AUDI Q4 E-TRON

Big-selling electric SUV looks to boost its well-established appeal

- STEPHEN DOBIE

Audi managed something many of its competitors couldn't last year.

It hit a 28% share of electric vehicle sales in the UK, 4% north of the average and enough to meet the government's target (see News, p14).

The Q4 E-tron played a pivotal role in Audi achieving that milestone, as Britain's third-best-selling electric car and Audi's second-best-selling model behind the A3. Whether the proposal to soften the UK's EV sales targets comes to fruition or not, car makers still need these things to sell. So, after five years on sale, Audi's most popular electric car has received an update.

It's a long way from a thorough overhaul, though. The revised Q4 appears little different from its predecessor in silhouette; instead, its changes are all in the details. The hexagonal, 'single-frame' grille gets some fresh design verve, while standard LED lights up front offer an array of driver-selectable signatures and optional matrix functionality.

The Q4's under-the-skin changes have focused not on performance or handling but the potential of its battery. You still have the choice of 63kWh and 82kWh batteries (59kWh and 77kWh usable) and power outputs of 201bhp, 282bhp or 335bhp, the last with Quattro all-wheel drive. A more efficient rear motor and optimised DC voltage management wring a little more range from each variant.