Audi has taken the Q4 e-tron from central Munich to the Bavarian Alps to make a point that should have been obvious years ago: a good EV does not need to turn every trip into a charging seminar. It just needs to get in, get on with it, and leave everyone inside feeling unruffled.
That sounds simple, but simple is where many electric cars still come undone. Some shout about range, while others bury basic controls in a touchscreen cupboard. Some make the driver feel as if the journey is a technology demo with lane markings. The Audi Q4 e-tron, at least in this staged run to Tegernsee and back, appears to be aiming for a quieter brief.
The route ran for about 200km, starting before dawn between Marienplatz and Frauenkirche, then heading out of Munich towards the lakes, villages, and climbing roads south of the city. It is all very European, but the use case has nowhere to hide. City traffic first, open rural roads next, then a spot of climbing and cornering before breakfast. Most owners do some version of that every week, just with less Alpine scenery and fewer highfalutin coffee stop photo ops.
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ABOVE: Audi Q4 e-tron on the road from Munich towards the Bavarian Alps.
Audi cabins lean towards order rather than gratuitous spectacle. The sports seats give proper support, the controls sit where you expect them, and the new digital stage does not seem to demand constant worship. The cabin gets a panoramic display, MMI touch, dual phone charging, a SONOS sound system, and 24 litres of bits-n-bobs space across the doors, console, and armrest areas.
Audi’s assistant system can take a spoken navigation request and send the car towards Tegernsee without needing big hugs. In traffic, the usual assistance systems help manage distance and lane keeping. Stop-start city driving is where EVs should feel most civilised, and the Q4 e-tron promises to have been built around that lack of fuss.
Once clear of Munich, the more useful EV story begins. Audi claims up to 592km of WLTP range for the Q4 Sportback e-tron performance, while the upgraded quattro versions can charge at up to a modest 185kW DC. Some models manage 10 to 80% in about 27 minutes. In the real world, that means range anxiety should not be the main character unless the driver has not planned the day with due diligence.
Rural roads flatter electric SUVs when they are tuned well. Constant speeds keep consumption sensible, instant torque makes overtakes clean, and the lack of engine racket lets the cabin stay very Zen. Herman Verbeek from Audi Sales and Marketing says the car gives you confidence to drive without restrictions.
The Q4 e-tron also gets bidirectional charging, something all future EVs must be able to do to be really useful. Audi used the car as a mobile power source for a small coffee machine and a cooler during a stop near Rosenheim. It can provide power through a socket in the boot or via the charging port outside, depending on setup. That is not life-changing and will probably see little use. Outdoorsy people might find more to do with it though.
Beyond Brannenburg, the route tightened into the Sudelfeldstrasse, where Audi wanted to show the Q4 e-tron was not merely a silent suburban cruiser. The stronger versions deliver up to 250kW and can run from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds. More usefully, Audi talks about stable cornering, precise turn-in, and clean acceleration out of bends. That is where heavy EVs either feel polished or start behaving like you’ve pushed a fridge down a hill.
While the sprint time is nice, it is the breadth of performance that owners will need for daily driving. A car that can crawl through Munich, cruise efficiently, power a coffee machine, and still feel settled on a mountain road is doing the premium SUV job properly. It is not trying to be a sports car, a camper, and a lounge all at once. It is trying to make the ordinary feel expensive and the long drive feel uneventful.
There is still the usual Audi caveat for Australians: European range, charging, trim, and feature details often arrive here slightly altered. But as a statement of intent, the upgraded Q4 e-tron has more range, better cabin tech, and useful power out, all while keeping an eye on what is coming out of China.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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