If one Audi the world wanted to see gain a production avatar in the recent past, it would be this – the Q4. Not because of how great it looks, but because of what it packs. Suffixing the Q4 tag is the e-tron badge, which points to a pure-electric propulsion system. What’s more, you can have the Q4 in an SUV form, which goes by the name Q4 e-tron, or in a crossover silhouette – the Q4 Sportback e-tron.

Audi has made EVs before. But, the Q4 will be considerably more affordable. It actually sits in the premium compact space, meaning it will cater to a much larger audience. The Q4 measures approximately 4.6 metres in length, 1.6 metres in height and 1.9 metres in width. The wheelbase, which stretches 2.76 metres end-to-end, is comparable to mid-size SUVs. Apart from the height, which is a tiny bit less for the Q4 Sportback e-tron, all other numbers are identical for the siblings.

As for the luggage space, the Q4 e-tron can gulp between 520 and 1,490 litres of stuff. The Q4 Sportback e-tron has a boot capacity of 535 litres with all seats erect and 1,460 litres with the rear ones folded away. Audi says that the Q4 Sportback e-tron is marginally more aerodynamic, courtesy of that sloping roofline. The wheels range from 19 inches to 21 inches in diameter (variant dependent).

There are two battery sizes and three drive variants devised for the European market. The entry-level – Q4 35 e-tron – will have a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle. That produces 168bhp/310Nm and gets its juices from a 55kWh battery (52kWh usable). With that powertrain, the Q4 siblings can hit 100kmph from nothing in 9 seconds and reach a top speed of 160kmph. Next in line is the Q4 40 e-tron, which also has one rear-mounted electric motor but gutsier. That produces 201bhp/310Nm and comes coupled to an 82kWh battery (77kWh usable). The top speed is the same as the less powerful variant, but the 0-100kmph sprint time is 8.5 seconds.

Topping the range would be the Q4 50 e-tron Quattro. That comes with two electric motors, one for each axle, giving rise to an electric all-wheel-drive system. The battery is the same as the Q4 40 e-tron, but there’s more oomph. With 295bhp/460Nm on tap, the Q4 50 e-tron Quattro can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 6.2 seconds and reach 180kmph (electronically limited) flat out. Range? Audi claims it to be between 341km and 520km (as per WLTP).

As you’d expect, the Q4 siblings support both AC and DC charging feeds. Obviously, plugging the EV to the slowest 7.2kW AC feed would mean hours of waiting before the charge goes from zero to 100 per cent. However, the EV supports up to 125kW of fast charging. Under ideal conditions, that can take charge percentage from 5 to 80 in 38 minutes. Take the Q4 40 e-tron as another example. It can get enough electricity flown into its battery in 10 minutes to gain about 130km of range.

Features? As standard, the EV will come with stuff like a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED-powered headlamps and taillamps, automatic climate control and voice control. Many driver assistance systems, including traffic sign recognition, collision avoidance, Turn Assist and Audi Pre Sense, are also part of the package.

The options list covers features like a panoramic glass roof, Matrix LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control and head-up display with augmented reality. It also has heated and electric seats, three-zone automatic climate control and Audi Connect.

Audi will launch the Q4 e-tron in Europe in June this year and the Q4 Sportback e-tron late in the summer. Its direct rival will be the Volvo XC40 Recharge, which also has a crossover sibling – the C40 Recharge.