The Audi Q4 e-tron is the latest car to get VW Group’s Tech and Battery Updates
This is more like a mid-life refresh than simply updating the latest tech and battery options as Audi has significantly updated the interior design and tweaked the outside.
As we have reported with various Volkswagen Group products, a swathe of updates has added new technologies, better batteries and introduced AI connectivity plus many areas have been updated for better efficiency, bringing together a cohesive and comprehensive mid-life refresh.
Bi-directional Charging
The headline feature is bi-directional charging making its way into its first Audi, featuring both Vehicle-to-Load and Vehicle-To-House capabilities.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) allows the cars high-voltage battery to discharge power into electric devices, or charge a small battery via the domestic power socket situated in the boot. This provides continuous AC power up to 2.3 kW.
Audi has also made an optional adapter available for the cars charging port with either a domestic power socket (2.3 kW) or a camping power socket (3.6 kW) for additional versatility.
Vehicle-to-Home is currently available in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but has only seen pilot programms in the U.K. That doesn’t mean its not coming because it will at some point, but there is no specific date set for a U.K. wide roll-out yet.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) allows energy to be discharged from the cars high-voltage battery in to the home via a compatible DC wallbox providing the entire household - and all of its electricity consumption needs - to effectively use off-peak energy that was stored in the cars battery. This is called load-shifting.
Battery options
As before, the Q4 e-tron will be available in two battery sizes, and both have been updated with an increased capacity that results in better range.
The entry battery is now 63 kWh gross capacity with the larger battery rated at 82 kWh gross. It also means towing capacity has been improved to 1,800 kg, or 2,200 kg in the Quattro AWD models.
Audi hasn’t quoted exact range estimates yet, but says the Q4 Sportback e-tron performance now offers up to 367 miles of range with final specs to be confirmed, but expect approximately 20 miles more range available vs the outgoing model.
Audi also states that it has made a number of efficiency improvements, along with some models also getting an increase in power, too.
The Exterior
Rather than taking a more radical design direction Audi has tweaked the Q4 e-tron colouring the “grille’ to match the body colour providing a cleaner look at the front.
The S line variant adds vertical trims in a silver matte to the corners of the front and rear bumpers as a visual enhancement.
Actual functional air intakes have been added to reduce drag by channelling airflow around the front wheels. So many cars now feature fake intakes so it’s good to see Audi making a purpose of what can otherwise be referred to as decorative elements.
For the Q4 SUV e-tron there’s a new roof spoiler that integrates well with the D pillar for improved aerodynamics. There’s also a redesigned diffuser that Audi states adds a “sporty finish’, but perhaps doesn’t enhance air flow in any noticeable way.
Three new exterior colours and five new wheel designs are available as optional extras.
The Interior
The biggest changes to appearance lie inside the car. The dashboard now houses three screens with the passenger side gaining an additional 12-inch display as an option. The central screen is now a 12.8-inch MMI touch display whilst there is an 11.9-inch instrument cluster for the driver.
And if three screens weren’t enough, Audi now offers an optional augmented reality heads-up display projecting information on to the windscreen in two layers.
The AR layer shows navigation info, such as turn signals, starting and destination points piled on top of the real environment.
Audi says this new AR heads-up display covers 70-inches diagonally blending the real world and artificial world with some of the elements appearing to float in the field of vision just where its needed.
The second layer sits beneath the AR layer and shows the speed, traffic signs, plus assistance and navigation icons that look to be placed around 3 meters ahead into the road.
Along with AR, the new Q4 e-tron also has an in-built AI assistant called Intelligent Audi Assistant that allows for voice commands to control some of the cars functions. With Chat-GPT integration, occupants can also converse naturally with the car on any topic, ask for jokes, or even ask what amenities are available in the surrounding area, for example.
The Audi Q4 e-tron infotainment system is based on Android Automotive OS, so expect over-the-air software updates to keep the infotainment area fresh with new features added over time.
Third party apps will be made available to further customise the car without the need for a smartphone.
Other practical updates include two cooled, inductive charging trays for smartphones delivering up to 15W each, and two USB-C charging ports under the centre armrest.
Space is decent in the Q4 e-tron with the boot rated at 520 litres when the seats are in an upright position, and 1,490 litres with the seats folded down. There’s an additional 25 litres of storage scattered about the cabin, too.
New to the Q4 is a floating centre console with an open storage compartment beneath it, so the important bits are close to hand such as the charging trays and cup holders, with room for a small bag beneath it.
There’s also standard ambient lighting with an optional dynamic interaction lighting below the windscreen said to improve usability and safety, although there’s no specific information on what that means to the driver yet.
If you’re a big music fan, a Sonos premium sound system is available promising an immersive, clear sound experience.
UK Pricing
Prices for the Audi Q4 SUV e-tron start at £46,260 (OTR), with an uplift of £1,900 in cost for the Sportback across the line-up.
The revised Q4 e-tron trim structure in the UK comprises: Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung specifications.
Audi Q4 e-tron Sport 204 PS - £46,260
Audi Q4 e-tron performance Sport 286 PS - £50,960
Audi Q4 quattro performance Sport 340 PS - £55,960
Audi Q4 e-tron S line 204 PS - £49,300
Audi Q4 e-tron performance S line 286 PS - £54,000
Audi Q4 quattro performance S line 340 PS - £59,000
Audi Q4 e-tron Black Edition 204 PS - £52,210
Audi Q4 e-tron performance Black Edition 286 PS - £56,910
Audi Q4 quattro performance Black Edition 340 PS - £61,910
Audi Q4 e-tron Vorsprung 204 PS - £58,960
Audi Q4 e-tron performance Vorsprung 286 PS - £63,660
Audi Q4 quattro performance Vorsprung 340 PS - £68,660
The updated Q4 e-tron will be available to order from June with deliveries starting later in the summer.
———
About the Author
Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.
You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb or YouTube @REV-EV.