Automakers typically follow rigid lifecycles for most vehicles, introducing a new generation once approximately every six to eight years, punctuated by a refresh halfway through. As such, it comes as a surprise when an established marque such as Audi breaks from that pattern and makes major changes to one of its products after just a couple model years., which first arrived for 2022.
These flaws are no longer present. Audi updated the steering to feel far more linear and direct without sacrificing low-speed maneuverability. The automaker also adjusted brake modulation, which resulted in more responsiveness and predictable stopping distances. Finally, the suspension was retuned to deliver the taut-but-comfortable ride we expect from an Audi.
Lively chassis tuning and engaging steering grant the Q4 Sportback 55 E-Tron Quattro hot-hatch-adjacent character, making for agile around-town driving. On runs to congested Los Angeles International Airport, the Audi darted through gaps with confidence. Cargo space for hauling luggage is plentiful and can be made more expansive by a folding and removable floor panel in the trunk.
While our test car utilized lots of cool tech, many of the best features still need more polish. The augmented reality navigation is entertaining at first, rendering directional arrows and planting a flag at your destination as they would appear in a racing video game via the head-up display. But after a few trips the prominence of the animated arrows is more of a distraction than we’d like. And the Q4 Sportback 55 E-Tron Quattro’s 11.