Audi electric cars 2024: the EV range explained

The Audi Q4 e-tron is the most attainable and accessible Audi electric car to date. A premium compact SUV, it is available as a regular Audi Q4 e-tron SUV, or the sleeker Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback coupe-style SUV. Both are practical five-door cars with five seats, and rivals include the BMW iX3, Tesla Model Y, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Mercedes-Benz EQA.

There are three different model variants. The Audi Q4 35 e-tron has a 52kWh battery and a 170PS motor; the Audi Q4 40 e-tron has a 77kWh battery and a 204PS motor; and the Audi Q4 50 quattro e-tron has a 77kWh battery and two electric motors that offer up 299PS (and deliver quattro four-wheel drive). 

The combination with the longest range is the Audi Q4 40 e-tron Sportback, which can travel up to 323 miles between charges. Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback models generally travel a few miles further than the regular Audi Q4 e-tron, thanks to their superior aerodynamics.

The Audi Q4 e-tron has a very appealing and modern-feeling interior. There is an electronic display in front of the driver and an additional high-resolution touchscreen infotainment display in the centre of the dashboard. A combination of physical buttons and touch-sensitive controls mean it’s both easy to use and futuristic in feel, and we love the wing-like shape of the dash panel and the modern look of the steering wheel.

The ‘floating’ centre console is practical, and opens up plentiful stowage space beneath. The Audi Q4 e-tron is also roomy for passengers, with plenty of rear-seat space. The regular Audi Q4 e-tron has a massive 520-litre boot, while the more stylish Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback actually boasts a larger 535-litre luggage capacity, albeit a less practical boot in terms of shape. 

Those looking to buy or lease a new Audi Q4 e-tron can choose from a broad range of trims, including Sport, S line, Edition 1 and Vorsprung.

So far, we've only driven the Audi Q6 e-tron in unfinished prototype form, so we can't give you the definitive verdict on it just yet. However, we can tell you with confidence that, based on our experience, there will be a lot to like when the car is released later in 2024.

The most intetresting aspect is that it's built on a new all-electric platform that's different to most of the existing ones in the VW Group stable. Known as PPE (Premium Platform Electric), it's the same architecture that underpins the new all-electric Porsche Macan.

The official range figures for the car go up to 381 miles, making this the most long-legged of all Audi's electric car offerings. And with 800-volt electrics, it can charge at up to 270kW, meaning a 10-80% charge in as little as 20 minutes. It's fast, too. The regular Q6 can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, while the more powerful SQ6 variant takes 4.3 seconds.

The Audi e-tron was the original standalone Audi electric car, just as the Audi Quattro was the original Audi four-wheel-drive model back in the 1980s. We like the brand’s thinking here; does it make the Audi e-tron a future classic, we wonder?

Four different versions were produced: the 408PS Audi e-tron and Audi e-tron Sportback, plus the 503PS Audi e-tron S and Audi e-tron S Sportback. The ‘S’ models have a discreetly sportier appearance that includes 23mm wider wheelarches, plus rapid acceleration that’s a match for a two-seat sports car.

The Audi e-tron 55 quattro has a 95kWh battery. This gives a pure electric driving range of up to 252 miles. Audi says the e-tron can rapid-charge from 5-80 percent in 50 minutes at a suitably powerful public charger. There was also an earlier Audi e-tron 50 quattro, with a smaller battery and less power.

The Audi e-tron has the same understated styling as other Audi SUVs. Its size and width give it status out on the road, particularly in the popular bright orange launch colour. Audi e-tron Sportback variants have a more swooping rear end for a more athletic appearance.

Inside, the Audi e-tron is sophisticated, with two prominent central touchscreens, and a third electronic display for the driver. The gearlever has a space-age design and material quality is impeccable. A novel option is rear-view cameras instead of conventional door mirrors. They do take some getting used to, however.

Plenty of all-weather traction is provided by the standard quattro four-wheel-drive tech – and this helps drivers make full use of the Audi e-tron’s instant electric acceleration. Oh, and the charge port is mounted on the left-hand front wheelarch: a beautifully-engineered motorised flap reveals it when you’re ready to charge.

The e-tron GT quattro is the Audi electric car famously driven by Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame. It’s an electric four-door coupe, with a powerful and low-slung appearance that doesn’t fail to turn heads.

The Audi e-tron GT quattro is closely related to the Porsche Taycan beneath the surface. It uses the same high-power 93.4kWh battery, which gives a total driving range of up to 298 miles. It also boasts an 800V electrical architecture, so it can use ultra-rapid chargers, delivering a top-up from 5-80 percent in a mere 23 minutes.

Up to 530PS is available when launch control is selected, enabling the Audi e-tron GT quattro to accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds. Two motors deliver electronically-variable quattro four-wheel drive for brilliant balance through corners. The electronic soundscape is similarly exciting.

Inside, the Audi e-tron GT quattro has a low seating position that feels sporty and exciting. The largely electronic dashboard is advanced as well, with a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit driver display and an additional 10.1-inch MMI Touch centre stack. It feels like you’ve stepped into a car from the future, yet it still offers a decent amount of rear-seat space and comfort. Ride quality is excellent. 

The Audi e-tron GT is available in two grades, either standard GT or fully-equipped Vorsprung spec. The standard car is well furnished, while Vorsprung boasts an incredible amount of features and functionality as standard. This helps justify a price increase of more than £26,000, giving it a six-figure price tag…

Does this look familiar? No, your eyes don't deceive you – the Audi Q8 e-tron is indeed the same basic car as the original e-tron, Audi's first electric car. But in 2023 it got a handful of upgrades and a new name.

The new Q8 e-tron improves on just about everything that the e-tron started, with a better driving experience and a longer driving range. It comes in two bodystyles, the regular car and the Q8 e-tron Sportback, which has a more rakish, coupe-like look. And speaking of looks, they're bang up to date with a new grille, alloy wheel designs and paint colours.

Inside, things are fairly similar to the e-tron, but that's no bad thing because it's ultra-premium. Of course, there are still upgrades, including the latest Audi infotainment system and touchscreen setup. And under the surface, there's a huge 114kWh battery pack, which depending on the model can carry you up to 343 miles between charges, according to official figures.

There's also the arrival of the sporty Audi SQ8 e-tron and SQ8 e-tron Sportback, offering Tesla-like performance from no less than three electric motors. As this is Audi's flagship SUV, you'll pay handsomely to get your hands on one, but all versions are very well-equipped as standard.

Audi RS is the firm’s ultra-high performance sub-brand, and the Audi RS e-tron GT is the first hyper-power Audi electric car. Like the regular Audi e-tron GT quattro, it’s built on the same production line as the Audi R8 supercar was, and is more than a match for the R8 in terms of performance, thanks to a 646PS peak power output.

This delivers a launch control-assisted 0-62mph time of just 3.3 seconds. It is incredibly fast and the response is stunningly sharp and potent. The Audi e-diff technology is skilled at balancing the power split between front and rear electric motors, making it tenaciously grippy through corners.

The 800V electrical architecture means the 93.4kWh battery can be charged to 80 percent capacity in just 23 minutes, at a speed of up to 270kW. Remarkably, it adds enough energy to cover 62 miles in only five minutes. The Audi RS e-tron GT has a pure electric range of up to 283 miles. 

The e-tron GT is a surprisingly practical four-seater as well. Its impeccably-trimmed interior has a racy feel, but enough space for four adults, while the 350-litre boot is more practical than any supercar. It really does feel like the car of the future, and is the perfect range-topping four-door GT for the Audi EV range in 2024.