What’s it like to drive?
- A variety of petrol engines available
- Plus a high-performance SQ2
- Front- and all-wheel drive available
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.
Petrol engines for the regular Q2 range from the 1.0-litre three-cylinder 30 TFSI that’s nippy around town but can feel a little sluggish on the open road (0-62mph takes 11.2 seconds), up to the 2.0-litre 40 TFSI that’s really rather brisk at 0-62mph in 6.7 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.
If you’re after a diesel, the 30 TDI has plenty of low down shove but doesn’t feel all that brisk when pushed. The 35 TDI feels far quicker and would be our recommendation if economy is important for you. Just bear in mind they’re much pricier to buy than the petrols.
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.
1177
Audi Q2 (2021) profile view, driving
Comfort
- Comfortable ride quality in Audi Q2
- Good standard seats
- A generally peaceful cabin
The Audi Q2 is an easy car to drive and can be pretty comfy, with a mature quality to the suspension which 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 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. We detail some practical shortcomings found in the rear of the Q2 in the Practicality section of this Parkers Audi Q2 review.
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.
1177
Audi Q2 (2021) rear seats
Practicality
- Not the roomiest SUV
- Fine in front, cramped in back
- Deep boot has 405-litre capacity
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. So 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. 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 crossover 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.
1177
Audi Q2 (2021) luggage space
In this review
If you’re looking to combine a ‘premium’ badge with a raised driving position, the Audi Q2 is one of the best small SUVs out there. 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 leftfield DS 3 Crossback. Both the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA are a bit bigger and a fair bit pricier.
Launched in 2016, the Q2 underwent a facelift in 2020 aimed at refreshing the styling and adding in some key equipment that was previously missing. Though it was applied with a light touch, this update has succeeded in keeping the Q2 competitive.
With a wide range of good engines, a beautifully built 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.
1177
Audi Q2 (2021) front view
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, 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.
1177
Audi Q2 (2021) infotainment system view
Safety
- Five-star Euro NCAP rating
- Q2 is dripping with safety kit
- Pedestrian detection is standard
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.
Interior
- Another knock-out Audi cabin
- High-quality materials abound
- Techfest options, but subscription costs too
The cabin of the Q2 is probably its strongest asset with the quality of materials used impressing even compared to newer rivals. It feels like a properly premium small SUV from behind the wheel.
Almost unchanged since 2016, the Q2 actually 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 a highly favourable turn of events. We’re not the biggest fans of Audi’s super high-tech interiors, and the physical climate controls and rotary dial to configure the infotainment are far easier to use accurately. 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.
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.
1177
Audi Q2 (2021) Virtual Cockpit view
Handling
- Q2 feels very similar to the A3
- Adaptive dampers optional
- A good balance of ride and handling
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.
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. Unlike some rival systems, it doesn’t feel unnatural and makes the Q2 easy to place on the road regardless of your speed.
Audi SQ2 handling
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, with direct steering that doesn’t feed back an awful lot to the driver. However, there’s little to complain about in terms of how quickly you can cover ground – the SQ2 is a very well-sorted car that gets around corners without drama.
1177
Audi SQ2 cornering