Car review: Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI S-Line manual

Form an orderly Q for a small but perfectly formed SUV, says Mike Stone
Plenty of style: the Q2 packs in all the high-tech equipment found in larger models, with the 1.4-litre petrol being the pick of the bunch
Mike Stone30 December 2016

People love SUVs. In fact, half the cars Audi sells worldwide are its Q series models. Now the company has brought out its smallest-ever SUV — the Q2.

Available with two or four-wheel-drive, the Q2 packs all the high-tech equipment found in larger models, including the now-familiar Virtual Cockpit, full connectivity and optional head-up display.

The entry-level engine will be a 1.0-litre three-cylinder TFSI, and there’s a 150PS 1.4-litre petrol unit, a 1.6-litre 116PS and two-litre 150PS diesel. Late next year, a range-topping 190PS 2.0-litre petrol unit will follow and at launch, prices range from £20,230 to £32,720.

The 1.4-litre petrol engine is familiar from other VW Group models and has Cylinder-on-Demand technology, which lets it run on half its four cylinders when circumstances allow. But this is a lighter car than Seat’s similarly equipped Ateca SUV, and consequently feels a bit livelier.

The 1.6-litre diesel unit pulls well enough, but feels a bit heavier at the front and the entry-level 1.0-litre doesn’t arrive until later in the year, so the 1.4-litre petrol is the pick of the bunch, especially in six-speed manual guise.

The styling is crisp, with a polygon shape on the shoulder line and contrasting coloured C-pillar on certain models, which is meant to echo the Audi R8 supercar.

The cabin is typical Audi and never feels like a cut-price model, although stepping out of a top-trim S-Line car and getting into entry-level SE trim, you do notice the difference. Bootspace and rear headroom are good, despite the swooping roofline, but rear legroom is a bit cramped.

Overall, especially in 1.4-litre petrol form, this is a fun car to drive, with good practicality and buckets of style. It should do well.

Follow Evening Standard Motors on Twitter: @ES_Motors.

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