2022 Audi Q4 e-tron Becomes Canada’s Cheapest Luxury Electric SUV
Consumers looking for a luxurious electric SUV that’s not too expensive can now turn to the all-new 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron, which goes on sale in Canada this fall. A coupe-like Sportback variant will follow in the first quarter of next year.
Smaller than the Audi e-tron that’s been around for three years, the Q4 e-tron is built on the same MEB platform as the recently launched Volkswagen ID.4. Standing 4.6 metres long, it’s slightly shorter than the popular Q5, but the generous wheelbase of 2.76 metres results in a spacious interior.
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In Canada, the only configuration available is the two-motor Q4 e-tron 50 quattro with all-wheel drive. It has an 82-kWh battery (77 kWh usable capacity) and provides a range of 388 kilometres according to Natural Resources Canada. That’s 31 kilometres more than both the aforementioned e-tron and the Jaguar I-PACE, plus 53 kilometres more than the Volvo XC40 Recharge.
DC fast charging makes it possible to go from 5-80 percent charge in 38 minutes. As for output, the Q4 e-tron generates a combined 220 kilowatts (295 horsepower) along with 339 pound-feet of torque. Sprints from 0-100 km/h are achieved in 6.2 seconds, which is fairly quick.
A selection of 19- and 20-inch wheels is offered. Inside, the clean layout features shift buttons on the centre console (instead of a conventional shift lever), an 11.6-inch centre touchscreen and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit in place of the regular instruments.
So, how much does the 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron cost? There are three trim levels to choose from including Komfort at $59,950, Progressiv at $65,350 and Technik at $68,350, the first one being the most affordable luxury electric SUV in Canada ahead of the XC40 Recharge ($64,950). Customers in Quebec are in luck: since the base MSRP is below $60,000, they’re entitled to a rebate of $8,000 from the provincial government. Talk about a steal!
With prices like these, the plug-in hybrid variant of the Audi Q5 (starting at $70,900) sounds far less interesting now, especially with a mere 37 kilometres of zero-emission range.
As for the Q4 Sportback e-tron, the two trim levels are Progressiv at $67,600 and Technik at $70,600. Don’t look now, but Audi’s compact electric SUV is bound to become an unsurprising sight on Canadian roads in the next year and beyond.
