[Auto] TEST - AUDI Q4 SPORTBACK 50 E-TRON, THE WINNING CHOICE FOR PREMIUM ELECTRICITY IN THE VW GROUP

[Wassim MH]

 

While the Volkswagen Galaxy continues to grow in the electric market, the group is fine-tuning the range of its offer. The Audi Q4 E-Tron comes at the right time to fill a significant gap on the premium side.
Volkswagen is booming on electric and wants to make it known. After years of supremacy for the Renault Zoé and then since last year for the Tesla Model 3 in the field of "general public" electric vehicles, the manufacturer is the first to have succeeded in scoring decisive points in this area, with conclusive commercial results.

 

 

This revolution has a name, ID. Expertly prepared thanks to a strong identity, a high level of technology coupled with a multipurpose platform (MEB), Volkswagen in just two years has succeeded in its bet: to produce an electric car capable of nibbling sales from the market leaders.

In the middle of two years complicated by the Covid crisis and the shortage of semiconductors, the Volkswagen ID3 ended the year 2020 number 3 in European electric sales (55,000 copies). And the brand even ends the year 2021 with 2 models in the Top 5, the ID.3 (53,000), but also its SUV version, the ID.4 (38,000).

Range Strategy
A great performance, certainly facilitated by Volkswagen's massive size and high-tech industrial tool, its tens of billions of euros in investment budgets, but also by a real success with the public. The second stage of the rocket at Volkswagen will be to take advantage of this success to expand its range of compact electric cars as much as possible through its multiple brands, each with its own specificities. The ID3/4 has cousins, launched and in the process of being launched: Skoda Enyaq for the family side, Cupra Born for the sports side, a future Seat model with a low-cost vocation… Luxury was missing with Audi.

 

 

And the initiative comes at the right time for the brand with the 4 rings: despite the undeniable success of electrified models (rechargeable hybrids) through the E-Tron label, and 2 100% electric models ("Grand" E-Tron and E- Tron GT, cousin of the Porsche Taycan), Audi lacked a more accessible model, truly designed to score points in the field of electric compact SUVs, THE growth sector of the moment.

The strong point: a great visual impact
This is done with this Audi Q4 E-Tron, and in particular in this 50 Sportback Quattro version. Based on the same platform and the same technology as the Volkswagen ID4 GTX, it uses its engine (2 electric motors with a combined power of 299 horsepower) and the 82 kWh battery. Solid fundamentals, but… Audi really wanted to make it something other than a simple rebadged ID4. Very fluid, sporty lines, coupe tailgate, give a real impression of lightness to a rather heavy machine (2.2 tons!), with a rather short bonnet with very suggestive optics.

 

 

In our test version (One Bronze Edition), this impression of quality and sportiness is even more striking, with Audi logos on the rear fenders, black lacquered bodywork trim instead of chrome, and satin rims absolutely spectacular bronze/gold, which would almost in themselves justify the choice of the vehicle. An absolute must, which makes it a kind of RSQ3 of the future, has a very strong visual impact.

 

 

Premium… and sound
Inside, no doubt, it's an Audi. Very stylish cabin furniture, including a slightly off-centered triangular passenger side console, leather, lacquered plastics, and a very beautiful steering wheel once again

 

 

In all respects the quality and comfort correspond 100% to the brand, we feel that the work has been intense and careful to make the perceived quality very convincing and worthy of the 4 rings. And as on the E-Tron 55 that we had the chance to try, all the in-house technology is there to make journeys pleasant, without overloading the driver with information. A beautiful digital screen behind the steering wheel (with a very practical head-up display), an infotainment system with a multitude of display possibilities, all via a readable but not omnipresent screen... clearly the motorist in got his money's worth.

 

 

You don't even need a stop/start button, sit down and the Q4 E-Tron is ready to go. At low speed, under 30km/h, Audi has designed an excellent rolling noise (imposed figure and casually important for the electric driving experience…) evoking both a futuristic flying saucer sound but also modulating a noise a rather velvety "engine", evoking a little the group's large-displacement petrol… sound that goes so far as to "imitate" downshifts during deceleration. Impressive.

 

 

The strong point: safe behavior and exceptional road holding
The behavior of this Q4 E-Tron 50 is also worthy of Audi. Very maneuverable at low speed, precise and dynamic, it becomes imperial in terms of handling at normal speed. We are literally on track. The suspension is optimally tuned, without dragging the driver too far from the road, and the Quattro transmission guarantees perfect traction.

As for the accelerations, they are very sensitive and very rewarding (0 to 100 km/h around 6.5 seconds) but far from the unexpected savagery of a Volvo C40 Twin Recharge (which is normal with 100 less horsepower) . But it is ultimately a blessing in disguise, the machine being only more coherent and homogeneous.

 

 

Consumption point of view, the Q4 E-Tron 50 is relatively sober, with (in a mixed route combining city and expressways) a noted consumption of 17 to 20 kWh / 100km, which would give, according to calculations of averages, an autonomy in the vicinity from 460 to 470 kilometers, roughly in line with the 485 kilometers claimed in WLTP standards. Audi explains in particular that it has optimized consumption, particularly at low speeds, with in particular a "B" position on the gear lever which will allow you to optimize energy recovery under braking, and to drive almost only with one pedal.

In terms of charging time, the machine fills up (80%) in about 30 minutes on a high-power charging station (125 kW), 1 hour 45 minutes on a 50 kW direct current system, 6 hours on most charging stations. 7.4kW/32A and 24-hour public charging on a domestic socket, which remains completely standard for cars in the segment.

 

 

The downside: a very high price
Not really any faults to report on this Audi Q4 E-Tron 50 Quattro. Except… Its price. At 69,950 euros base price (and even 87,920 for the One Bronze special edition tested here), it is well ahead of a much more powerful Volvo C40 Twin Recharge, and more than 10,000 euros at the above the Mercedes EQA 350… and the entry-level Tesla Model Y, which is more autonomous and more… Tesla.

Once again Audi will cap everyone from a price point of view, just as its "big" E-Tron 50/55 was the most expensive in the upper segment, which opposed it to the Jaguar IPace, the Mercedes EQC, the BMW IX3 and the Tesla Model X. A clear choice for a dynamic segment, certainly, but where the competition will be increasingly fierce, and where the premium will have to fully justify its ambitions in terms of price.

Undoubtedly there remains one quality that will place this very convincing Q4 Etron 50 Quattro a little above the rest, homogeneity. It offers the best balance in this segment between performance, power, operating economy and perceived quality. But again at a (very) high price.

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