Audi Q2 Brings Youthful Appeal to German Premium Brand

With a flowing roofline giving the Q2 a coupé image, Audi hopes to attract younger customers to the brand. This is further supported by the choice of 12 exterior paints, an optional two-tone roof and coloured dash inserts inside. A choice of 16-19-inch alloys and a pair of striking LED daytime running lights give the Q2 a premium appeal. Inside, you can choose from cloth, leather or Alcantara upholstery.



Audi claims that the seating position is low and sporty, however the Q2 will still boast SUV credentials like great all-round visibility and the ability to tackle most things that 99% of people will throw at it.

Its 20 cm ground clearance makes it good for a touch of mild off-roading, with some good approach and departure angles thanks to short overhangs. Measuring 4.19 m in length, the Q2 is a whole 44 cm shorter than the Lexus NX and even 23 cm shorter than the Mercedes GLA. Similar in height to the GLA, the Q2 is around 15 cm shorter than the Range Rover Evoque.

The all-new Audi Q2 hides a 405-litre boot, which is significantly smaller than the 481-litre boot of the GLA, however the Q2 does belong to a category that is ever so slightly smaller, so this is to be expected. Nevertheless, the Range Rover Evoque only managed to fit a 420-litre boot in its 5-door model.

As standard, the Q2 will feature autonomous emergency braking. Optional safety equipment will include kit like traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring, as well as the now familiar Audi virtual cockpit.

Engine-wise, it's likely that we'll see petrols and diesels stolen from the A1 and A3. The will probably include an entry-level 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol unit with 114 bhp. One of the Volkswagen Group's favourite engines, with 1.4-litre petrol, will also make its way into the Q2. Despite producing an impressive 148 bhp, it's able to shut down 2 of its cylinder to save on fuel. A top-of-the-range 187 bhp 2.0-litre petrol will also be likely.

For fans of diesel, myself included, there will be a 1.6-litre unit as well as two 2.0-litre engines. Power outputs would match those of the petrols - 114, 148 and 187 bhp respectively, but with higher torque figures.



As usual, 6-speed manual transmissions will be available, however a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is a great alternative. Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system will likely be standard on the top-end models, and optional for the mid-range units.

Audi's ahead of rivals such as the Range Rover Evoque in terms of engines, which only boasts three diesel options. The Lexus NX has a petrol as well as a hybrid, however that's strictly paired to a whiney CVT 'box. Mercedes does do well in comparison, with two diesels, two petrols, a good dose of four-wheel-drive and dual-clutch transmission, and a super-hot AMG GLA 45 variant which boasts a full 376 bhp from a 2.0-litre petrol engine. Audi will follow suit with a warm SQ2 and a hot RS Q2 after the launch of the regular mini-crossover.