Audi Q2 2018 Review

Audi Q2 2.0 TFSI sport quattro S tronic
Local Launch
Newcastle, NSW

It might be stating the obvious, but at less than 4.2 metres long and 1.8m wide and around 1.5m high, the Q2 – Audi’s first design-themed, even-numbered Q model, with the Q8 to follow – is more hatchback than SUV.

OK, so Audi says ESC Offroad mode, extra underbody protection, 22mm more ride height than the A3 and (in this case) quattro all-wheel drive allow it to venture further away from tarmac than most small hatches.

But with a meagre 147mm of ground clearance and part-time AWD system, this is no LandCruiser.

The Q2 is, however, almost unique in the market, being a small luxury SUV that at just 4191mm long is shorter than the Q3 (4388mm; next year’s new Q3 is expected to grow) and even mainstream compact SUVs like the Mazda CX-3 (4275mm).

Bigger than only the four-metre A1 hatch in the German car-maker’s range, Audi’s smallest SUV (it was originally going to be called the Q1) is even shorter than the A3 three-door not sold here (4237mm).

Indeed, only BMW -- via its MINI small-car brand – has a competitor for the Q2 in the Countryman, which is priced between $40,500 and $57,900.

MINI’s second-generation Countryman went on sale here in February – the same month Audi launched its first Q2 – and since then the latter has found more than double the number of homes with over 1500 sold in a fast-growing part of the market.

Like the MINI, the Q2 is far more distinctive on the road than a conventional hatchback, in this case thanks to a ‘polygonal’ design theme that extends to the body sides, headlights, air intakes and grille, which comprises 34 polygons.

Also helping it stand out from the crowd is a sloping, coupe-like roofline, which reduces rear headroom, rear vision and boot capacity, although all of these remain generous enough.

In fact the latter is relatively handy at 355 litres (more than the CX-3’s meagre 264 litres, but less than the A3 Sportback’s 380), extending to 1000 litres with the 60/40-split rear seat folded down.

And the Q2 compensates somewhat with similar rear legroom to the Q3, whose wheelbase is just 8mm longer (most of its extra 20cm in length is in the overhangs).

That said, rear legroom remains tight, the centre rear seat is heavily humped, there are no rear air outlets and next year’s second-generation Q3 should be much bigger – and better, because it will migrate from the Volkswagen Group’s old PQ35 platform to its latest MQB architecture, which made its Audi debut under the current A3 and also underpins the Q2.

But the fact is the Q2 isn’t as instantly recognisable as the Countryman, or nearly as adventurous as many mainstream small SUVs including Toyota’s C-HR, Hyundai’s Kona, Nissan’s JUKE and even the Honda HR-V.

That conservatism continues inside to a more classical German dashboard layout, but in typical Audi fashion the Q2 wins solid points for its impeccable interior fit and finish, including soft-touch surfaces on the dash and almost all contact points.

Options galore
Like the MINI (and the A1), the Q2 offers extensive customisation, including bumpers and lower body in matching colours (a $500 option at base ‘design’ level) or a neat looking contrasting Manhattan grey ($500 for ‘sport’ models).

In that case the same hue is applied to the Q2’s trademark C-pillar ‘blade’, which is otherwise Titanium matt grey ($350 for the base design variant) or can be had in Ice silver metallic ($350 for sport models) or body colour (no cost).

There’s also a Titanium black exterior styling pack ($900), optional alloy wheels up to a $1500 19-inch set instead of the design’s 17-inch and the sport’s 18-inch alloys.

The only standard paint colours are Brilliant black and Ibis white, with Quantum grey and Vegas yellow costing $800, a range of metallic hues (white, silver, orange, black, grey and red) costing a further $1150 and crystal-effect Ara blue adding $1750.

For the extra $6700, the Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro brings more standard features than the base Q2 1.4 TFSI ‘design’, in line with the Q2 2.0 TDI with which it shares its ‘sport’ equipment list.

Apart from 18-inch alloys, body-coloured bumpers and side skirts and matt-grey C-pillar highlights, that means it comes with side assist, a powered tailgate, leather-appointed sports front seats and aluminium-look interior highlights.

These features are in addition to standard Q2 items like a five-star ANCAP safety rating, reversing camera, six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, rear cross-traffic alert and pre sense city (automatic emergency braking) with pedestrian detection at speeds up to 65km/h.

However, a superior range of safety functions cost extra as part of an Assistance package ($990 for sport models, $1600 for the base design) that includes AEB up to 200km/h, active lane assist, side assist, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, high-beam assist, hill hold assist, park assist and traffic jam assist, which provides the Q2 with Level 2 hands-off autonomous driving functionality up to 65km/h for short periods.

Now standard across the Q2 line-up as part of the MY18 upgrade are LED headlights and tail-lights (the latter with dynamic indicators), while carryover features include a 7.0-inch MMI infotainment display with 3D satellite mapping, voice control, Bluetooth and eight speakers and Audi connect Wi-Fi hotspot and Google services (requires data plan).

Other range-wide standard features include a multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles, dual-zone climate-control, cruise control with speed-limiter, automatic headlights and wipers, front/rear parking sensors, front centre armrest, 60/40-split folding rear seat, floor mats and power windows/mirrors.

The only real omission here appears to be electric front seat adjustment, but the optional extras keep coming in the form of a $1500 interior S line sport pack with Y-spoke 18-inch alloys, 10mm lower sports suspension, embossed/perforated Alcantara/leather seat trim, flat-bottom steering wheel with perforated leather, brushed matt aluminium inlays, black headlining, stainless steel pedals/footrest and illuminated aluminium door sills.

The $1900 Comfort pack comprises keyless entry/start, heated/dimming/folding wing mirrors, power front lumbar adjust, heated front seats, rear 12-volt outlet and a range of extra storage features including a luggage net.

The $2500 S line exterior pack includes unique front/rear bumpers and diffuser with logos and aluminium door sill trims, while for the same price the Technik pack adds MMI Navigation plus, multi-function flat-bottom leather sport steering wheel with paddles, and Audi’s configurable 12.3-inch virtual cockpit instruments.

Individual options include an LED lighting package ($300), Audi drive select ($400), 180-Watt 10-speaker sound ($500), digital radio ($550), rear privacy glass ($700), head-up display ($1050), black Milano leather ($1400), 705W 14-speaker sound ($1500) and panoramic sunroof ($1950).

Tick enough of these boxes and it’s easy to turn this already expensive sub-$50,000 small car into something costing close to $80,000.

On the firm side
Style is in the eye of the beholder but (after the cool virtual cockpit instruments; shame it's part of the $2500 Technik pack) the first option we’d pick is adaptive dampers including Audi drive select ($1500) and the last is sport suspension ($400).

That’s because the former’s 10mm lower ride height would negate half the Q2’s extra ground clearance over an A3 hatch and ride quality – in line with its positioning as a “sports car for the family” -- is already firm.

None of the cars at the media launch were fitted with sports suspension or adaptive dampers, but we’d guess the former would only make matters worse and the latter would offer more compliance than the standard suspension set-up.

As evidenced by its standard ‘progressive’ electromechanical speed-dependent steering, which reacts sharply but lacks the feedback of a MINI, it’s clear Audi has given the Q2 sporty dynamics to match its design focus.

But we’d suggest you try before you buy – with and without the adaptive dampers – lest you regret the busy ride when road surfaces are less than perfect.

If on the other hand you fall into Audi’s target market for the Q2 -- mostly females, mostly couples and fewer families than other Q models, including the Q3 – and hanker for a sporty little SUV that emphasises handling over comfort then the Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro’s (part-time) all-wheel drive system and perky turbo-petrol four could be just the ticket.

Plenty of pep
It might consume 95 RON premium unleaded and require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, but the 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powered Q2 brings more power than both the existing 110kW Q2 petrol and diesel models (although the pricier Q2 TDI delivers more torque at 340Nm).

At 6.5 seconds, the Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro’s claimed 0-100km/h time is lower than both the front-drive 1.4 TFSI (8.5sec) and the all-wheel drive 2.0 TDI (8.1sec), and its 228km/h top speed higher (versus 212 and 211km/h).

Matched as standard with Audi’s snappy seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission, the peppy 2.0-litre turbo engine also powers the VW Golf and Audi A3/A4/A5 and brings a new Miller cycle-style combustion process with shorter compression and longer expansion cycles.

That trade-off is fuel consumption, which at 6.5L/100km is higher than both the base petrol (5.3L/100km) and diesel (5.0L/100km) models.

Compared to the front-drive Countryman Cooper S auto, which is $1300 cheaper at $47,200, Audi says the Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic delivers 1kW less power but 40Nm more torque, yet is 0.9sec quicker to 100km/h and just as efficient.

So the new Q2 performance flagship is an expensive little car – especially if you go mad with options -- but it’s also almost $5000 cheaper (and almost as big) as the equivalent Q3.

Perhaps more importantly, at just under $50,000 (before on-road costs and options), it’s $1500 more affordable, more unique, easier to live with and will go (a few) more places than Audi’s mechanically similar A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Sport quattro.

2018 Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro sport S tronic pricing and specifications:
Price: $48,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 140kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP)