra Blue metallic. All models have a power tailgate and panoramic power sunroof, while the top two trims also have hands-free access. At 108.7 inches, the Sportback has exactly the same wheelbase length as the normal Q4 e-tron, which is why it retains the same rear legroom and even better cargo space.

In the context of its German rivals, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is one of the most affordable ways to drive off in a premium EV. It merges zero-emissions driving and dashing styling with traditional Audi qualities like a tech-rich interior and refined ride. It's when you start comparing the Q4 Sportback e-tron with other EVs without a BMW or Mercedes badge on the nose that things become more complicated for it. The Tesla Model Y is much cheaper, faster, more practical, and has a better range. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is more fun to drive, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a gorgeous interior, while both can go further on a full charge. Quite simply, you're paying for the Audi's badge, not necessarily a better product, as the Q4 lacks some of the polish associated with the four rings. It's a good EV, not a great one.