ELECTRIC VEHICLES have still not totally won me over.
I’m a petrol head at heart — but after spending a week with the new Audi Q4 e-tron fully electric SUV, I can see how this would be an EV you could live with as a daily driver.
But only if you have your own home charger as running the gauntlet of the unreliable EV infrastructure is not something I could cope with.
And if you are buying an electric car to help ‘save the planet’ then you might want home solar panels to assist with charging it.
That’s because if your electricity is provided from a fossil fuel power station then you are kind of missing the point.
My test car was the Q4 e-tron 50 quattro S Line version — black in colour so it really looks an attractive machine.
S-Line trim means it comes fitted with large 20-inch alloys, a full bodykit and sports suspension.
KEY FACTS:
Audi Q4 e-tron
Cost: From €58,900
Engine: Dual electric motors
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 460Nm
0-100kph: 6.2secs
Top Speed: 180kph
Battery: 82kWh lithium-ion
Range: 489km
Real world range: 400km
Emissions: 0g/km
Drivetrain: quattro all-wheel drive
Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2021)
Rivals: Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, Mercedes EQA, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Polestar 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6
And as it’s a quattro model it also comes with Audi’s legendary all-wheel drive system for superior grip in all weather conditions and off-road ability.
There’s dual electric motors, one powering the front axle and one on the rear, and combined they produce 295 bhp and 460 Nm and they draw their energy from a 82 kWh lithium-ion battery.
That’s a decent amount of power so the Q4 e-tron is good for a 6.2 seconds sprint to 100 kph and a top speed of 200 kph.
It’s not blisteringly fast like the Audi e-tron GT or the insanely fast RS model.
But the power delivery is instant, smooth and virtually silent, although put it in Dynamic mode and the computer generated engine noise is at its loudest.
And this digital whirring sound reacts with the EV speeding up and slowing down so actually helps you reconnect with the car, in the same way you would with a sportscar and its rip-roaring engine and exhaust.
The Q4 e-tron is a good size, not too big, so easily manoeuvred and the S-Line sports suspension means it is fun through the bends too.
And even though it’s heavy — tipping the scales at 2,135kg, it has its big battery to thank for that — it hides its weight well.
It’s practical too, with a big 520-litre boot that rises to 1,490 litres with the rear seats folded down.
Plus it can tow 1,200kg, although your battery life will take a big hit if you are hauling big loads in an EV.
This Q4 e-tron has a range of 489 km and after a full night’s charge I was left with 400 km.
Speaking of charging, it takes over 11 hours using a 7.4 home wallbox and 31 minutes to go from 10-80 per cent using a 135 kWh fast charger.
It’s gorgeous inside, Audi cabins always are, and the S-line front sports seats are superbly comfy and figure-hugging, plus heated and electronically controlled.
And Audi have the good sense to have just the right amount of physical buttons, simply toggle switches for the heating that can be controlled without taking your eyes off the road.
The Q4 e-tron is a brilliant EV but an expensive one starting at €58,900.
Audi Q8 e-tron
AUDI have created an all- electric version of its Q8 SUV.
Called the Q8 e-tron it comes in three different flavours.
You have the regular SUV that I’m testing this week, and then there’s a Sportback version of it.
Then you have an even sportier version called the SQ8 e-tron and again it comes with a Sportback variant.
But the Q8 isn’t the biggest SUV in the Audi range.
The Q7 is larger and has seating for seven people.
The Q8 can only seat five. Confused? Me too.
The Q8 is sleeker, though, more coupe-like in its appearance, with a sloping rear roof, even more so for the Sportback model but all three are very fine looking machines indeed.
My test car was the Q8 e-tron 55 S Line and it came in a gorgeous Plasma Blue Metallic exterior paint with massive 21-inch alloys with red painted brake calipers hiding behind them, .
Plus an optional black styling package, so this big EV SUV had serious road presence.
KEY FACTS:
Audi Q8 e-tron
Cost: From €86,400
Engine: Dual electric motors
Power: 408bhp
Torque: 664Nm
0-100kph: 5.6secs
Top Speed: 200kph
Battery: 114kWh lithium-ion
Range: 573km
Real world economy: 386km
Emissions: 0g/km
Drivetrain: quattro all-wheel drive
Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2019)
Rivals: Mercedes-Benz EQC, Tesla Model X, BMW iX, Jaguar i-Pace
Power comes from du al electric motors powering all four wheels and combining to produce 300 kW.
That’s equivalent to 408 bhp and 664 Nm of torque so this Q8 e-tron is quick, taking just 5.6 seconds to travel from 0-100 kph.
And it has a top speed of 200 kph, pretty impressive as it’s heavy, weighing 2,585 kg.
Still, it’s very smooth and refined to drive with plenty of power when you need it.
But not scary acceleration like some EVs — it’s just smooth and linear.
In Dynamic mode, the adaptive air suspension drops the ride height for better handling and it is very sure of itself when cornering hard.
It’s too big of a machine to be throwing it around the bends like a hot-hatch, but that air suspension smooths out the road ahead as you glide along.
As well as permanent quattro all-wheel drive, the Q8 e-tron comes with Off-road and All-road driving modes so you can venture off the tarmac and get its wheels dirty.
But I doubt if many would dare drive something as prestige as this anywhere other than a muddy field or county lane.
The Q8 e-tron’s big 114 kWh lithium-ion battery gives it a potential range of 573 km but I don’t know what was up with my 7.4 kW home wallbox because after a full night’s charge I only had 386 km of range — and charging at home can take over 11 hours.
However, it does support fast charging up to 170 kWh DC so can be charged from 10-80 per cent in just 30 minutes.
It’s beautiful inside with dual central screens, one for the infotainment and the one below is for the climate, plus the driver has a customisable digital cockpit.
You can go crazy with the options, like cameras instead of door mirrors, but it starts at €86,400 and my test car with all its goodies would cost you €121,496!
