Does the Audi Q4 e-tron have that spark of genius?
Audi expects its latest electric car to be its biggest seller, next to the A3. It looks great, has a battery range of 500km, and is fitted out with high-end materials, but it has a lot of competition. Now, Audis Q4 e-tron joins the standard e-tron and e-tron GT in the firms range of EVs  and the brand predicts this to be its big-seller. In fact, Audi already admits it expects the Q4 to outsell all of its cars, apart from the ever-popular A3. Needless to say, theres a lot riding on this car. The Q4 is underpinned by Volkswagen Groups ever-present MEB platform. You might have heard of it before because its also used underneath the Skoda Enyaq iV, Volkswagen ID.3 and the upcoming Cupra Born. So as well as the myriad electric vehicles already on the market that the Q4 has to compete with, its already got a good degree of rivalry from within the Volkswagen stable too. Inside, weve got a blend of the very latest Audi technology, with a spacious and practicality-focused cabin. After all, if Audi wants this to succeed, it needs to cater for all sorts of drivers, families included. We got behind the wheel of the Q4 e-tron 40, which uses a rear-mounted electric motor linked up to 77kWh battery  the largest that the Q4 will be available with. Audi Q4 e-tron Audi/PA  Audi claims a range of up to 500km, while 125kW charging capability means that a five to 80% charge will take just 38 minutes. Use a home 7.4kW charger and a full charge will take eleven and a half hours, so not bad for an overnight stop. In terms of performance, the Q4 manages the 0-60mph sprint in 8.3 seconds and will carry on top a top speed of 99mph thanks to 201bhp and 310Nm of torque. If youre after more in the way of performance, then the Q4 50 e-tron is your best bet  it packs two motors enabling a faster sprint to 60mph and all-wheel-drive. The Q4 moves off and away in a typically silent, electric fashion. The low-speed ride is a touch jostling  no doubt as a result of the battery weight  but it soon settles down, offering a good degree of support in the corners. The motor feels more than punchy enough too, and combines with well-weighted steering to provide a surprisingly involving driving experience. We left the car in B mode for much of the time  this leaves the regenerative braking in its most aggressive setting and slows the car down when you lift off the throttle without the need for the brake  though youll have to apply it in order to bring the Q4 to a complete stop. Theres no one-pedal driving here. Audi Q4 e-tron Audi/PA  Visibility is good  though the slim rear screen does make the rear view not as accommodating  and you sit relatively high, giving you a clear view of the road ahead. Audi has nailed it when it comes to the look of the Q4. Its a special thing to see, with that huge front grille dominating the overall design of the car but appearing in keeping with its overall proportions. You can also customise the look of the Q4s LED headlights  a gimmick, for sure, but one that is quite cool in reality. Audi is also offering a Sportback version of the Q4, bringing the more tapered look that has been applied to a variety of models in the firms line-up. It looks good, but to our eyes at least the regular cars design is just right in the first place. Slot in behind the wheel of the Q4 and the first thing youll notice is, well, the wheel. Its almost square and has more than a hint of the Austin Allegros famous Quartic wheel, but actually feels great to use  and it looks cool too. Were not such a fan of the black plastic buttons attached to it, which feel a touch flimsy in operation. Futuristic Audi Q4 e-tron interior Audi/PA  Elsewhere, things are very good. Weve got plenty of high-end materials while theres a decent amount of space in the back too. When it comes to boot volume, the Q4 offers up 520 litres of room with the rear seats in place and this increases to 1,490 litres with the seats folded down. You do get more in Skodas Enyaq, however. Entry-level models get plenty of standard equipment, however, including 19-inch wheels and a full 10.1-inch infotainment screen, the latter of which is one of the best around thanks to great responsiveness and usability. Of course, a smattering of options was also added to our car, including Matrix LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels and the aforementioned steering wheel which bumped up the asking prices - with prices starting at 41,465. VERDICT  The Q4 is yet another accomplished, polished and premium-feeling electric car. It does feel like a turning point for Audi, as it pivots to create electric cars which will more than likely come to replace their regular cars in terms of popularity in a few years. It just feels as though the biggest hurdle that the Q4 has to overcome resides within the Volkswagen Group as a whole. Using the same MEB platform means people will, undoubtedly, compare cars from Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat even more closely and, given that the Skoda Enyaq undercuts the Q4 in terms of price by some margin, it feels like it could be quite the competition indeed.