Cabin controls

The updated cabin feels much more modern, but Audi has moved more everyday controls into the touchscreen, including climate functions. It looks cleaner, but I still prefer proper buttons for the things you use constantly.

Introduction

Let’s be honest: when the Audi Q4 e-tron first arrived on our shores, it felt a bit like a corporate meeting in car form. It was sensible, well-made, and entirely predictable, but it lacked that bit of ‘Vorsprung’ magic that makes you feel like you’ve bought something special. Fast forward to the 2026 refresh, and Audi has clearly been listening to the grumbles from the UK motorway service stations. They’ve given the interior a massive digital glow-up and tweaked the motors to ensure you aren’t just keeping up with the Joneses, you’re silently sailing past them.

Performance & Driving Dynamics

The headline act for this update is the new ‘45’ powertrain. It replaces the old, slightly lethargic entries with a punchy 286 PS motor. In the real world, this translates to a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. It’s not 'ludicrous' speed, but it’s more than enough to merge into traffic without breaking a sweat. If you really want to pin your passengers to their seats, there’s a 340 PS '55 quattro' version, but for most UK families, the rear-wheel-drive 45 is the sweet spot. It feels lighter on its feet and, crucially, offers the best range.

Where the Audi truly shines is in its ride quality. While rivals like the Tesla Model Y can feel like they’re trying to count every pebble on the road, the Q4 e-tron glides. It’s exceptionally composed, even on rough urban roads and faster, flowing B-roads, the Q4 e-tron stays calm and comfortable rather than busy or unsettled. Audi has also added acoustic glass as standard, making the cabin one of the quietest places to spend a traffic jam. The only fly in the ointment? The brakes. They still have that slightly ‘spongy’ feel common to many EVs that struggle to blend regenerative and friction braking smoothly. You get used to it, but it’s not as crisp as a BMW iX3.

Interior, Tech & Practicality

This is where the 2026 update really earns its keep. The previous infotainment system was fine, but it felt a bit 'last generation' compared to the spaceship-like cabins of its rivals. Now, every Q4 gets a gorgeous 12.8-inch MMI touchscreen and an 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit that looks like it’s been lifted straight from the more expensive Q8 e-tron. It’s fast, crisp, and praise be, Audi sadly has deleted the climate control switch, so it does mean relying on the touch screen.

Practicality remains a strong point. Because it’s built on a dedicated electric platform, there’s no massive hump in the floor, meaning three kids can actually sit in the back without a domestic incident breaking out over legroom. The 520-litre boot is generous, though it’s worth noting that the Sportback version actually offers slightly more space (535 litres) if you don't mind the sloping roofline. One minor gripe: the touch-sensitive sliders on the steering wheel are still here. They’re a bit like a toddler, occasionally helpful, but often doing something you didn't ask for at the wrong time.

Running Costs & Ownership

For the UK company car driver, the Q4 e-tron is a total easy car to recommend. With a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate of just 2%, the monthly tax savings compared to a diesel Q5 are enough to fund a very nice annual holiday. For private buyers, the story is about efficiency. We found the Q4 45 would comfortably return about 3.8 miles per kWh in mixed driving, which should give you a real-world range of about 260-270 miles. In the depths of a British winter, expect that to drop toward 200 miles, so the optional heat pump is a box worth ticking.

Charging is respectable, if not quite very competitive. At 175 kW, a 10-80% top-up takes about 28 minutes at a rapid charger. That’s enough time for a lukewarm coffee and a sandwich, but you’ll still be watching Kia EV6 owners finish their charge ten minutes before you. Still, for most people who charge at home overnight, this is a moot point.

Verdict

The 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron feels like a car that has finally grown into its skin. It doesn't scream about being electric; it just gets on with the job of being a very premium, very comfortable, and now very high-tech family SUV. It lacks the raw speed of a Tesla or the outright value of its sister car, the Skoda Enyaq, but it offers a level of polish and 'feel-good factor' that neither can quite match. If you want a stress-free transition to electric driving without sacrificing the buttons and build quality you’re used to, this is arguably the best all-rounder on sale today.