The Volkswagen Group is producing new cars at a rapid pace, and they're all based on the modular MEB-platform.
So after the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq, it's the turn of the Audi Q4 e-tron.
All to find out how a premium car holds up when it's based on a modular platform that's used by other cars as well.
The Audi A3 never suffered from being based on a more basic kind of car, but what does it mean for an electric car?
To find out, we've put it up against a Mercedes-Benz EQA, a car that doesn't have to share its base with 'lesser' brands.
Even though this Q4 shares its platform with cars that aren't premium, it's still a platform that's been designed for electric cars.
That comes with several advantages. If it only has one electric motor, like this 40 does, there's only a motor at the back.
That means you've got rear-wheel drive, so there's more traction. It also means there's more space inbetween the front wheels,
so you can steer much further. In turn, that means you've got a relatively small turning circle. Whilst the car itself is pretty big.
And the chassis itself is nicely balanced. It's a tad sturdier than a Skoda Enyaq or Volkswagen ID.4, but it never becomes hard.
So despite you're moving about 2.000 kg, it never becomes annoying and you'll never get the feeling your spine has to do more work than...
the springs. That makes it very comfortable, neutral and very stable. Of course, it's a big and heavy car, but the mass is positioned...
pretty low in the car, so it won't ever surprise you. If you run out of grip, the ESP kicks in.
It's a nice total package. You don't have any traction problems, so as a whole, it's very good.
And I like the drivetrain as well. This is the 40, which is Audi-code for a version with 204 horsepower.
And that's not a whole lot compared with the weight of 2.000 kg, but you do always have 204 horsepower to play with.
Especially in the city, you do get the impression that it's very fast. However, when you want to overtake a lorry on the motorway,
you'll start to notice there's a lot of work to be done when you're going faster than 100 km/h. And it's not a Tesla-rocket.
As a whole though, it's still a nice drivetrain. It's smooth, there's flappy paddles behind the steering wheel to change the amount of...
regeneration. And the strongest mode could've been stronger if you ask me, because it doesn't come to a full stop.
But it feels very smooth and refined. So despite Volkswagen being quite late to the party, it's still a very good car.
The efficiency of the drivetrain is decent. If you try your best, you can get it below 20 kWh per 100 kilometres. Which translates...
to roughly 400 kilometres of range at the right temperatures. That's quite competitive, and you can quickcharge it up to 125 kW.
Alternating current goes up to 11 kW, but that's only with the bigger battery pack. The smaller battery pack only has one phase charging.
So as a whole, it's quite the package if you ask me.
As opposed to the Q4, the EQA wasn't designed to be a electric car in the beginning. It's just an electrified version of the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
That means the electric motor powers the front wheels, so it's got front-wheel drive. There's nothing wrong with that,
but 190 horsepower sometimes becomes a little too much for only the front wheels.
Even on dry and warm tarmac, whenever you come out of a corner with a tad too much throttle, the ESP starts pounding on the car.
Otherwise, the front wheels are only putting rubber on the tarmac instead of making the car go faster.
You have to control yourself a tad more than in the Audi. Other than that, the chassis is a tad smaller than the Q4, but it's not lighter.
It's more than 1.900 kg, and it's clearly a Mercedes. It's all aimed at comfort. As a whole, for a car that's been converted to electric,
it's not that bad. The Q4 feels more refined and it has a better balance between comfort and dynamics, but this remains very comfortable.
As long as you don't go too fast that is, because if you go beyond the limit, you'll easily find the limitations of the chassis.
That's when you can clearly feel it's not been designed as an electric car, like the Audi.
The drivetrain then. It's got a slightly smaller battery pack, which means you won't get as far. It's less efficient as well.
It's got a range of 340 kilometres, and that's it. Quite the gap when you compare it to Audi's 400 km.
Quickcharging can only be done up to 100 kW. but it does offer 11 kW alternating current-charging as standard.
So as a whole... For a car that wasn't primarily designed as a Mercedes, it's not that bad at all. And it is a Mercedes, I do have to say that.
Nice materials, great screens and Mercedes-Benz User Experience. One of the best systems available nowadays.
But despite the better multimedia system, the Q4 e-tron wins this comparison, because it does everything slightly better.
Also, it's much more spacious. It can fit 520 litres in the boot, whilst the Mercedes only fits 340 litres.
The same goes for the rear seat, it's just more spacious. So isn't there any criticism aimed at the interior?
Don't you worry. If you ask me, the interior doesn't look that premium to me.
Especially at the underside of the dashboard, there are some cheap plastics. And that shouldn't be the case in a car this expensive.
This Audi Q4 e-tron will cost you €62.000, whilst the Mercedes - which has more equipment - costs €65.000. And they aren't even full option,
you have to fold the side-view mirrors yourself and if you want to sync the climate control, you'll get a notice that you were too..
cheap to buy separate climate control. Having said that, premium electric cars come at high prices, but the Audi is worth it.