Edmunds: 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge vs. Audi Q4 e-tron

With its original e-tron, Audi was one of the first luxury European automakers to offer an electric vehicle. Last year, it expanded its lineup with the more affordable Q4 e-tron. Slotting between two gas-powered models, the smaller Q3 and the larger Q5, the Q4 e-tron is an all-electric compact luxury SUV. It has a lot going for it but it’s not the only small European luxury EV vying for your attention. Another top option is the Volvo XC40 Recharge. It’s based on the brand’s stylish XC40 but is powered by electricity instead of gasoline. The car experts at Edmunds compare them to find out which one is the better buy.

PERFORMANCE AND RANGE Audi offers the Q4 e-tron in two powertrain configurations: a single-motor base version that makes 201 horsepower and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup good for 295 horsepower. The latter variant accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 5.7 seconds in Edmunds’ testing. It also delivered responsive handling and proved to be plenty maneuverable in tight parking lots.

The XC40 Recharge is also agile and tossable, but it has the bonus of being significantly more powerful. The XC40 Recharge is offered in a single impressive configuration: a dual-motor all-wheel-drive layout with 402 horsepower. Not surprisingly, the Volvo was quicker in testing, needing just 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Additionally, the XC40 Recharge offers a full one-pedal driving mode that allows it to come to a stop without the driver touching the brake pedal. In the Audi, you still have to touch the brakes to fully stop.

On paper, the XC40 Recharge’s 223-mile battery range is disappointing. The similarly priced Tesla Model Y Long Range, for example, has an EPA-estimated range of 317 miles. That said, the small Volvo SUV performed better in Edmunds’ real-world range tests. A 2021 model with a lower 208-mile EPA estimate managed to travel 240 miles, so you can likely expect a newer one with the higher estimated range to exceed that. A dual-motor Q4 e-tron has an EPA-estimated range of up to 242 miles and was also able to beat that in Edmunds’ testing, going 270 miles. The single-motor Q4 e-tron, which Edmunds hasn’t range-tested, offers the most of the group here, with an EPA-estimated 265 miles.