Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

28 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

T

he Audi Q2 is one size
smaller than Audi’s already-
popular Q3, being engineered
on the VW Polo/Audi A1 small
car platform.
The Audi SUV isn’t cheap,
with a starting price of
$41,950 for the base Q2 1.4
TFSI. This model has a 110kW
turbocharged petrol four-
cylinder engine, driving the
front wheels via a seven-speed
double-clutch automatic.
It’s a great little engine,
with cylinder-on-demand
technology that automatically
and imperceptibly shuts down
two cylinders under light throttle
loads to save fuel. Consumption
is a claimed 5.2L/100km.
The 2.0 TFSi quattro with a
140kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol four,
seven-speed double-clutch auto
and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive
system, is priced at $49,400.
The Q2’s drivetrains mimic
the best-selling versions of the
Q3, so performance is similar,
but the smaller Audi is a much
more persuasive package.
“Polygonal Design” is the

name invented for the Q2’s

creased, chamfered exterior.

Compared to the blobby and

anonymous Q3 it has more

character and, to most eyes,

much greater visual appeal.

However, those good looks don’t

compromise the Q2’s practicality.

Although 20cm shorter than the

Q3 overall, the wheelbase of the

Q2 is only 5mm less.

So there’s little difference in

passenger compartment space.

What’s more, the Q2’s bigger and

better-shaped rear doors offer

easier access to the rear seats.

Where the Q2 does lose is in cargo

space; there’s around 50 litres

less room behind the rear seat.

The Q2 is one of the more

entertaining small SUVs to drive.

Audi’s engineers have given it

nice direct, electric-assisted

steering and it feels agile from

behind the wheel.

Both engines deliver strong

performance by class standards,

and the 2.0-litre turbopetrol

is respectably quick, reaching

100km/h in just 6.5 seconds.

Keen drivers will fi nd the

front-drive 1.4 TFSI sometimes

scrabbles for grip accelerating

out of tighter corners.

Still, despite having a simpler

and cheaper twist-beam rear

suspension, it’s a very tidy, agile

drive by any standard.

And while the 2.0 TFSi’s

standard quattro system

enhances traction, the costly

multilink rear suspension that

comes with it doesn’t appreciably

improve handling. Tyre noise,

however, was a little more

obvious in the 1.4 TFSI.

The interior of the Q2 is typical

Audi, which means the best

quality in the business.

The Design (1.4 TFSI) and Sport

(2.0 TFSI) interior trim themes add

both colour and personalisation

options to an already very

impressive environment.

The Q2 doesn’t lack for tech.

Autonomous emergency braking

and a high-grade infotainment

system are standard.

Other advanced safety, driver-

aid and entertainment systems,

including Audi’s brilliant Virtual

Cockpit instrument display, Audi

Connect with Google search

functionality, radar cruise

control with automatic stop and

go and lane keeping, are mostly

listed as optional extras, and as

is usually the case with Audi, you

can easily empty your wallet on

the vast options list.

But even without costly

options, the Q2 is a strong

contender in an increasingly

crowded compact SUV fi eld. As

it should, given the premium

prices being asked. Audi buyers

pay a premium for the badge.

It’s worth noting that VW will

have its own compact SUV in

production later in 2019, based on

the T-Roc concept and with much

of the same engineering as the

Q2, but at much cheaper prices.

You can get into VW’s Tiguan,

a larger and no less capable SUV

with lots of the same hardware

underneath, from $43,150.

By John Carey

AUDI Q2 FROM $41,950 S

Safety

ANCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

THINGS WE LIKE

 Doesn’t look like a box

 Interior space, quality and technology

 Agile handling

 Base-model 1.4-litre turbopetrol

engine

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Expensive for a small SUV

 It’s VW Group engineering, so

potential reliability issues

 Tyre noise

 Options prices

SPEX (1.4 TFSi)

 Made in Germany

 1.4-litre four-cylinder

turbopetrol/ seven-speed S

Tronic/front-wheel drive

 110kW of power at 5000rpm/250Nm

of torque from 1500–3500rpm

 0–100km/h in 8.5 seconds (claimed)

 Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

 4.6L/100km highway; 6.3L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 119g/km

 Standard: Stability control,

six airbags, Pre-Sense with

pedestrian detection, automatic

low-speed emergency braking,

MMI infotainment, Apple CarPlay

and Android Auto, navigation,

Bluetooth, voice control

 Redbook future values: 3yr: 56%;

5yr: 42%

compare with ...

BMW X2, Jaguar E-Pace, Mercedes

GLA, Toyota C-HR, Volvo XC40