AS I cruised smugly down the A38 in Devon in the fully-electric Audi Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron all was good in the world. Until I saw another Audi in the rearview mirror.

My smugness evaporated away as it dawned on me I would shortly be passed by an Audi e-tron GT quattro, which is stunning to look at and equally exciting to drive.

It does cost around twice the price thoughâ¦

However, it bothered the car snob. To my mind, the Q4 e-tron is a damn fine piece of kit which has beencomprehensively updated for the 2024 model year with a newly tuned suspension, improved efficiency, and enhanced standard equipment.

Audi has also increased charging power and expanded the model's driver assistance systems.

All Q4 e-tron models feature a large battery that provides 77 kWh of net energy. Optimised cell chemistry has improved the DC charging power so that they charge from 10 to 80% in around 28 minutes under ideal conditions.

All Q4 e-tron models also now feature a ‘permanently excited synchronous machine' (PSM) - answers on a postcard please - on the rear axle which the boffins say gives it higher efficiency and greater power.

Its range is claimed to be 339 miles but, in the real world, that's unlikely.

For the record, theQ4 e-tron is a family-focused, all-electric SUV-coupe while the slightly sleeker Sportback model comes with a lower roofline and a sharply sloped tailgate.

It's a good-looking car, refined, comfortable, practicable and easy to drive.

There are three trim levels - Sport, S Line and Black Edition, and every Q4 e-tron comes equipped with LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, a 11.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav, Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital driver's display as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

There's also heated front sports seats, rear parking sensors, three-zone climate control and an automatic tailgate.

The two digital screen makes the cabin look very modern and, as you would expect from Audi, there's real quality to the interior materials. It's a very nice place to be.

I imagine many will also be pleased to know that Audi has kept proper, physical buttons and rotary switches for the air conditioning system. I certainly was.

The flat-floor layout - the batteries are underneath - means that, like the front seats, the rear seats are properly roomy. There's 535 litres of boot space which is nice and flat, so access is easy. Collapse the rear seats and you'll open up 1,460 litres of space.

There's a little bit of under-floor storage, which is mainly for stashing charging cables, but can also hide valuables that you want to keep out of sight. However, there's no ‘frunk' or storage space under the high bonnet.

The Q4 e-tron is a pretty hefty car - a 45 e-tron tops the two-tonne mark even when it's empty - but it doesn't feel like that to drive. Part of that is down to the torque of the electric motor, because 310Nm is a healthy figure, and it all kicks in as soon as you step on the accelerator.

The steering is light and accurate, making it easy to guide around town while on the motorway its rock-solid, though, because it's so quiet, you will notice a little more wind and tyre noise. That said, with its carefully tuned suspension, it rides smoothly.

While the light steering and quick electric motor response do disguise the Q4 e-tron's heftiness at lower speeds and around town, you'll notice it more on a twisting road. It's not a car you would choose for fun. I expect most people will put it in Comfort mode and leave it there. That's what I did.

Euro NCAP, gave the Audi Q4 e-tron the full five stars. Even the standard Q4 e-tron receives front side airbags, with their own head airbags and a central airbag to stop the front-seat occupants from their banging heads together.

There are front airbags for both the driver and the passenger, and the car also detects if there is somebody sitting in the passenger seat, and how big they are, so it knows how much force to use when unleashing the airbag. It also decides whether or not to set it off at all.

All Q4 e-tron models also get cruise control, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors and road-sign recognition as standard.

There areIsofixanchors for child seats on the outer rear seats, as well as the front passenger seat, and the covers for the anchors simply flip-up, rather than needing to be removed. There are also standard electronic child locks for the rear doors.