Audi Q2 Review

The Audi Q2 brings luxury to the small crossover market

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Good to drive
  • High-quality interior
  • Spacious and practical with a big boot
  • Expensive
  • Some models unsettled over bumps
  • Some wheel sizes hurt economy

Audi Q2 from £13,000   Finance from £199.87 per month

It’s compact, tech-packed, fun and funky. If you’re a social-networked, smartphone native then the Audi Q2 is meant for you - as long as you can afford the £22,160 price tag.

Audi’s expecting Q2 buyers to dig deep, especially as you could buy a similar Renault Captur for £15,300. Both cars are small crossovers, which take the comfort, low running costs and small dimensions of superminis like the Vauxhall Corsa or Ford Fiesta, then made them taller, for a higher driving position and more spacious interior.

Like any other Audi, you pay more for the four-ring badge on the bonnet - and the gimmicky pillars either side of the boot, which can be chosen in different colours. But the Q2 is a cut above the competition. Inside, it feels more upmarket than its rivals. The plastics are a better quality and the controls have a weight and a precision you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. Optional hi-tech features include Audi Connect, which puts the car online so it can stream music, and a virtual cockpit. This is a screen behind the steering wheel that can display a giant sat-nav map alongside a digital speedometer.

Despite being compact in size, the Q2 is spacious, with a good amount of leg- and headroom in the rear for adults. At 405-litres, the boot is bigger than the one in the Audi A3 family car. There’s plenty of advanced safety equipment available too, from standard automatic braking that can avoid crashes with other vehicles and pedestrians, to optional advanced cruise control that takes control of the Q2’s steering  - as well as accelerator and brake - in slow-moving traffic jams.

On the road, the Q2 is one of the best cars in its class. Like all small crossovers, it bounces a little over bumps but most versions are comfortable - particularly when fitted with the optional adaptive suspension. Responsive steering means that it’s easier to direct the car to a precise point on the road, and makes it more fun to drive. The Q2 stays steady in corners, without very much leaning. Four-wheel drive is an option on more powerful versions too.

Don't dismiss the seven-speed automatic gearbox (its optional on the 35 TFSI, and standard on the 40TSI and 35 TDI). It’s actually more efficient, and so more economical, than the manual gearbox.

Small crossovers are always a bit of a compromise though; you’ll find a Mini hatchback or an Audi A3 more comfortable and more fun to drive.

The Q2 is one of the best - if not the best small crossover on sale. It’s as spacious and comfortable as the Honda HR-V and Vauxhall Mokka but more fun to drive than either. It’s bigger than the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke, beating the Renault Captur and Ford EcoSport for interior quality.

But it’s worth considering that for its price, you could have a larger Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, an enormous Skoda Superb family car, or have a lot more fun with a Mazda MX-5 roadster

Key facts

Warranty 3 years / 60,000 miles
Boot size 405-litres
Width 1,794mm
Length 4,191mm
Height 1,508mm
Tax tbc

Best Audi Q2 for...

Best for Economy – Audi Q2 Sport 30 TDI

The smaller of the two diesel options is not only economical (up to 64.2mpg once confirmed), but also quiet and smooth. It's not the quickest, but it’s no slouch either, making it the best kind of compromise.

Best for Families – Audi Q2 Sport 3 TFSI S tronic

Economical and easy to drive, thanks in part to the seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox, this is perfect for urban families who don’t necessarily do huge mileages.

Best for Performance – Audi Q2 S line 35 TDI

The most powerful petrol and diesel engines have the same number of horsepower, but the diesel is faster to accelerate. Faster Q2s are expected to arrive later. S line trim gives a sportier - but less comfortable - ride.

One to Avoid – Audi Q2 S line 30 TDI

S line trim offers drivers the most standard equipment, which includes 18in alloy wheels and sport suspension, which lead to a firmer, more uncomfortable ride.

History

  • August 2016 The Audi Q2 goes on sale in SE, Sport, S line and Edition 1 trims. Petrol engines are 1.0 TFSI and 1.4 TFSI (with cylinder deactivation), diesels 1.6 and 2.0 TDI quattro.
  • August 2017 The 2.0 TFSI quattro goes on sale.
  • September 2018 Audi reveals new high-performance SQ2 at Paris motor show. Will go on sale early in 2019.
  • October 2018 Audi rolls out new engine-naming system. For example, the 1.0 TFSI is now the 30 TFSI.

Understanding Audi Q2 names

Trim level S line

There are four trim levels: SE, Sport, S line and Black Edition (this last one replaces the Edition 1, which was a launch trim only but so popular that production was extended). Moving up the range from the base SE increases the amount of equipment and raises the price.

Engine 30 TDI

Diesel engines are badged TDI, while petrol engines carry the TFSI designation. All the engines are turbocharged. Audi has recently changed the names of its engines to reflect their power, which it expresses as a two-digit number, rather than their size. For example, the 1.6 TDI diesel engine is now called the 30 TDI.

Driven wheels quattro

Most Audi Q2 models send the engine’s power to the front wheels only, but four wheel drive - what Audi calls quattro - is available with the 40 (previously called 2.0 litre) TFSI and 35 (also previously called 2.0 litre) TDI engines.

Gearbox S tronic

The Audi Q2 is available with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, badged S tronic. Manual versions may not be labelled at all.

Audi Q2 Engines

30 TFSI, 35 TFSI, 40 TSI, 30 TDI, 35 TDI

From summer 2018, Audi began rolling out a new naming system for its engines designed to reflect their power rather than size or capacity.

In place of the old litres and bhp, hp or PS power rating, a simple two-digit number is used along with the type of engine – petrol TFSI or diesel TDI. Audi is the only car maker to do this, at least for the moment, making comparing its engines with rivals’ engines difficult.

The 30 TFSI engine, previously the 1.0 TFSI 116PS, is the cheapest option and designed for fuel economy. Even so, it feels punchy with enough power to maintain speed on a motorway. It's the only engine not available with the S tronic automatic gearbox.

The 35 TFSI engine (1.4 TFSI 150PS) is the pick of the range for most buyers. To boost economy, two of its four cylinders shut down when you don’t need the full power of the engine. It’s available with a manual or more efficient seven-speed automatic gearbox.

The 40 TFSI engine (2.0 TFSI 190PS) is the most powerful petrol engine and for this reason is paired with Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system. Its 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds places it firmly in hot hatch territory. It’s an automatic only.

The smaller of the two diesels, the 30 TDI (1.6 TDI 116PS) is smooth and quiet, and thanks to its economy a good choice for high-mileage drivers. It's virtually the same price as the 35 TFSI, but less powerful. If you're looking for a car with a bit of zip, then this option is best avoided.

The 35 TDI (2.0 TDI 150PS) will also appeal to those drivers doing more than 12,000 miles a year and requiring an engine that’s economical but powerful, too. Like the 40 TFSI, it’s only available with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Wheel sizes make a difference to economy - the 35 TFSI ranging from 48.7 to 54.3mpg. Wheel sizes are pegged to trim levels, with higher-spec versions having larger wheels and worse economy – worth remembering when considering one trim level over another.

Also, the automatic gearbox is more efficient than the manual, to the extent that the 30 TDI auto can achieve a best of 68.9mpg but the manual only 64.2mpg.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

30 TFSI

Petrol

52.3 – 55.4mpg

114hp

0-62mph: 10.1s

122mph

35 TFSI

Petrol

48.7 - 54.3mpg

148hp

0-62mph: 8.5s

131mph

40 TFSI

Petrol

44.1 – 44.8mpg

187hp

0-62mph: 6.5s

141mph

30 TDI

Diesel

61.4 – 68.9mpg

114hp

0-62mph: 10.3 - 10.5s

122mph

35 TDI

Diesel

56.5 – 58.9mpg

148hp

0-62mph: 8.1s

131mph

Audi Q2 Trims

SE, Sport, S line and Black Edition

The trim level you choose has a big impact on the price of a Q2. For example, the cheapest 30 TFSI, the SE, costs £21,665 before discount, compared with the most expensive, the S line, at £25,315. That money would buy the more powerful 35 TFSI in Sport trim, a better engine all-round.

An alternative is to buy a cheaper trim but specify specific additional equipment such as a premium sound system, from the options list. However, don't go overboard because options lose money much faster than the car they’re fitted to.

There are four trims, although the 30 TFSI engine is not available with the fourth and most expensive, called Black Edition. This was only introduced in November 2018 and replaces Edition 1. Like the other trims, it is common to other models in Audi’s range.

SE, the cheapest trim, features 16in alloy wheels and a 7in dashboard screen that can be controlled by a dial, making it easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. Bluetooth is fitted, allowing you to connect your phone wirelessly, and there’s air conditioning, as well as an autonomous emergency braking system that can stop the car from crashing into other vehicles or pedestrians. You only get cloth seats on this model and no cruise control, but you do have a choice of white or orange dashboard panels.

Sport is worth the extra £1,550. It adds a sat-nav and a three-month trial of the Audi Connect service that links the car to the internet, so it can stream music, for example. It also brings larger 17in alloy wheels, cloth sports seats, wipers and lights that switch on when it’s raining or dark, cruise control and aluminium dashboard panels in red or yellow. You also have Audi’s Drive Select system that has five modes (Auto, Comfort, Efficiency, Dynamic and Individual) that change the feel of the steering and the response of the engine.

For an extra £2,250 on top of the price of the Sport model, S line adds brighter LED headlights and rear lights, front sports seats that are made from leather and cloth, plus an interior styling package that includes brushed aluminium inlays and LED lighting. The standard 18in wheels and sport suspension fitted to this model can make it crash over broken roads. To restore the Q2’s comfort, it’s worth paying more to add adaptive suspension that’s better at absorbing bumps.

As the most expensive trim in the range, Black Edition builds on S line trim with black-coloured styling features, privacy glass so people can’t see in, and unique alloy wheels.

Audi Q2 Reliability and warranty

The Q2 ranked a respectable 26th in the best cars to own category of the 2018 AutoExpress Driver Power survey. Reliability and quality is one of nine areas the survey considers, so the Q2 performed well, although not as well as equally stylish rivals including the Toyota CH-R and Peugeot 3008.

At 60,000 miles or three years (whichever comes first) the Q2’s warranty is standard for the industry. It’s long way short of the seven years’ cover available on a Kia Stonic. Meanwhile, rivals Toyota and Hyundai offer five years, so Audi has some catching up to do.

Used Audi Q2

At least for the foreseeable future, the SUV market looks like remaining extremely popular. This will benefit the Q2, which brings premium SUV ownership within reach of more people. Discounts on new Q2s are available but they’re not excessive, which should help preserve the values of used ones.

Be careful when ordering options. Not only are they expensive but they also lose money faster than the Q2 they’re fitted to. On the other hand, a used Q2 with options already fitted, is a very good buy.

There are currently 126 Audi Q2s available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £13,000 to £34,456 for nearly-new models. It's particularly affordable on finance, thanks to that high level of demand, which ensures that it retains its value well. Monthly finance payments start from £199.87 per month.

Edition 1 trim level was popular among buyers. It was offered from launch, at a premium of around £11,000, and was designed to look sporty with titanium grey paint and black wheels. Audi doesn't sell this trim anymore, but it’s a bargain as a used car as buyers benefit from the premium touches, without having to pay that much more money than a standard model.