$5,400 more for greater power, range

The 2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron electric crossover gets a mid-year update with a new motor and new battery cell chemistry to improve range, acceleration, and charging times, Audi announced last week. Audi bundles the updates in a new Q4 55 E-Tron model that replaces the 40 and 50 E-Tron options, and it starts at a higher price.

The 2024 Q4 55 E-Tron SUV with dual-motor all-wheel drive now costs $56,395, including a $1,195 destination charge. That’s a $5,400 increase over the Q4 40 that started at $50,995, but it only had rear-wheel drive. The Q4 50 E-Tron with dual-motor all-wheel drive was pretty much the same price as the Q4 55 E-Tron, so Audi packages a better value when considering the added range and power of the Q4 55. 

A coupe-like model is on sale as the Q4 55 Sportback for $3,000 more. 

Changes to the Q4 include a more efficient rear motor with more robust cooling that helps boost the output 40 hp to 335 hp, and drop the 0-60 mph time 0.8 second to 5.0 seconds. Audi also changed the battery cell chemistry to boost the DC fast-charge rate from 150 to 175 kw. That enables a 10-80% state of charge in 28 minutes. The Q4 E-Tron now has both battery pre-conditioning and post-conditioning that cools the pack if it gets too hot while charging or driving. 

Overall, the changes benefit what the Q4 lacked in terms of range: The EPA estimates 258 miles, up 22 milea from the Q4 50 AWD variant. Similar changes to the related 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 resulted in an AWD boost to 263 miles of range. Audi offers 21-inch wheels for the first time on the Q4 E-Tron, but expect them to take a bite out of range. The sleeker Sportback models add a few more miles of range, though the EPA hasn’t certified those models yet. 

Audi also retuned the suspension and steering for more responsiveness, which was another shortcoming of our test drive of the 2023 Audi Q4.

The updated 2024 Audi Q4 E-Tron goes on sale in April.