And now for something completely different
Say hello to the Audi Q2, the new crossover that will do anything you ask of it – except conform
WORDS: JOHN C SILCOX
PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD PARDON
The Audi Q2 belongs to a class of its own. Nothing else currently on the road quite compares with the crossover’s bold design, which it combines with versatile functionality and a practical nature. On paper it boasts the compactness of a city car, the comfort of a saloon and the sportiness of a coupé – plus the all-road capability of an SUV when equipped with quattro. Journalists are heralding it as a revelation and drivers will undoubtedly agree, as this new kid on the block also establishes an affordable entry point into Audi’s desirable Q range.
For the car’s international press presentation, we travel to Zürich in Switzerland. Our left-hand-drive test model is waiting in an aircraft hangar and as we enter the gloom of the large building we’re dazzled by a bright yellow silhouette, shining out from the darkness.
With chiselled haunches and polygonal geometry, it is a very purposeful, muscular-looking vehicle. Sporty elements temper the ruggedness, however, with features, such as large front air intakes, a profiled roofline and contrast C-pillar blades – similar to those previously introduced on the R8 sports car.
Under its skin lies another world full of surprises as Audi has packed its new baby SUV to the rafters with technology, advanced materials and quality engineering. This vehicle is an example of Audi’s unwavering commitment to innovation, and it’s clear the company has been relentless in developing outstanding engineering solutions.
Despite its radical attributes, the Q2 is reassuringly practical, very similar in size to the A3 and, like the Sportback, it comes with five doors, offering similar leg room in the rear and a generous 405-litre boot. When you climb onboard and acclimatise to the higher ride position, you will also notice the premium feel of the cockpit. Quality materials reign supreme, from luxurious fabrics to polished aluminium, and even in the entry-level SE trim, the car feels every bit as special as the rest of the Q family. Like all Audis, the Q2 offers an incredible range of standard features, such as DAB digital radio, voice control and a seven-inch colour MMI screen and controller.
There are also plenty of opportunities to add a personal touch, as the Q2 offers lots of exciting options including colourful stitching, a wide range of upholstery and plenty of different trimmings. One eye-catching feature is the optional LED interior lighting pack advanced, which is standard in the top-spec Edition #1, and illuminates elements of the interior, including trim inlays on the dashboard and centre console, with ambient spot lighting in the front doors. Passengers can chose between 10 different colours via the MMI controller to suit the mood they’re in.
We are driving the 2.0 TDI S line, and as we press the starter button the MMI infotainment operating system flashes to life. It’s extremely quick, thanks to a highspeed graphics processor seen in many laptops, and is controlled with a rotary dial on the transmission tunnel. You also can link up your phone via Audi’s smartphone interface, standard on SE and Sport models too. This intelligent feature allows you to access contacts and emails, as well as third-party applications such as the music-sharing service Spotify. We pick Something New by The Beetles as a fitting soundtrack for the test.
Leaving the hangar we follow a route that has been pre-programmed into the sat nav, taking us along urban roads, motorways, mountain passes and a few rural tracks too. Our car is fitted with the optional Audi virtual cockpit, and by pressing the view button on the multifunction steering wheel we bring the 3D navigation map to the fore. Our car is also equipped with the optional head-up display, which projects important driving information, such as speed and navigational instructions, in full colour on a screen in the driver’s direct field of vision.
The Q2 offers a wide range of petrol and diesel engines – from the frugal 115PS 1.0 TFSI to the powerful 150PS 2.0 TDI. The latter is punchy and shows off plenty of beans, plus with ample torque available it offers effortless response from low revs. Power is delivered via a smooth, quickshifting seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox to the front wheels. From later this year, Audi will also offer quattro all-wheel-drive models, that will not only give the Q2 greater scope to venture along tracks and trails, but it will also enhance the crossover’s grip, traction and safety in everyday driving conditions.
That said, even without quattro the Q2 remains a very strong all-round performer and delivers an engaging drive. All models come with dynamic suspension as standard, and for a more engaging drive, the optional sport suspension delivers a 10mm lower ride height and is a stiffer set-up for more sharper handling on the Sport and S line models. For even greater comfort and dynamic handling, drivers can choose the optional adaptive suspension with damping control system.
Standard progressive steering is designed to work with the driver by providing a lighter feel around town, especially handy when parking. While at speed out on the road, the steering provides a much more direct feel, allowing the driver to navigate tight bends with ease.
Safety is another area where the Q2 excels. The raised ride height provides great all-round visibility, so not only do we enjoy looking over people’s hedges during the drive but we can also see what is happening with the traffic ahead. Despite this, human error can always be a factor so it’s reassuring to know that every Q2 is equipped with Audi’s pre sense front technology, which uses a radar sensor that recognises critical situations involving other vehicles and pedestrians crossing in front of the car. If it predicts an impending impact, the car will give the driver a warning and can apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate a collision.
Optional systems that take the stress out of driving include Audi park assist, which can actually steer the Q2 in and out of tight parking spaces leaving the driver to only monitor the throttle and brake, and traffic jam assist, which helps the driver with braking, acceleration and steering at up to 40mph.
The Q2 is available to order now, priced from £20,230*, and the first models will reach Audi Centres later this year. This exciting new member of the Q family has all of the attributes of it larger siblings, but thanks to its multifaceted personality, it forges its own unique identity.
But even after spending the best part of the day with this crossover it’s a hard thing to summarise in a nutshell how innovative it is. But maybe that’s the point: pure innovation is as difficult to label as the feeling of driving through a landscape of lush green pastures and white-topped mountains, or the butterflies in your stomach when accelerating hard away from the lights. Audi is right, it’s simply untaggable.