- Best buy for badge buyers: Q4 40 Sport SUV — €49,480 ROTR, SEAI kept, 19″ aero wheels, rings without the cliff.
- Need range: 45 Sport SUV at €56,480 ROTR — 82 kWh, still grant-eligible; skip 45 S Line (€67,295) unless styling beats euros.
- Sportback: buy the silhouette only — from €67,685 ROTR, no SEAI on MY26 lists.
- Vs ID.4 / Enyaq: same MEB bones; pay ~€13–20k for cabin, badge and Audi dealer culture — or don't.
- Spec traps: heat pump €1,270; Virtual Cockpit often inside MMI Nav Plus (~€2,218); S Line 20″ tax range.
At a glance — August 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New — 40 Sport SUV | €49,480 ROTR* · 63 kWh · 204 hp · ~411 km WLTP tech |
| New — 40 S Line SUV | €53,050 ROTR · same 63 kWh · S Line kit / 20″ |
| New — 45 Sport SUV | €56,480 ROTR · 82 kWh · 280 hp · ~563 km WLTP tech |
| New — 45 S Line SUV | €67,295 ROTR · no SEAI on MY26 after-grants column |
| New — 55 quattro S Line SUV | €75,185 ROTR · AWD · 335 hp · ~510–516 km |
| Sportback shortlist | 45 Sport €67,685 · 45 S Line €71,135 · 55 S Line €77,750 (all no SEAI) |
| Motor tax | €120/year flat BEV |
| Insurance | Typically mid–upper EV groups — quote €950–€1,700 for a 35-year-old with 5+ years NCB |
| Boot | SUV ~515–520 L / ~1,487 L · Sportback ~527–535 L / ~1,460 L · no frunk |
| Charging | 11 kW AC · up to ~175 kW DC · 10–80% ~28 min on a suitable post |
| Towing (braked) | 1,000 kg (40/45) · 1,200 kg (55) at 12% — confirm trim sheet |
| Warranty | 3-year vehicle (yr 3 km-capped) · HV battery 8 yr / 160,000 km |
*Recommended On The Road prices from Audi Ireland's MY26 Q4 e-tron Product & Price Guide: RRP after state grants + recommended delivery (€1,000 SUV / €1,350 Sportback). Always verify live OMV and delivery before you put a deposit down — option packs move the grant maths.
Paying for the rings — when the premium is worth it
The Q4 e-tron shares Volkswagen Group's MEB architecture with the ID.4 and Škoda Enyaq. Batteries, motors and the 400V charge curve sit in the same family. What you buy at an Audi dealer is not a secret drivetrain — it is materials, badge, showroom ritual and residual storytelling.
Against an ID.4 Pro at roughly €36,030 effective after grants, the Q4 40 Sport's €49,480 ROTR is about a €13,500 premium. The 45 Sport's €56,480 ROTR stretches that to roughly €20,500. That money does not buy 800V architecture or a longer manufacturer warranty. It buys softer touchpoints, Virtual Cockpit theatre (when specified), quattro availability higher up the ladder, and the ability to park an Audi outside the school gate.
Badge buyers already know they want Audi. Their job is trim discipline: stay on grant- eligible Sport SUVs, add heat pump + MMI Nav Plus, ignore Sportback temptation unless the silhouette is the brief.
Rational MEB buyers want kilometres and euros. Their job is simpler: buy the ID.4 or Enyaq and stop negotiating with yourself about rings.
Full specs — Irish MY26 40 / 45 / 55
| Spec | 40 | 45 | 55 quattro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross battery | 63 kWh | 82 kWh | 82 kWh |
| Drive | RWD | RWD | AWD |
| Power (IE list) | 204 hp / 150 kW class | 280 hp / 210 kW | 335 hp / 250 kW |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 545 Nm | 545 Nm |
| 0–100 / top speed | 8.1 s / 160 km/h | 6.7 s / 180 | 5.4 s / 180 |
| WLTP range (SUV tech data) | 411 km | 563 km | 510 km |
| WLTP range (SB tech data) | 422 km* | 579 km | 539 km |
| Unladen weight | 2,035 kg | 2,145 kg | 2,235 kg |
| Towing braked (12%) | 1,000 kg | 1,000 kg | 1,200 kg |
| AC / DC | 11 kW AC · up to ~175 kW DC · 10–80% ~28 min class | ||
| Platform | MEB (shared with ID.4 / Enyaq / related Group EVs) | ||
Figures track Audi Ireland's MY26 technical-data tables. The price-list WLTP column prints 553 km beside the 40 Sport — treat that as inconsistent with the same PDF's 411 km tech-data line for the 63 kWh car; use the tech table for planning. *Sportback 40 is not on the current Irish MY26 retail sheet (45 / 55 only).
Why the Q4 still sells in Ireland
- Audi badge gravity — many Irish buyers cross-shop Q3 petrol / PHEV habits into a Q4 rather than shopping ID.4 first
- Cabin polish — leatherette, ambient light and Virtual Cockpit theatre feel a class above volume MEB siblings when well specified
- Grant-friendly Sport entry — 40 / 45 Sport SUVs still show SEAI in the after-grants column
- Dealer PCP culture — guaranteed minimum future value pitches make the monthly number feel closer to mainstream rivals
- Sportback halo — even if you buy the SUV, the coupe exists as aspiration in the showroom
- Familiar Group service footprint — not every-county VW density, but serious coverage in cities and large towns
SEAI grants + VRT relief
Private buyers still stack three levers in 2026: the SEAI EV Purchase Grant (up to €3,500 under the OMV ceiling), VRT relief (up to €5,000, tapering as OMSP climbs), and the SEAI Home Charger Grant (up to €600). Audi Ireland's MY26 guide already prints “RRP after state grants” and folds that into ROTR — which is why 40 Sport lands at €49,480 on the road while 45 S Line sits at €67,295 with no SEAI movement.
| Trim (SUV) | RRP before | RRP after grants | ROTR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Sport | €51,980 | €48,480 | €49,480 |
| 40 S Line | €55,550 | €52,050 | €53,050 |
| 45 Sport | €58,980 | €55,480 | €56,480 |
| 45 S Line | €66,295 | €66,295 | €67,295 |
| 55 quattro S Line | €74,185 | €74,185 | €75,185 |
Crossing ~€60k OMV does not just cost €3,500 once — it also usually means you are already on S Line wheels, higher insurance groups and a steeper depreciation line. Get the pre-grant OMV, SEAI amount, VRT treatment and delivery as separate lines before you sign. Business buyers: private SEAI typically does not apply — model VRT + BIK instead.
Full matrix: SEAI EV Grants Ireland 2026.
Did you know? — insider facts
Under the skin you are adjacent to the car that has led Irish EV sales charts — the ID.4. That is not an insult; it is the ownership thesis. You are paying for presentation and brand, not a different battery chemistry.
Audi Ireland's MY26 price table shows 553 km next to the 40 Sport; the technical-data section in the same guide lists 411 km for the 63 kWh 40. Plan journeys on the tech table and treat brochure outliers as something to query with the dealer.
MMI Navigation Plus (~€2,218) bundles Audi Virtual Cockpit with proper navigation. Demo cars often have it; a sharp quote on a base Sport might not. Ask before the screens sell you the wrong car.
Option code pricing puts the heat pump around €1,270. For Irish winters it is one of the few options that usually pays you back in range and cabin comfort — especially on the 63 kWh 40.
Audi's vehicle cover is typically three years (with a distance cap arriving in year three). Battery cover is the familiar 8 years / 160,000 km class. Kia's 7-year halo and Hyundai's 5-year unlimited framing beat that sticker — price it into the EV6 / Ioniq 5 fork.
40 / 45 / 55 — Sport vs S Line
| Trim | ROTR* | Buy it if… | Skip it if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Sport | €49,480 | You want rings + grant + coherent Irish commute / weekend mix | You regularly need Dublin–Kerry without a DC stop |
| 40 S Line | €53,050 | S styling matters and you accept 20″ / sport suspension | Range and tyre cost matter more than looks |
| 45 Sport | €56,480 | You need 82 kWh and still want SEAI | You will never leave the M50 / school run loop |
| 45 S Line | €67,295 | Design pack is non-negotiable and grant loss is priced in | You are stretching finance for badges and wheels |
| 55 quattro S Line | €75,185 | AWD / 5.4 s is a written brief (towing, mountain winters) | You just want the quattro badge for the driveway |
Sport's 19-inch aero wheels are the Irish range- coherent default. S Line's 20-inch set and sport suspension sell the photo — they do not sell winter M7 kilometres.
Sportback vs SUV — the body fork
Irish MY26 Sportbacks start where grant maths already hurt: 45 Sport at €67,685 ROTR (€1,350 delivery), then €71,135 / €77,750 for S Line and 55. There is no grant-eligible Sportback on the current sheet.
| Dimension | SUV | Sportback |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ROTR (MY26) | €49,480 (40 Sport) | €67,685 (45 Sport) |
| SEAI on entry | Yes (40 / 45 Sport) | No |
| Boot (seats up / folded) | ~515–520 L / ~1,487 L | ~527–535 L / ~1,460 L |
| Rear headroom / hatch | More forgiving | Coupe compromise |
| WLTP aero edge | Strong on 45 | Slightly stronger on paper |
| Buy when… | Family / dog / value discipline | Silhouette is the product |
If you want the rings and the grant, the SUV Sport trims are the coherent path. A Sportback is a design purchase that happens to be electric — price it like one, not like a clever incentive play.
Premium cabin vs MEB software reality
Sit in a well-optioned Q4 and the Audi job is obvious: tighter material choices, clearer Virtual Cockpit graphics, and a more “premium crossover” seating position than a base ID.4. That is the emotional product.
Drive it on a wet night down the N7 and the MEB inheritance is equally obvious: haptic sliders, menu archaeology and the occasional ADAS nanny remain in the family. Software has improved versus early Q4s, but this is not Tesla or E-GMP polish. You are buying a nicer coat on shared bones — not a different operating system.
On the test drive, adjust climate and volume the way you would after a rainy school run. If the interface frustrates you in 20 minutes, no amount of stitching will fix year three. If the Virtual Cockpit and cabin calm you down, you have found the Q4's actual pitch.
Charging in Ireland
- Home — 11 kW wallbox on night-rate electricity is the ownership maths. SEAI home-charger support still stacks; see our EV home charging guide.
- AC public — destination chargers are fine overnight; slow for a coffee stop.
- DC reality — plan around the ~175 kW MEB ceiling and ~28-minute 10–80% class, not Korean 800V brochure times.
- Battery preconditioning — use the route planner / manual preconditioning before Ionity or Applegreen ultra-rapids so you actually see the curve.
- Road trips — Model Y still wins some itineraries on Supercharger routing; EV6 / Ioniq 5 win raw plug-in speed; Q4 wins the Audi pit-stop aesthetic.
Real running costs (annual)
Planning bands at 20,000 km/year with mostly home night-rate charging:
| Cost | 40 Sport | 45 Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Home electricity | €380–€450 | €400–€480 |
| Public DC top-ups | €140–€200 | €140–€200 |
| Motor tax | €120 | €120 |
| Insurance (35, 5+ yrs NCB) | €950–€1,600 | €1,000–€1,700 |
| Servicing (Audi) | €320–€480 | €320–€480 |
| All-in before finance / depreciation | ~€6,500–€8,000 | ~€6,800–€8,400 |
Electricity looks like an ID.4. Insurance, servicing and especially depreciation do not — because you paid more to get in. Public-charging-only ownership erodes the win fast; 20–21″ tyre sets hurt in year four.
5-year ownership projection
Rough private-buy sketches at 20,000 km/year with home charging: about €34,000–€40,000 all-in over five years for a 40 Sport, and €38,000–€45,000 for a 45 Sport, once you fold predicted depreciation, insurance mid-points and routine Audi service. Climb to S Line / Sportback / 55 and the band moves with the higher buy-in.
Versus an ID.4 Pro ownership sketch, you are mostly paying for the rings up front — not for cheaper electrons. Versus a petrol Q3-class crossover, the Q4 still usually wins if night-rate home charging is real.
Depreciation + resale retention
Audi residuals in Ireland often look tidier than volume brands on a percentage basis — helped by PCP GMFV culture and badge demand — but absolute euro loss can still bite because the starting invoice is higher. Early Q4s that looked expensive new softened as MEB supply grew; fresher 45 / post-refresh cars tell a cleaner classified-ad story.
Still assume EV residuals move with grant policy and new-price cuts. The rings help liquidity; they do not make the car a Porsche for value retention.
Common Irish issues
- Haptic / touch-slider fatigue — improved versus launch cars; still a wet-hands complaint
- Early software / charging map quirks — prefer cars on current MMI and charging firmware
- Tyre wear — ~2 t + torque + 20/21″ S Line rubber = budget quality replacements
- 12V / companion battery behaviour — MEB family trait; confirm healthy wake and charge behaviour on used cars
- Option FOMO — buyers who skip heat pump or Virtual Cockpit often regret it more than buyers who skip S Line
NCT pitfalls
- LED / Matrix headlight aim — set load and seating height correctly
- Tyre tread and uneven wear on driven axles (especially quattro / big wheels)
- Brake performance after long regen-only commuting (surface rust / uneven pads)
- ADAS warning lamps after windscreen work — calibrate properly
Side-by-side competition
Brief fork only — not a full vs article. The Q4's real rivals are the MEB sisters and one fast Korean.
| Rival | From (band) | Q4 wins when… | Rival wins when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| VW ID.4 | ~€36k eff. Pro | Cabin materials, rings, Audi PCP path | Purchase price, residuals comfort, volume habit |
| Škoda Enyaq | Typically under Q4 | Badge prestige, Virtual Cockpit theatre | Boot / Simply Clever value on the same platform |
| Q4 Sportback (self) | €67,685+ | SUV practicality + grant-eligible Sport trims | Coupe silhouette is non-negotiable |
| Kia EV6 | €50,525+ | Audi showroom / cabin polish | 800V stops, 7-yr warranty, sharper drive |
Best version to buy
- Most Irish badge buyers — Q4 40 Sport SUV at €49,480 ROTR, heat pump + MMI Navigation Plus / Virtual Cockpit on the order sheet, home wallbox in the plan
- Weekend-range badge buyers — 45 Sport SUV at €56,480 ROTR; still grant-eligible, still 19″ coherent
- Design maximalists — Sportback only with eyes open on no-SEAI ROTR from €67,685
- AWD brief — 55 quattro if towing / winter traction is documented, not vibes
- Rational MEB shoppers — do not buy a Q4; buy an ID.4 Pro or Enyaq and keep the €13–20k
- Used bargain hunters — post-refresh 45 with heat pump, software current, Irish Audi history
Used buyer’s checklist
- Powertrain: 40 (63 kWh) vs 45/55 (82 kWh) — do not guess from badge alone
- Body: SUV vs Sportback; confirm rear headroom with your tallest passenger
- Heat pump present? Virtual Cockpit / MMI Nav Plus present?
- Wheel size and remaining tread (range + replacement cost)
- Software / charging firmware level — test AC and DC charging on the viewing
- Battery State of Health report
- Full Audi service history and warranty remaining
- 12V / wake behaviour; ADAS camera calibrations after windscreen work
- Panel gaps, paint, panoramic roof drains if fitted
- Grey import warranty reality — Irish Audi support is part of why you paid for rings
Broader used-EV process: Used EV Buying Guide Ireland.
The honest verdict
The Q4 e-tron is the clearest “I know what I am” premium MEB play in Ireland. It does not invent a better battery than an ID.4. It sells a better coat, a better badge and a better showroom story — and Audi Ireland's MY26 ROTR sheet makes the honest price of that story unusually transparent.
Buy one when the rings are already the decision and you stay disciplined on 40 or 45 Sport SUV with heat pump and Virtual Cockpit. Walk away when you are using Audi to avoid admitting an ID.4 or Enyaq would do the same kilometres for less money. Paying for the rings is fine. Pretending you are not is how Irish EV budgets go wrong.
Track your Q4 e-tron on odo.ie
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