Audi Q2 2021 review

Audi's smallest and most affordable SUV, the Q2, gets a new look and new technology, but it also comes with something else. Or should I say roared? It's an SQ2 with a whopping 300 horsepower and a growling bark.

So, this review has something for everyone. This is for those who want to know what's new for the Q2 in this latest update - for those who are thinking about buying a cool little SUV from Audi - and for those who want to wake up their neighbors and scare their friends.

Ready? Go.

Audi Q2 2021: 40 TFSI Quattro S Line
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	7l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$42,100

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The entry level Q2 is the 35 TFSI and costs $42,900, while the 40 TFSI quattro S line is $49,900. The SQ2 is the king of the range and costs $64,400XNUMX.

The SQ2 has never been to Australia before and we'll get to its standard features shortly.

Australians have been able to buy 35 TFSI or 40 TFSI since 2 Q2017, but both have now been updated with new styling and features. The good news is that prices are only a few hundred dollars higher than the old Q2.

The Q2 has LED headlights and DRLs. (pictured is variant 40 TFSI)

The 35 TFSI comes standard with LED headlights and taillights, LED DRLs, leather seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker stereo, digital radio, front and rear parking sensors and rear view. camera.

All this was standard on the previous 35 TFSI, but here's what's new: 8.3-inch multimedia screen (the old one was seven-inch); proximity key with start button (great news); wireless phone charging (great), heated exterior mirrors (more useful than you might think), external interior lighting (ooh...nice); and 18" alloys (hell yes).

Inside is an 8.3-inch multimedia screen. (option SQ2 in the photo)

The 40 TFSI quattro S range adds sports front seats, drive mode select, power tailgate and paddle shifters. The previous one also had all this, but the new one has a sporty S line exterior kit (the previous car was simply called Sport, not S line).

Now, the 45 TFSI quattro S line might not seem like much more than the 35 TFSI, but for the extra money, you get more power and an amazing all-wheel drive system - the 35 TFSI is front-wheel drive only. If you love to drive and can't afford the SQ2, then the extra $7k for 45 TFSI is well worth it.

If you saved all your pennies and focused on the SQ2, here's what you get: metallic/pearl effect paint, 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, an S body kit with quad tailpipes. , sports suspension, Nappa leather upholstery, heated front seats, 10-color ambient lighting, stainless steel pedals, automatic parking, a fully digital instrument cluster and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system.

Of course, you also get an incredibly powerful four-cylinder engine, but we'll get to that in a moment.

The SQ2 adds features such as Nappa leather upholstery, heated front seats and a fully digital instrument cluster. (option SQ2 in the photo)

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

This updated Q2 looks pretty much the same as the previous one, and really the only changes are subtle styling changes to the front and rear of the car.

The front vents (these aren't the actual vents on the Q2, but they are on the SQ2) are now larger and sharper, and the top of the grille is lower. The rear bumper now has the same design as the front, with wide-spaced pointed polygons.

It's a boxy little SUV, full of sharp edges like an acoustic wall in an auditorium.

The SQ2 just looks more aggressive, with its metal-finished vents and powerful exhaust. 

The new color is called Apple Green, and it's unlike any road color - well, not since 1951, anyway, when the hue was hugely popular in everything from cars to phones. It's also very close to Disney's "Go Away" green - watch it and then ask yourself if you should be driving a car that's not visible to the human eye.

I got distracted. Other colors in the range include Brilliant Black, Turbo Blue, Glacier White, Floret Silver, Tango Red, Manhattan Gray and Navarra Blue.

Inside, the cabins are the same as before, with the exception of a larger and sleeker multimedia display, as well as some new trim materials. The 35 TFSI model has diamond-coated silver inserts, while the 40TFSI model has aluminum treadplates.

The Q2 has beautiful quilted Nappa leather upholstery that isn't limited to seat upholstery, but to the center console, doors and armrests.

All options offer well-designed and tactile interiors, but it's disappointing that this is an old Audi design that started with the third generation A3 released in 2013 and still exists on the Q2, although most Audi models, including the Q3 , have a new interior design. It would annoy me if I was thinking about buying a Q2. 

Have you thought about Q3? It's not much more in price, and it's a little more, obviously. 

Q2 is tiny: 4208mm long, 1794mm wide and 1537mm high. SQ2 is longer: 4216mm long, 1802mm wide and 1524mm high.  

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

The Q2 is essentially the current Audi A3 but more practical. I've lived with an A3 sedan and a Sportback, and while there's just as little rear legroom as a Q2 (I'm 191cm tall and I have to compress my knees behind the driver's seat), getting in and out is easier in the SUV with more room for travel. skylight and higher doorways.

The Q2 is essentially the current Audi A3 but more practical. (pictured is variant 40 TFSI)

Easy access helps a lot when you help children into child seats. In A3 I have to kneel on the footpath to be at the right level to put my son in the car, but not in Q2.

The boot capacity of the Q2 is 405 liters (VDA) for the 35 TFSI front-wheel drive model and 2 liters for the SQ355. That's not bad, and the large sunroof makes for a large opening that's more practical than a sedan trunk.

Inside, the cabin is small, but there is plenty of headroom in the back, thanks to the fairly high roof.

Storage space in the cabin isn't the best, although the pockets in the front doors are large and there are two cup holders up front.

Rear space is good, thanks to the fairly high roof. (option SQ2 in the photo)

Only the SQ2 has USB ports in the back for rear passengers, but all Q2s have two USB ports in the front for charging and media, and all have wireless phone charging.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

There are three classes, and each has its own engine. 

The 35 TFSI is powered by a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 110 kW and 250 Nm of torque; 40 TFSI has a 2.0-liter turbo-petrol four with 140 kW and 320 Nm; and the SQ2 also has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol, but it puts out a very impressive 221kW and 400Nm.

The 2.0-litre 40 TFSI turbocharged petrol engine develops 140 kW/320 Nm of power. (pictured is variant 40 TFSI)

The 35 TFSI is front-wheel drive, while the 45 TFSI quattro S line and SQ2 are all-wheel drive.

All have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission - no, you can't get a manual transmission. There are also no diesel engines in the lineup.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the SQ2 version develops 221 kW/400 Nm. (option SQ2 in the photo)

I've driven all three cars and, engine-wise, it's like switching the "Smile Dial" from Mona Lisa on 35 TFSI to Jim Carrey on SQ2 and Chrissy Teigen in between.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Audi's engines are supremely modern and efficient - even its monster V10 can de-cylinder to save fuel, as can the new 1.5 TFSI 35-litre four-cylinder engine. With a combination of urban and open roads, Audi says the 35 TFSI should consume 5.2 l/100 km.

40 TFSI is more voracious - 7 l / 100 km, but SQ2 requires a little more - 7.7 l / 100 km. Nevertheless, not bad. 

What's not good is the lack of a hybrid, PHEV, or EV option for the Q2. I mean, the car is small and ideal for the city, which makes it the perfect candidate for an electric version. The lack of a hybrid or electric vehicle is why the Q2 range doesn't score well in terms of overall fuel economy.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The Q2 received the maximum five-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2016, but it lacks advanced safety technology by 2021 standards.

Yes, AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection is standard on all Q2s and SQ2s, as is blind spot warning, but there is no rear cross traffic alert or rear AEB, while lane keeping assist is standard on the SQ2 only. along with adaptive cruise control.

For a car that young people are most likely to buy, it doesn't seem right that they aren't protected as well as in more expensive Audi models.

Child seats have two ISOFIX points and three top tether anchorages.

The spare wheel is located under the trunk floor to save space.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

The pressure on Audi to upgrade to a five-year warranty must be extremely strong, as Mercedes-Benz offers such a warranty like almost every other major brand. But for now, Audi will only cover Q2 for three years/unlimited kilometers.

In terms of service, Audi offers a five-year plan for the Q2 costing $2280 and covering every 12 months/15000 km of service during that time. For the SQ2, the cost is only slightly higher at $2540.  

What is it like to drive? 8/10

When it comes to driving, it's almost impossible for Audi to go wrong - everything the company makes, whether it's low-powered or fast, has all the ingredients for a fun-filled drive.

The Q2 range is no different. The entry-level 35 TFSI has the least grunt, and with its front wheels pulling the car forward, it's the only car in the family that isn't blessed with all-wheel drive, but unless you're lapping the track, you're not going to want more power. 

The most affordable Q2 performed well. (pictured is variant 35 TFSI)

I've driven the 35 TFSI over 100km at the start, across the country and into the city, and in everything from highway overtaking to merging to slow-moving, the most affordable Q2 performed well. This 1.5-liter engine is reasonably responsive and the dual-clutch transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. 

Superb steering and good visibility (although rear three-quarter visibility is a little obstructed by the C-pillar) make the 35 TFSI easy to drive.

When it comes to driving, Audi is almost never wrong. (pictured is variant 40 TFSI)

The 45 TFSI is a good middle ground between the 35 TFSI and the SQ2 and has a very noticeable power boost, while the extra traction from all-wheel drive is an encouraging addition. 

The SQ2 is not the hardcore beast you might think - it would be very easy to live with every day. Yes, it has stiff sport suspension, but it's not overly stiff, and this nearly 300 horsepower engine doesn't look like a Rottweiler at the end of a leash. Anyway, this is a blue healer who loves to run and run, but is happy to relax and get fat.  

The SQ2 isn't as hardcore a beast as you might think. (option SQ2 in the photo)

The SQ2 is my pick of all, and not just because it's fast, nimble, and has an intimidating growl. It's also comfortable and luxurious, with luxurious leather seats.  

Verdict

The Q2 is good value for money and easy to drive, especially the SQ2. The exterior looks new, but the interior looks older than the larger Q3 and most other Audi models.

More standard advanced safety technology will make the Q2 even more attractive, as will a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. While we're at it, a hybrid option would make a lot of sense. 

So, a great car, but Audi could have offered more to make it even more attractive to buyers.