The 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron arrives with the brand’s first bidirectional charging system, a redesigned interior built around a panoramic display, and efficiency upgrades that extend maximum range to 592 kilometers (368 miles) on the Sportback performance variant. Audi announced the updated SUV and Sportback models in a press release from Ingolstadt, with European orders opening in May and deliveries scheduled for summer 2026.
Highlights
- First Audi model to support bidirectional charging, including Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)
- New “APP350” rear electric motor improves overall efficiency by approximately 10 percent versus the prior model
- Maximum DC fast-charging capacity rises to 185 kW on quattro performance variants
- Pricing in Germany starts at €47,500 (about $55,700) for the SUV with the 63 kWh battery
Bidirectional charging arrives at Audi
The Q4 e-tron is the first Audi to support bidirectional charging, allowing the high-voltage battery to both receive energy from the grid and discharge it to external loads. The Vehicle-to-Load function delivers up to 2.3 kW of continuous AC power through a domestic socket in the trunk, or up to 3.6 kW via an optional adapter on the side charging port for camping use.
In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the Q4 e-tron also supports Vehicle-to-Home through a compatible DC wallbox, enabling the battery to act as supplementary residential energy storage alongside rooftop solar. Discharge is permitted between 20 and 80 percent state of charge, with the discharged energy displayed in the vehicle as a virtual odometer mileage equivalent. Plug & Charge is now standard, automatically authenticating the vehicle and handling billing at compatible stations.
Drive system upgrades extend range
All Q4 e-tron variants use a permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle, now in a new “APP350” specification. Updated power electronics with silicon carbide semiconductors reduce switching losses, and revised software better leverages DC voltage at lower charge levels. Combined with a new low-viscosity transmission lubricant, Audi reports an efficiency gain of around 10 percent versus the previous model.
The gains translate to roughly 30 additional kilometers (19 miles) of range for rear-wheel-drive variants with the 63 kWh battery and between 16 and 32 kilometers (10 to 20 miles) for all-wheel-drive variants. Maximum range climbs to 592 kilometers (368 miles, WLTP preliminary) on the Q4 Sportback e-tron performance.
Charging performance
Maximum DC charging capacity on the 82 kWh battery in Q4 e-tron quattro performance models rises from 175 kW to 185 kW. A 10–80 percent fast charge takes about 27 minutes, and the Sportback quattro performance can add up to 185 kilometers (115 miles) of range in 10 minutes. The battery can be preconditioned automatically or manually before fast-charging stops.
Powertrain lineup at a glance
| Variant | Power | 0–100 km/h | Max range (WLTP) | Max DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 e-tron / Sportback | 150 kW | 8.1 s | 440 / 451 km | 160 kW |
| Q4 e-tron performance | 210 kW | 6.6 s | 578 / 592 km | 165 kW |
| Q4 e-tron quattro | 220 kW | 6.2 s | 558 / 573 km | 165 kW |
| Q4 e-tron quattro performance | 250 kW | 5.4 s | 541 / 554 km | 185 kW |
Range figures are WLTP preliminary values; SUV value listed first, Sportback second.
Redesigned interior and digital stage
The new cabin is built around what Audi calls the digital stage: a panoramic display pairing an 11.9-inch instrument cluster with a 12.8-inch MMI touchscreen. An optional 12-inch passenger display — the largest fitted to any Audi — adds a customizable standby design. Audi has also retained an optional augmented reality head-up display that projects navigation arrows and assistance prompts onto the windshield as if floating roughly 10 meters ahead of the driver.
Infotainment runs on Android Automotive OS through Audi’s One Connected Infotainment system, with ChatGPT integration in the Audi assistant for voice queries about vehicle functions and the logbook. Two cooled inductive charging trays at 15 watts each, four USB-C ports, and an available Sonos premium audio system round out the connectivity package. The cabin retains 25 liters of small-item storage, a 515-liter trunk that expands to 1,487 liters with the rear seats folded, and a trailer load increased by 400 kg to 1,800 kg on quattro models.
Exterior and lighting
Outside, the upgraded crossover gets a body-colored Singleframe grille, restyled bumpers with functional air intakes that channel airflow around the front wheels, three new exterior colors, and five new wheel designs. The S line trim adds vertical bumper blades in Selenite silver matte (or Mythos black with the black exterior package).
Lighting is one of the more notable upgrades. Digital LED daytime running lights with segmented technology generate four selectable digital light signatures up front. At the rear, second-generation digital OLED tail lamps use six panels with 284 segments and a dedicated algorithm to produce dynamic light patterns. An optional proximity detection function flashes the rear lights when following vehicles approach a stationary Q4 e-tron too closely.
Driver assistance
Standard driver assistance includes parking system plus, cruise control with adaptive-ready hardware, lane departure warning with emergency assist, traffic sign recognition, attention and fatigue monitoring, and active front assist with evasion, turn assist, front cross-traffic assist, and front emergency brake assist. Optional adaptive driving assistant plus handles acceleration, braking, and lane guidance, and can assist with highway lane changes above 90 km/h once the driver activates the turn signal. With online data, the system can hold lane position even where markings are absent. Trained parking, reverse assist, park assist plus, and a four-camera surround view system are also available.
Pricing and market launch
In Germany, the Q4 SUV e-tron with the 63 kWh battery starts at €47,500 (about $55,700), with the Sportback variant from €49,450 (about $58,000). Models with the 82 kWh battery start at €53,500 (about $62,800) for the SUV and €55,450 (about $65,000) for the Sportback. The SUV quattro variants are listed at €55,900 and €59,000 (about $65,600 and $69,200), with a €1,950 surcharge (about $2,290) for the Sportback body. Orders open in Europe in May, and deliveries are expected to begin in summer 2026. (USD figures based on a EUR/USD rate of 1.1727 on April 27, 2026.)
Marco Schubert, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at Audi, said: “With this product upgrade, the Audi Q4 e-tron is not only more modern and striking in appearance but also impresses with an improved interior. New features and numerous improvements to the vehicle make the electric entry point into the Audi brand even more attractive – for families and our fleet customers.”
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