Overview

If you’re looking to combine a premium badge with a raised driving position, the Audi Q2 is still one of the more appealing small SUVs out there (despite its age). While almost all rival brands kick off their SUV ranges with something the next size up, the Q2 is most definitely city sized.

Being an even-numbered SUV means the Q2’s aiming for style over practicality, but its boxy body is still as useful as any hatchback. It has many rivals in this ever-competitive market segment but, instead of budget opposition like the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke, its closest natural rival is the MINI Countryman and left field DS 3 Crossback. Both the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA are a bit bigger and a fair bit pricier.

With a wide range of punchy, if conventional engines, a well-made interior and plenty of options to make the exterior and interior of your car as individual as you like, the Q2 is still a very attractive car to buyers who want to stand out without having to sacrifice practicality or usability.

We’ve driven the Audi Q2 and SQ2 extensively, and you can find out more about how we test on Parkers via our dedicated explainer page. Here’s what we found when we tested all versions of the car on some of the country’s most demanding roads.

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Practicality 

The Audi Q2 is a compact SUV and, at less than 4.2m in length, it’s considerably shorter than an Audi A3 Sportback or Q3. Don’t expect the laws of physics to have been stretched too much by Audi’s engineers — it’s roomy enough in the front, but there are compromises in the rear.

If you only occasionally carry rear-seat passengers, then it’s likely to fit your needs. We found that two adults can fit back there, but there is less room for legs and heads than you’ll find in larger SUVs. All but the most long-legged children should be fine, however.

While the Q2’s compact dimensions mean it’s not the most spacious SUV out there, it does mean it’s very easy to drive around town and to wiggle into tight parking spaces. Plenty of glass, a square shape and good visibility make it very easy to manoeuvre, so you’d do well to struggle nipping around town in this car.

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Luggage and boot space

The Q2’s boot measures 405 litres in capacity with the rear seats up, placing it behind the larger loadbays you’ll find in the bigger MINI Countryman, BMW X1 or Mercedes-Benz GLA. Even the similarly small Ford Puma, Renault Captur and Skoda Kamiq have more boot space.

Flop the rear seats forward and you’ll boost load space to a more useful 1,050 litres. This is done with a conventional 60/40 split in most trims while the seats don’t do anything clever like recline or slide back and forth. Opt for the Vorsprung spec and you do at least get 40/20/40 split folding rear seats.

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Interior 

The cabin of the Q2 is probably its strongest asset with the quality of materials used impressing, even compared to newer rivals. Almost unchanged since 2016, the car has one of Audi’s oldest interior designs. While newer models eschew almost all physical buttons in favour of a pair of screens, the Q2 retains a high-set infotainment display and a centre console covered in switches.

That’s actually favourable for some. We’re not the biggest fans of Audi’s later interiors, and the Q2’s physical climate controls and rotary dial to configure its infotainment are far easier to use on the move. They also have the benefit of staying free of mucky fingerprints. While the material quality lower down the interior of the car isn’t quite as good as some pricier Audis, it’s still one of the most solid and plush-feeling interiors in the class, so you won’t feel too short-changed.

Our New Cars Editor Alan Taylor-Jones ran a Q2 over an extended period, and concluded about the ageing interior: ‘I’d argue 2016 was about the high point of Audi interior design and quality. You’ll find far more soft touch plastics, sturdy controls and easy to use physical switches and dials than more recent offerings, while I find the infotainment system far less distracting to use on the move.’

The basic architecture of the dashboard is inherently logical and the four, swivelling round air vents lend a classy touch. Audi is offering a slew of personalisation on the Q2 and, depending on trim level, you can pep up the cockpit with a choice of body-coloured trim, silver accents and other highlights.

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Infotainment and tech

Opt for Sport trim and up and you’ll get Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, replacing analogue dials with digital ones that can show a wealth of information. You can have a conventional layout with traditional dials and an information panel in the middle, a full screen sat nav map or displays that show music, phone or trip computer information more prominently. It’s well worth having.

All trims get an 8.3-inch infotainment system that’s controlled by a rotary dial between the seats, much like BMW’s iDrive. The screen isn’t touch sensitive which can make putting an address into the sat nav irritation when you’re stationary, although it does prove safer to use on the move. That’s helped by a selection of physical shortcut icons around the dial.

All models get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity as standard, but you’ll need to upgrade to Sport trim or raid the options list on Technik trim if you want sat nav and online services including an app that allows you to lock and unlock the car remotely. Alan said that it was lacking the latest features, but that was not the issue you might think.

‘The option of tapping in an address on a touchscreen when stationary would be nice, but it’s easy to scroll through menus using the dial and the physical shortcuts around it make navigating even easier. Similarly, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto would be handy, but plugging into a USB port is no hardship and charges my phone quicker than the wireless charging pad anyway,’ he said.

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What’s it like to drive?

The Audi Q2 is based on the oily bits that underpin a host of VW Group small cars, including the VW Golf and Audi A3. Unsurprisingly it drives rather like a compact, slightly taller family hatchback and certainly not like a lumbering SUV. It isn’t at all daunting to pilot around town and the car is easy to place on the road.

Engines for the regular Q2 range are limited to the 1.0-litre three-cylinder 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI, with the diesel and 40 TFSI now dropped from the range. The smaller of the two is nippy around town but can feel a little sluggish on the open road (0-62mph takes 11.2 seconds).

We’d recommend the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI as it’s the best balance between performance, running costs and price, whilst proving one of the most refined engines in the range. If you’re interested, 0-62mph takes a perfectly respectable 8.6 seconds.

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All Q2s come with progressive steering, which increases the speed the more you turn the wheel. That means it feels reassuringly stable on the motorway but doesn’t need much arm twirling when negotiating a multi storey carpark for instance. Some of our testers like the system and some loathed it. Alan said: ‘the standard progressive steering has only two turns lock-to-lock and is designed to get quicker the more you turn the wheel. That’s great when you’re manoeuvring, but the system did feel a little nervous and unnatural, even at the end of our loan.’

Up the pace and it takes corners well, with its extra height over a similarly sized A3 hatchback being unnoticeable. The steering is weighty but satisfyingly precise, giving the driver a good sense of control. Meanwhile, the engine itself offers a glut of power from low engine speeds while proving more than quick enough for most drivers if you work it harder.

The vast majority of Q2s come with front-wheel drive and this will suit most owners down to the ground. Yes, you can chirrup the front wheels if you nip out of a damp T-junction, but traction for the most part is excellent even with the punchy turbocharged engines. However, 35 TDI gets the option of four-wheel drive with the 40 TFSI and SQ2 getting it as standard. If you live in a remote area and want the security blanket of improved traction it’s worth considering.

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The Audi Q2 is an easy car to drive and can be pretty comfy, with a mature quality to the suspension that absorbs the worst road bumps to leave the cabin remarkably serene. This is best achieved on the smaller wheels, however – 16-inch rims are standard on the entry-level Technik and give the most cushioned ride. Every size up will damage the ride quality a little – Sport models come with 17-inch wheels, while S Line adds 18s, generating more patter over broken surfaces.

Sports suspension is standard on Black Edition models which, when combined with big 19-inch wheels, gives the harshest ride of all. Top spec Vorsprung also gets 19-inch wheels but in conjunction with adaptive suspension that allows you to stiffen or soften the ride.

Hot SQ2 models get even lower and stiffer suspension with adaptive again standard on Vorsprung models. They are on the firm side but not uncomfortably so, especially with the switchable suspension. The standard seats prove comfortable even after a whole morning spent in them and the range of adjustment in the front is sufficient for even very tall drivers.

Noise is well suppressed, although you should note the 1.0 TFSI is a buzzier, louder engine than its four-cylinder compatriots. The 1.5 TFSI is especially refined – we struggled to tell when its Cylinder On Demand system was operating in two- or four-cylinder mode.

What’s the hotter SQ2 like to drive?

For those more interested in MPH than MPG, the SQ2 is the fastest model in the range. It’s certainly rapid with a 4.8sec 0-62mph time, but it’s pricey to buy and doesn’t make the Q2 a particularly fun SUV as we’ll come onto shortly.

Like many other all-wheel drive cars in the VW Group, the SQ2 (below) provides safe and assured handling without much drama. Traction and grip levels are impressive in the bends – you really have to push the SQ2 hard for it to begin to lose grip – and the steering is quick to respond.

However, it doesn’t feel as involving as the much cheaper Ford Puma ST, as its steering doesn’t feed back an awful lot to the driver. There’s little to complain about in terms of how quickly you can cover ground, though – the SQ2 is a very well-sorted car that gets around corners without drama.

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Ownership and running costs

No Q2 is particularly cheap by small SUV standards, although it does undercut the cheapest high-rise offerings from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus. With no hybrid models in the range, CO2 emissions are nothing to write home about.

Fuel economy is competitive. Alan said, ‘I’ve seen 45mpg and above regularly from my 35 TFSi S Tronic. In fact, a particularly gentle run saw an impressive 48mpg average. However, accelerate with a modicum of enthusiasm a few times on your trip and that figure quickly drops to below 40mpg.’

However, the Q2 holds onto its value very well which helps make PCP costs surprisingly affordable. In terms of ongoing costs, the diesels are the most efficient but the 30 and 35 TFSI petrols will easily manage over 40mpg in the real world.

Safety

The Audi Q2 received five stars from Euro NCAP when it was tested in November 2016, scoring particularly well for adult occupant protection as well as child occupant protection. It’s worth pointing out that these tests have got significantly tougher, so its impossible to directly compare with newer small SUVs.

Top models get side assist and cross traffic assist at the rear, both of which aim to stop you from being sideswiped by passing motorists.

There’s also the Traffic Jam Assist accessory, which uses cameras and ultrasonic sensors to drive in congestion autonomously at speeds of up to 40mph – the thinking being that microchips are more reliable than human beings in dull city driving. Also available is Adaptive Cruise Assist, which does the same for higher-speed driving.

What models and trims are available?

There are just two engines to choose from in the Q3 range, both being petrols and badged the 30 and 35 TFSI. If you’re after a much quicker (and more expensive) Q2, don’t forget the pleasingly rapid SQ2 model. Although it’s getting on and isn’t the best fast small car to drive, it’s still good fun thanks to having so much power.

There are three trim levels to choose from. The entry-level Q3 Sport model kicks things off, above which sits the more generously-equipped and sharper looking S Line variant. The most popular model in the range is the the Black Edition which sits atop the range, and comes with a heavy uplift in your monthly payments.

Read on for our Audi Q2 verdict and what it’s like to live with one.

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