Audi Q4 e-tron vs Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Ioniq 5 wins this comfortably. Its 800-volt E-GMP architecture peaks at around 240 kilowatts on the car side and completes a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in roughly 18 minutes on a suitable ultra-fast charger. The Q4 e-tron uses a 400-volt system that peaks at 175 kilowatts and takes about 28 minutes for the same top-up. Both charge at a similar rate on a home AC wallbox, around 11 kilowatts, so the gap only matters on longer trips. If you road-trip often and rely on public fast chargers, the Ioniq 5 spends noticeably less time plugged in.

On the entry rear-drive grades the Ioniq 5 claims 570 kilometres against the Q4 45 e-tron's 524, both WLTP figures. Step up the ranges and the picture narrows: the Ioniq 5 Elite drops to 530 kilometres on its larger wheels and the dual-motor N Line Premium to 495, while the Audi 55 quattro claims 488. In both line-ups the cheapest rear-drive grade travels furthest, because the extra motor and larger wheels on the dearer cars add weight and drag. The Ioniq 5 also uses less energy, about 160 watt-hours per kilometre to the Q4 45's 174, so it stretches its slightly larger battery further.

The Ioniq 5 is the cheaper car whichever way you read it, but the two are quoted differently. As of September 2026, Hyundai lists the base Ioniq 5 RWD at $69,990 drive-away on a New South Wales promotional offer, with the Elite at $74,990 and the N Line Premium at $85,490. Audi quotes the Q4 e-tron at recommended list prices before on-road costs: $84,900 for the 45 and $105,900 for the 55 quattro, which pushes its real drive-away figure closer to $90,000. Even comparing list price to list price the Ioniq 5 starts well below the Audi. The Q4 45 does sit under the electric-vehicle tax threshold, which matters for a novated lease.

Hyundai covers the Ioniq 5 for seven years and unlimited kilometres, provided you service with an authorised dealer, otherwise it reverts to five years. Audi's warranty is five years and unlimited kilometres. Both protect the high-voltage battery for eight years or 160,000 kilometres, and both offer capped-price servicing on a two-year, 30,000-kilometre schedule. The Q4 hits back on roadside assistance, with five years to the Ioniq 5's two. On energy the Ioniq 5 is the cheaper to run, using less per kilometre. For most buyers the longer Hyundai warranty is the bigger drawcard, as long as you keep servicing in the dealer network.

Both cars carry a five-star ANCAP rating from 2021, so neither is a compromise. The Q4 e-tron scores higher for occupant protection, at 93 per cent for adults and 89 per cent for children, against the Ioniq 5's 88 and 87. The Ioniq 5 turns the tables on the safety-assist score, at 89 per cent to the Audi's 71. Both come with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and a reversing camera as standard. The common complaint about the Ioniq 5, echoed across local reviews, is that its driver-assist chimes can nag. On the numbers it is close, with each car leading a different column.

The Ioniq 5 is the more spacious car. Its 3,000-millimetre wheelbase is longer than the Q4's 2,764, which shows in rear legroom, and its boot grows to 1,580 litres with the seats folded against the Audi's 1,490. The Ioniq 5 also adds a 57-litre front boot for charging cables, and its flat floor and sliding centre console make the cabin feel open. Both cars offer 520 litres behind the second row and seat five. The Q4 counters with tri-zone climate control that includes rear temperature control, where the Ioniq 5 runs a dual-zone system. For families, the Ioniq 5's extra room is the more useful advantage day to day.

Compared grade for grade, the Q4 e-tron has the edge on pace. The rear-drive 45 makes 210 kilowatts and reaches 100km/h in 6.7 seconds, and the dual-motor 55 quattro lifts that to 250 kilowatts and 5.4 seconds. The Ioniq 5's rear-drive grades make 168 kilowatts, enough for relaxed daily driving rather than urgency. The exception is the Ioniq 5 N Line Premium, whose dual-motor all-wheel drive makes 239 kilowatts and 605 newton-metres, the most torque here, though reviewers note its weight blunts the outputs. Neither car is a performance EV in this form. If straight-line pace matters, the Audi grades feel the more consistently brisk.

The Q4 e-tron makes the stronger emotional case here. If you are stepping out of a petrol Audi or a rival premium hatch, its plush cabin and badge deliver the step-up feel the switch is about. The rear-drive 45 is well judged, with the longest range of the two Audis and a price under the electric-vehicle tax threshold. You give up charging speed to the Ioniq 5, and you pay more for less range on paper. But if finish and brand matter more to you than outright technology, the Q4 delivers them. Cross-shop the Q6 e-tron if your budget stretches to the 55 quattro.

For a family buyer weighing value, the Ioniq 5 is the clearer choice. It costs less however you measure it, charges far faster on long trips, travels further on the base grade and covers you for longer, as long as you service with Hyundai. The cabin is roomier, adds a front boot and vehicle-to-load power, and the base rear-drive grade already includes the important safety and comfort kit. The trade-offs are a firm ride over rough roads and driver-assist alerts some owners find intrusive. The Q4 answers with a plusher cabin and higher occupant-protection scores, but on the everyday family maths the Ioniq 5 does more for the money.