Overview

What's New for 2022

The 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Audi offers two body styles, the Q4 e-tron and the more sleekly styled Q4 Sportback e-tron. The entry-level Q4 40 e-tron has a single electric motor, while the top-of-the-range Q4 50 e-tron quattro and Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro have two electric motors for more power and all-wheel drive. The Prestige is the most popular model, but we recommend the Premium Plus for most buyers. We'll explain why.

Premium

The Premium starts at $45,095, including a destination fee, but excluding EV incentives. There's a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500, and state and local credits and rebates are expected to be available. Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, rear-wheel drive, leather upholstery, a flat-bottom steering wheel, touch-sensitive controls, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with four-way lumbar support, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and an LED interior lighting package.

The optional Convenience package includes a wireless charging pad, auto dimming power-folding exterior mirrors, a power-adjustable passenger seat with lumbar support, acoustic front side glass, SiriusXM satellite radio, memory function for the driver's seat and exterior mirrors, Audi advanced key, an auto-dimming interior mirror, an anti-theft alarm system, and a power-operated tailgate with hands-free opening.

Premium Plus

The Premium Plus ($49,195) also wears 19-inch wheels but with a distinctive design. Premium Plus also adds a heated steering wheel with regenerative control paddles, an LED interior lighting package, adaptive cruise assist, and the Convenience package. Optional packages include a Technology package delivering navigation, traffic sign recognition, and a SONOS premium sound system. An optional trailer hitch is available for both trim levels.

The Premium Plus is our recommendation for most buyers as it adds considerably more convenience features for a reasonable price.

Prestige

The Prestige ($58,695) trim adds animation for headlights and taillights, an augmented reality head-up display, a headlight washer system, matrix-design LED headlights, and a Technology package. The available S line Plus package offers an S line exterior with black optic, sport front seats, a flat top and bottom steering wheel, and brushed aluminum interior trim.

Inside, the Q4 e-tron provides about as much space as the popular Audi Q5. The design is sleek and modern. It's also very Audi, mixing the brand's familiar clean and simple design with the latest tech and big screens.

The Q4 e-tron has 24.8 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Q4 Sportback e-tron offers 26.1 cubic feet, comparable to that of the Q5. With the backseats folded flat, those numbers jump to 53.1 cubic feet and 54.4 cubic feet. The Cadillac Lyriq has 28 cubic feet behind its backseat and 60.8 cubic feet with its rear seats folded down. The Tesla Model Y and the Audi e-Tron have even more.

The 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron hasn't been crash-tested yet by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Q4 e-tron gets a comprehensive suite of driver safety aids, including forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and available adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving mode.

Compared to many brands, Audi is ahead of the game with electric models, but it's still chasing Tesla like everyone else. Smaller and less expensive than the Audi e-tron, the new Q4 e-tron should be a worthy alternative to the popular Tesla Model Y. It doesn't offer the driving range or the acceleration performance of the Tesla, but it looks great and it costs less. We'll know more about the Audi when we get behind the wheel.

Audi Q4 e-tron vs. Audi e-tron

Audi Q4 e-tron vs. Tesla Model Y