Key Audi rivals BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Lexus have flooded the market with every conceivable size and shape of crossover SUV over the past decade or so. Yet the four-ringed brand from Ingolstadt has plugged along with just three such models: the Q3, Q5, and Q7. All three have been success stories, sure, but profit-laden variations and entries in other size classes have been conspicuous by their absence. Enter the Q2, which begins the rapid expansion of Audi’s SUV lineup.
The Q2 will be aimed at a far younger demographic than even the Q3, and it’s expected to appeal to people for whom previous Audi cars and SUVs have seemed a bit stodgy. All-wheel drive is standard on the upper trims.
A 148-hp 1.4-liter turbo four will offer cylinder-deactivation technology that shuts off the middle two cylinders when the car’s cruising and power demands are low. The top-spec engine is a 190-hp 2.0-liter turbo four; it will mate exclusively with all-wheel drive. The 1.6 makes the same 114 horsepower as the gasoline three-cylinder, while the 2.0-liter will be available in 148- and 190-hp strengths. The 2.0-liter gas and diesel models work through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as standard.
The Q2 still has a traditional single-frame Audi grille, but it’s been tweaked, as well, with the eggshell inserts making it less conservative in design than the usual versions with horizontal chrome trim.
The Q2 will pack 14.2 cubic feet of luggage space, more even than the A3 hatchback, into a body that’s just 164.4 inches long. That’s not the shortest such measurement in Audi’s global portfolio—the three-door A1 stretches just 97.2 inches—but it’s the shortest one with a chance of being sold in the States. The shortest Audi SUV, the Q2 is a meaningful 7.8 inches tidier than the Q3, and it’s also fairly narrow, at 70.8 inches, while standing an even 60 inches tall.
The Audi Q2 is an upmarket crossover that shares its platform with the Audi A3. It is an obvious rival to the Mini Countryman, but the company also hopes its premium badge can tempt buyers away from the likes of the funkily styled Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Citroen Cactus.
No doubt with the latter three cars in mind, Audi has given the Q2 distinctive looks that mark it out from the rest of the range, which tends to be conservatively styled.
Inside it’s typical Audi – a minimalistic-yet-highly-functional cockpit, but with a twist – you can add more personal touches than in other Q models and there are generous splashes of body-color highlights. Cabin space is surprisingly good for the car’s size and boot capacity is also above average.
Some small SUVs ride either too firmly to be comfortable, or too soft to be enjoyable to drive, but the Q2 sits in the middle – it’s not the most cosseting out there and some rivals such as the Mini will be more fun, but the Audi makes a well-judged compromise between the two. The drive can be improved further by fitting optional adaptive dampers.
The engine range is near identical to the Audi A3’s so there’s a fuel-sipping petrol 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine at one end of the scales and a petrol 2.0-litre four cylinder with 189hp at the other. Naturally you can buy a diesel Q2 – there’s the choice of either a 1.6 and 2.0-litre engine – and these offer the lowest running costs.
Equipment levels are to be finalized closer to when the Q2 goes on sale in November 2016, but we expect them to be similar to those in the A3, so we can expect a widescreen infotainment system, cruise control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and air-conditioning as standard.
If you’re after a small SUV with a greater turn of speed, take a look at our price, specs and release date article of the upcoming SQ2 and see photos of it undergoing testing or read our Audi Q2 sizes and dimensions guide to find out if this compact SUV is the perfect fit for you.
