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The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback interior packs luxury, comfort, technology, and practicality in a sharp and futuristic package.
The Audi Q4 e-tron is fast becoming one of the German marque's bestselling electric vehicles in the SUV market. It seems to tick all the right boxes providing efficiency, luxury, comfort, and a high level of safety. Across the pond, it boasts a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
For those looking for a sportier-looking SUV, the Q4 e-tron also comes as an attractive Sportback version with a descending roofline, accentuating the looks of a sports coupe. As with the standard Q4 e-tron, the Sportback hides a raft of technological advances that other cars in this segment cannot match.
The Audi Sportback shares the same mechanical underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq. However, it’s the superior quality of the interior that sets the Audi apart from the other cars in the group.
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It’s true to say Coupe SUVs tend to sacrifice a significant amount of space. However, that’s not the case with the Q4 e-tron Sportback. Customers can now have the sporty looks of a coupe, without compromising space. What’s more, Rear headroom is surprisingly very generous, as is the legroom. Thanks to the absence of the transmission tunnel, the space in the Sportback interior is equivalent to a full-size SUV.
Moreover, the Sportback’s boot has the same capacity as the standard Q4 e-tron SUV, albeit shaped differently. Without sounding too geeky, that’s 535 liters of luggage space. Behind the sophisticated appearance of the Q4 e-tron Sportback, is an intuitive SUV. Its spacious interior, in particular, comes packed with cutting-edge technology. Up front, there are a plethora of geometric shapes which look rather futuristic.
Indeed, the squared-off steering wheel is certainly an acquired taste; however, the shape integrates well with the sharp-edged design of the cabin. The dashboard instruments and the central touchscreen are cleverly positioned toward the driver and provide excellent ergonomics. Notably, the cabin architecture of the Sportback feels classier than its Volkswagen and Skoda stablemates.
Related: Tesla Killers: Audi Q4 E-Tron Vs Volkswagen ID.4
The use of expensive materials in the Audi is certainly apparent. Supporters of Greta Thunberg will be well pleased to know that customers can also specify ‘eco-friendly’ upholstery made from recycled secondary raw materials, should they wish. All Sportback e-tron SUVs come fitted with a configurable, 10.25-inch ‘virtual cockpit’ instrument display panel as standard.
In addition, the steering wheel features intuitive touch-sensitive buttons to control the instrument cluster. The navigation and infotainment systems are primarily operated using the MMI 11.6-inch touchscreen, which comes integrated into the dash and comes with high-definition graphics. Here you will find the usual controls for DAB radio and Apple car play. What’s more, the screen can also be fully controlled using voice commands.
Thankfully, Audi designers have fitted physical buttons on the dash to operate the climate control. Standard safety features that come with the base model Sportback are impressive and include the Audi pre-sense pedestrian and cyclist detection system, automatic braking, lane guidance system, and traffic light recognition.
Another fascinating and innovative feature on the Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback has to be the Augmented Reality head-up display, which is a giant leap forward in technology. This intelligent system provides a dynamic display on the windshield that includes key information such as speed, driver assist systems, and navigation symbols.
The information display is visually superimposed in the driver's line of sight, with the floating images appearing at a distance of around ten meters ahead of the driver. The system can also predict, to some extent, what the vehicle in front might do. The AR head-up display is only available with the higher-spec models of the Q4 e-tron and comes with a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, cross-traffic assist, and Audis Parking System Plus.
Furthermore, fine music lovers can also enjoy the brilliant SONOS premium sound should you choose the top-spec Sportback. Although the Q4 e-tron Sportback comes with three trim levels, an extensive options list offers numerous possibilities for further personalization.
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The 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback is offered in one fully-fledged powertrain configuration common across three trim levels - Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Called the Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron, it packs a dual-motor layout with Quattro AWD. The Q4 e-tron Sportback packs up to 295 hp and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in an impressive 5.8 seconds.
Audi states that its 82 kWh battery pack provides up to 241 miles of driving range for the Q4 e-tron Sportback. The 2022 Q4 e-tron Sportback in the US with an MSRP of $52,700 for the entry-level model, all the way to $60,300 for the range-topper. Audi is on to a winner with this attractive mid-size electric SUV. The premium feel of the interior and an array of innovative features of the latest Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback justify the high price tag. Arguably, this is Audi's game-changing EV.
Waheed is an automotive writer and enthusiast with a vast knowledge of the motor industry. Having acquired a passion for cars at a very young age, he knows pretty much all there is to know about classic German sports cars.