Audi Q4 Sportback review finds the perfect luxury EV salary sacrifice option
The new Audi Q4 makes the most of government incentives and could be in garages courtesy of novated leases for about $300 a week.
With prices starting from less than $90,000, the Q4 is the least expensive e-tron we've seen from Audi. That also means it undercuts the Luxury Car Tax threshold so it's eligible for fringe benefit tax exemptions, which brings the leases into play and opens the door to a whole new market.
Aptly named as it slots between the Q3 and Q5 in terms of size, the Q4 sits on the Volkswagen group's (that also owns Audi) modular electric drive platform, which has also been used for its Q5 sibling, the groovy VW ID Buzz, as well as the Cupra Born and Tavascan.
The Q4 comes in SUV or Sportback body styles and two performance flavours, the 45 e-tron that just powers the front wheels, or the 55 e-tron that we tested and boasts all-wheel drive power – but also sees the cost push past $100,000.
What do you get?
Looking sleek and muscular in Sportback guise, the 21-inch alloys fill the expansive wheel arches, then on the inside it has a flat top and bottom steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and matt brushed aluminium inlays.
Other nice kit includes three-zone aircon, electric tailgate with gesture control, 'S' embossed leather-trimmed seats, central 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, heated front seats, 10.25-inch driver instruments display and wireless phone mirroring apps.
Our test car did have nearly $10,000 worth of extras courtesy of metallic paint ($1755), panoramic sunroof ($2925) and the $4700 Premium Plus package that incorporates tinted glass, 10-speaker Sonos stereo system, black exterior styling pack and exterior mirrors, along with an augmented reality head-up display.
Grey is the only solid colour that doesn't attract a $1755 premium, with black, two shades of blue, violet, silver, another grey hue and white all metallic options.
The Q4 has been available overseas for a few years but the latest models now available Down Under can charge quicker than the initial offerings – using a 175kW public charger the Q4 can shift from 10 to 80 per cent in about 28 minutes. Three-phase 11kW home chargers can replenish the battery in about 12 hours.
Running costs are among the best you'll find in the prestige realm. The prepaid deal of $1900 covers three services with intervals every two years or 30,000km. It also comes with six years of roadside assist.
All Audi e-trons come with a year's free subscription for the Chargefox network.
How was the drive?
Cornering flat and feeling nimble, despite tipping the scales at 2235kg, the Q4 offers composure and fuss-free driving.
Riding on the massive 21-inch alloys it feels harsh ruts and potholes, yet maintains surprising composure under the majority of circumstances.
Quicker than the front-wheel drive versions, the Quattro models manage the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds. That's reasonably quick – but not insanely fast like some EVs.
The steering feels light and lacks road feel when the going gets twisty. It rekindled memories of Audis from the early 2000s.
Cabin serenity is assured and it boasts impressive boot space that easily swallowed our weekly family grocery shop of about 10 bags, while the door-top bottle holders are brilliant – it's a new benchmark and will be loved by those who like their H2O within close reach.
Audi claims average consumption of just under 18kWh/100km, but we only got close to that on an easy highway journey. Our test saw an average of 21.6kWh/100km
Would you buy one?
Kel: For some reason I didn't gel with the Q4, which is unusual for Audis and my preferences. Great looks and easy to drive, it was nice but wasn't remarkable. We recently drove the SQ6 e-tron which was more expensive but I could see and feel the technology advancements. I could happily live with a Q4, but I'd want more value before becoming an owner.
Grant: While we drove the 55 all-wheel drive derivative, it would be hard to pass up the benefits of the cheaper 45 models. Leasing benefits offer the best bang for buck when it comes to the Q4, which is a great family runabout EV. For those who want badge kudos, it's a predictable drive with anxiety free-range.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
McDonald's promises 12-month price lock on McSmart Meal, Loose Change menu
McDonald's will lock its prices on a range of popular menu items for 12 months in a bid to keep cost-conscious customers rolling through its stores. CEO Joe Chiczewski announced the price lock on Thursday, casting it as a move to help Australians power through the cost-of-living crisis that has crushed spending power for millions in the aftermath of Covid. 'In today's cost-of-living climate, we know the promise of value matters more than ever to our fans across Australia,' he said. 'My commitment to Australian customers is clear, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, you can count on us for great value at Macca's.' The price lock is for the McSmart Meal, which includes two hamburgers, fries and a drink for $6.95. Prices on the Loose Change menu, all set at $4 or below, will also remain in place for 12 months. Sausage McMuffins will sell for $4, hamburgers will go for $2, frozen cokes for $1 and soft serve ice creams for 50c. The company sells more than 600,000 McSmart Meals a week, Mr Chiczewski said. 'It's also available at every single one of our locations nationwide, whether you're dining in, driving-thru, or ordering through the MyMacca's app,' he said. 'No gimmicks, no catches, just real McDonald's value.' McDonald's Australia, a division of the larger New York-listed McDonald's Corp, boast 1050 restaurants nationwide. It has been operating in Australia since 1971, when its burgers sold for 20c. Mr Chiczewski said keeping its products 'accessible and affordable' had remained a constant for the business. 'Like many Australian businesses, we've experienced rising costs over the past five years, driven by inflation and other economic factors,' he said. 'And yes, that means some of our menu prices have increased – we're not denying this. 'However, our focus and commitment remain unchanged, keeping our menu as accessible and affordable as possible for our customers. 'Our price promise on the McSmart Meal and Loose Change Menu is at the core of this commitment and ensures we can keep serving up Macca's favourites for less.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
See the incredible discovery underneath newly bought home in Melbourne's northern suburbs
When Daniel Xu and his wife finalised the purchase of their new home in Melbourne's northern suburbs, he couldn't imagine the astonishing discovery hidden in the property's basement. Underneath the brick home, through a small hatch on the side, was a sprawling model train network dating back to the 1960s. The model, with an extensive number of railway lines and detailed miniature landscapes, was unearthed after Mr Xu entered the undercroft with plans to renovate. 'To do the renovation, I would have to go downstairs to have a look and do some inspections and when I got down I saw this massive incredible train model just sitting there,' he said. 'I was shocked and I immediately asked my wife to come down to have a look - she was shocked. 'It's unbelievable, so massive, so huge.' Mr Xu, who told SBS News there had been no mention of the elaborate setup during the open home inspections, got in touch with the previous owner to find out the history. He was told the model trains were built by the previous owner's father some 60 years ago when they were a child, and had not been used for a while. Coincidentally, Mr Xu is a train enthusiast himself. The hobbyist plans to upgrade the separate control desks - which operate each of the different zones of the train tracks - with something more modern and test what still works. 'I have to clean everything and do some continuity tests on the rails to make sure the power is good,' he said. 'After that, I would like to upgrade some controllers, because now the technology is (a lot more) advanced. 'My friends kids come and play, they don't want to leave, they spend the whole afternoon here although there is no power at all (connected to it).'
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil confirms extra 5001 homes rubber-stamped under signature HAFF policy
Labor has rubber-stamped funding for 5001 new social homes across every state and territory set to be built under it flagship Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), despite criticisms the $10bn fund has yet to build any new homes. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil will confirm on Thursday that more than 18,000 homes are now under the construction or planning using funding from the HAFF, with Labor targeting the creation of 55,000 social and affordable homes by June 30, 2029. Of the 55,000 homes, the HAFF, which offer loans and grants to incentivise developers to build social and affordable housing, will contribute 40,000 dwellings. The latest round of funding is set to deliver an extra 5001 homes with 1535 earmarked for NSW, 1275 in Victoria, and 1005 in Queensland. Investment is also expected to build 515 homes in Western Australia, 149 Tasmania, 335 in South Australia and 187 across the ACT and Northern Territory. The fund has been criticised for having yet to deliver any purpose-built homes since it was established on November 1, 2023, with former opposition leader Peter Dutton threatening to scrap the policy if the Coalition claimed government. As it stands, 370 homes have been delivered through the HAFF through instances of developers releasing more homes onto the market, or the purchasing or conversion of homes into affordable or social stock. Lagging construction times for homes are also an issue. Across Australia it takes an average of 10.3 months to build a detached house from commencement to completion, with townhouses taking 12.9 months and build times for an apartment stretching out to 27.8 months, according to ABS figures from October 2024. However fresh figures released on Wednesday found housing approvals had increased by 3.2 per cent to 15,212 in May, however the pipeline still puts Australia behind the ambitious 1.2 million National Housing Accord target. Ms O'Neil welcomed the speedy approvals of the 5001 homes, and said the program was 'hitting its stride'. 'Every one of these homes represents hope for a family doing it tough – whether it's a mum escaping violence, a veteran needing somewhere safe, or a nurse priced out of her own community,' she said. 'This round was progressed much faster than previous rounds with more than 18,000 homes now in stages of building and planning, a clear sign that the HAFF is hitting its stride. 'We're creating a pipeline of homes that will make a difference for decades.' In NSW, where $1.2bn of funding has been committed across 14 projects, state Housing Minister Rose Jackson said dwellings will give 'thousands of people the stability and dignity they deserve'. 'In just one year, we've delivered the biggest increase in public, social and affordable housing for NSW in over a decade – this new funding means we can build even more,' she said.
