Used Audi Q4 Buying Guide
The Audi Q4 e-tron is Audi’s electric family SUV, sitting between the Q3 and Q5 in size and sharing its underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq. On sale in the UK since 2021, it appeals to buyers who want a premium-feeling electric car without stepping up to the larger, dearer Q8 e-tron. It works well as a family all-rounder: a genuinely spacious rear cabin, a usable boot, and the hushed, easy driving manner you’d hope for from an EV wearing four rings. The Sportback version trades a little boot practicality for sleeker looks.
Engines and trims
There are no combustion engines here — the Q4 is electric only. Early UK cars came as the 35 e-tron, with the smaller battery (around 52kWh usable) and a real-world range that suits mostly local driving. The 40 e-tron is the sweet spot for most buyers, pairing the larger battery (around 77kWh usable) with rear-wheel drive and a realistic 200-plus miles between charges in mixed use. The 45 and 50 e-tron quattro versions add a second motor for four-wheel drive and stronger performance, at some cost to efficiency. A 2023-on update brought more efficient motors, faster charging and improved range across the line-up, so later cars are worth a premium if the budget allows.
Trim-wise, Sport and S line make up most of the used supply, with S line adding sharper styling and sports seats. Edition 1 and Vorsprung cars are well loaded — matrix LED headlights, SONOS audio and a panoramic roof feature on higher specs. Check whether the optional heat pump is fitted, as it helps winter range, and confirm which charging cables come with the car.
What to check before buying
Battery health is the big one. The drive battery carries Audi’s transferable warranty — typically eight years or 100,000 miles against excessive capacity loss — so verify the car’s age and mileage leave meaningful cover remaining, and ask the seller for a recent battery health report if available. On a test drive, check the indicated range against the battery percentage for obvious shortfalls.
Early cars had their share of software niggles, particularly with the infotainment and driver-assistance systems, and many were resolved with updates — confirm the car is on current software and that any outstanding recalls have been completed. EVs are heavy, so inspect tyres for uneven inner-edge wear and wheels for kerb damage. Try both AC and DC charging behaviour if you can, or at least confirm the charging flap, cables and preconditioning functions all work. Finally, brakes on EVs can suffer from light use, so listen for grinding or binding discs after regenerative-heavy driving.
Running costs
Charged at home on an off-peak EV tariff, a Q4 is cheap to run per mile compared with a petrol Q3 or Q5; rely on public rapid charging and the sums get considerably less attractive. Servicing is simpler than a combustion Audi, with longer intervals and fewer consumables, though tyre wear can be higher due to the weight. Insurance sits in typical premium-SUV territory — the quattro versions cost more to cover than the rear-drive 35 and 40. Company-car and salary-sacrifice buyers benefit from low benefit-in-kind rates, which is why there is now healthy used supply of ex-fleet examples: check these have complete digital service records.
Verdict
The Q4 e-tron is one of the more rounded premium electric SUVs, with real space, a quiet cabin and a badge that holds appeal. A 40 e-tron in S line trim with heat pump and full history is the pick for most. Avoid tired early-software cars and confirm battery warranty cover, and it makes a very easy EV to live with.
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