If we told you this fastback SUV is actually a sports car, we would understand your scepticism, but bear with us. There’s more pressure than ever on legacy OEMs to stay afloat with appealing EVs in the face of a brutal onslaught from Chinese newcomers.
This was abundantly clear at last year’s IAA Mobility Show in Munich, where BMW and Mercedes-Benz both introduced their fightback strategies in the form of the 2026 iX3 and GLC with EQ Technology, respectively.
Based on parent company Volkswagen’s MEB (Modular Electric Toolkit) platform, the Q4 e-tron was designed from the outset to be an electric vehicle, so it doesn’t suffer any compromises.
Here, in Q4 Sportback 55 S Line guise, it casts a seductive silhouette, hunkered down on staggered 21-inch W-spoke alloys in platinum grey. The jagged side grille openings, sinister LED headlamps and tumbling silhouette write sporty cheques that this car is eminently capable of cashing in.
2025 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: Specifications
Electrical: 82kWh battery, 2x electric motors
Output: 250kW / 679Nm
Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F: 21×8.5, 235/45 R: 21×9.0, 255/40
ANCAP: Five stars
Kerb weight: 2218kg
Power-to-weight: 8.87:1 (kg:kW)
Official range (WLTP): 503kmMax charging AC/DC: 11kW/175kW
0-60km/h: 2.57 seconds*
0-100km/h: 5.09 seconds*
60-110km/h: 3.37 seconds*
1/4 mile: 13.48 seconds at 170.1km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.980g*
100-0km/h braking: 39.13m in 3.27 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.134g*
Starting price: $99,900 (MY2026)
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2026 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: How much does it cost?
In Sportback guise, the Q4 rivals the BMW iX3, Genesis GV70 Electrified, Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X. A conventional wagon style is available from $105,900 – some $1600 less than this Sportback variant, priced from $107,900 (excluding on-roads).
Note: Since we tested this MY25 vehicle, prices appear to have dropped to $99,900 for the MY2026, for either the wagon or Sportback (excluding on-roads).
But there is barely any penalty when it comes to practicality. With the rear seats upright, the Sportback is actually 15 litres more generous at 535L, but slightly down when they are folded, at 1460L vs 1490 (no frunk, though).
This is premium money, but the attendant depth of German engineering is present and accounted for. It wouldn’t be true to form, however, without a few audacious option packages. For $4700, the Premium plus pack (not equipped on our test car) adds Sonos premium stereo, black pack (including mirrors and roof rails on wagon and an augmented reality head-up display).
Thankfully, the 55 spec incorporates most elements of the Comfort and Style packages which would ordinarily be optional on the entry 45. These include electric front seats, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise, parking assist (excellent feature) with memory, as well as privacy glass, ambient lighting and sporting seats.
Servicing intervals are bi-annual or 24,000km – whichever occurs first. Audi’s six-year service plan is capped at $2050, with a one-year Chargefox subscription included at the time of writing.
2026 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: Interior & packaging
At 4591mm long, 1865mm wide, and 1602mm tall with a 2773mm wheelbase, the Q4 e-tron is a good size for urban dwellers, with a good balance between manoeuvrability and elegant proportions. A cool-looking integrated spoiler on the rear glass doubles as a handle and causes minimal imposition to visibility.
The cabin itself is something of a mixed bag. The octagonal steering wheel is a delight to touch and hold, supportive seats which are beautifully upholstered and ergonomically sound, a configurable centre armrest that is ‘just right’ all paint a picture of comfortable long distance travel.
Less impressive are details such as the centre plinth incorporating a gear shifter and MMI; it looks like it could be brutal to your knees in a side impact, while the vent positioning deserves condemnation in hot Australian climate for missing your face. While we’re at it, the sun visors are woefully inadequate for the same reason.
Our test car’s 11.6 inch infotainment and 10.25-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit’ (instrument panel) worked beautifully in unison, with crisp definition, fast response, and a multitude of configurations that were useful as well as visually pleasing.
Being able to project Waze onto the IP is very welcome indeed. We would, however, like to see how the (optional) augmented reality HUD enhances the experience. The lack of a cooler for the charging pad is pretty inexcusable for this price point in 2026, instead a flimsy plastic aperture ensures your phone becomes a projectile with minimal provocation.
It’s easy to find a comfortable driving position thanks to the wide range of adjustment of the wheel and seats. The supportive S line seats offer just the right amount of support for enthusiastic driving, with the extendable thigh support proving to be a godsend.
Rear seat occupancy is decent too, with a flat floor and headroom not impeded by the sloping roofline. In fact, there seems to be little-to-no practicality penalty compared with the standard wagon SUV.
2026 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: Powertrain & handling
In 55 e-tron quattro form, the Q4 runs a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with 250kW of peak power and a claimed 0–100km/h time of 5.4 seconds, with top speed limited to 180km/h. The battery is listed at 82.0kWh (gross), and in Sportback 55 specification Audi quotes 503km of range on the combined cycle.
Whenever considering an EV, energy consumption and charging speed are paramount. The claimed 17.8kWh/100km is no doubt aided by the slippery drag-coefficient of 0.26. We were able to better that most of the time, even getting into single digit territory with a combination of re-gen and turning off the screen. This might seem like a hyper-miling compromise but it gave us an opportunity to experience the Q4’s phenomenal NVH suppression – a genuinely meditative experience.
Maximum DC charging speed is 175kW with a 10-80 per cent charge achievable in around 28 minutes. 11kW AC charging is also supported.
An unexpected highlight of this car is its almost perfectly-judged steering. Never before have I experienced something that is so light yet precise and confidence-inspiring. Not only does this make parking stupidly easy (in unison with the crisp 360-degree cameras), but it changes direction like a sports car (up to a point). Emergency manoeuvres and freeway gap-hunting are supernatural in this car.
Push into corners and you do feel the 2218kg kerb mass eventually, but the way it arrives is noteworthy; there’s an initial hint of body roll and resistance as the chassis loads up, then it settles into a compliant, predictable rhythm. The all-wheel-drive system gives you strong traction out of slower bends, and the car has the sort of agility that encourages a cheeky backroad pace without making you feel like you’re fighting it.
All of the weight feels concentrated towards the centre, which enables a turn-in eagerness that would not be possible with an engine in the front. Shod in staggered 235/45 front and 255/40 rear Bridgestone tyres, traction is never an issue.
In everyday use, you can switch off most of the Q4 e-tron’s driver-assist systems, but expect some functions (particularly lane-related aids) to default back on after a restart, meaning you may need to re-toggle them if you prefer them off.
On safety, the Audi Q4 e-tron holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (covering all variants; rating valid to December 2027), scoring 93% for Adult Occupant Protection, 89% for Child Occupant Protection, 66% for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 71% for Safety Assist, with ANCAP noting standard fitment of multiple airbags including a centre airbag, along with AEB (including pedestrian/cyclist), lane support and blind-spot monitoring.
2026 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Steering and chassis: The light, precise steering and balanced AWD chassis make it feel agile and confidence-inspiring for a compact EV SUV.
- Real-world usability: A 535L boot (1460L seats down) and a genuinely spacious second row keep it practical despite the Sportback roofline.
- Fast-charge capability and energy efficiency: 175kW DC charging and a claimed 10–80 per cent in around 28 minutes are competitive feats right now.
2025 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: Key considerations before you buy
- Capacitive controls: The touch-based buttons and control logic still demand acclimatisation, even if they’re better here than in some related implementations.
- Cabin ergonomics quirks: The bulky centre plinth and the phone tray execution feel like avoidable compromises in a car with otherwise strong packaging.
- Pricing: The list price story is only half the picture; drive-away outcomes can vary materially once on-road costs and options are added.
2025 Audi Q4 e-tron 55 Sportback: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X-factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
All-in-all, the Q4 e-tron 55 S-Line leaves us very impressed. It is a genuinely premium and sexy Teutonic SUV coupe with efficiency, refinement and driving pleasure in spades. It is, by far, the most convincing rendition of the VW Groups MEB to date, in our opinion.
