COMPACT WITH A CAPITAL Q (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_audiq2_2016

By Jonathan Crouch

The Q2 shows that Audi has a youthful side and has here been lightly improved. Jonathan Crouch checks out this appealing little small SUV.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 57

Audi aimed to inject a little more fun into its SUV line-up with this more compact and affordable Q2 model - and has here lightly improved it. This little crossover is aimed at customers wanting a Nissan Juke-style small Crossover but requiring a little more class and quality. It's offered a new direction for the Ingolstadt brand.

Backgroundword count: 119

'Fun' isn't a word you necessarily associate with Audi. 'Cool' perhaps. 'Classy' possibly. 'Mature' definitely. Well forget that third adjective when it comes to discussion of this car, the Audi Q2. It's the kind of product that the German brand hopes will lower its target age demographic, at the same time giving buyers of small Crossovers like Nissan's Juke and Renault's Captur a more appealing option to aspire towards. In truth, it's likely that the Q2 will prove to be a little too pricey for customers of those cars, but premium models in this segment - contenders like Honda's HR-V, Mazda's CX-30 and Jeep's Renegade - should certainly feel the heat from this Q2. Especially in this updated form.

Driving Experienceword count: 233

The Q2 line-up is primarily based around a mid-range 35 TFSI variant which uses a four-cylinder 150PS 1.5-litre turbo petrol unit with the brand's clever 'Cylinder on Demand' system. There's a choice of 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed S tronic auto. Slotting in below this variant is the 30 TFSI, which uses a 116PS 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. Two four-cylinder diesel engines are also available with 1.6 and 2.0 litres of displacement and outputs of 116PS (30 TDI) and 150PS (35 TDI). The '35 TDI' comes with quattro 4WD. As before, at the top of the range is a 300PS SQ2 quattro sporting model. The top 'Vorsprung' variant gets 'Adaptive cruise assist' for limit autonomous highway driving capability. Installed at the rear on the front-wheel drive versions is a semi-independent suspension, while the quattro models have a four-link suspension. Progressive steering is standard in all variants. It varies the steering gear ratio as a function of the steering input; the ratio is made more direct with large steering movements. Adaptive dampers are available as an option, and there's the Audi drive select system with which drivers can set an individual characteristic for their Q2. On rougher terrain, ground clearance of almost 15 centimetres is slightly better than some other small lifestyle SUVs can offer - and Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) with an integrated off-road mode will also serve the compact crossover well.

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