Audi Q2 Driven Review
Unique and distinguished are words I would use when talking about Audi’s latest Q-Model. It’s obviously not a supercar, but still possibly turns as many heads due to its individual hexagonal style based on Audi’s new design language. The Audi Q2 can’t really be faulted, then, in terms of design because this individual style looks pretty good. Many road users want a vehicle that is unique, and offers a little spice to stand out – luckily for them, the Q2 to offers just that.
This car has received quite a bit of stick in other departments though, with one of those being value for money. What makes a buyer choose the Q2 over other vehicles on the road? That is a very difficult question to answer.
One thing the Audi doesn’t fall short on is drive quality. At the end of the day, no matter how big or small or hexagonal it is, it’s built by Audi and drives like one too. The cabin is quiet and comfortable and the 1.4 TFSI engine can muster excitement at times with 110 kW while also being remarkably smooth, especially when paired to the 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox.
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Build quality is something the Audi Q2 does not fall short on either, this is seen not only through driving but also the everyday use of the vehicle. With regards to the interior, one will find a clean and sophisticated appearance in the usual Audi format. The only let down here is the door cards, they look and feel cheap, but not only that, they are also very plain. An oversight in the quality department that’s for sure.
The big elephant in the room with this car is price, and this is the only real downside to the Audi Q2. A base Audi Q2 with a 1.0 TFSI engine and manual gearbox will set you back R460 000 at the least. The model I tested with the 1.4 TFSI engine enters the market at R529 500, with my test car sitting at just over R568 000 thanks to four optional extras.
Is this car overpriced? Yes and No. The Audi Q2 is overpriced for the market that the Q2 is supposedly aimed at – the younger driver. Now in Europe and other parts of the world, this could very well work, younger people earn better and have much better financing deals at their disposal. Unfortunately, this is not the case in South Africa, so is this respect, it is overpriced.
On the other hand and with all things taken into consideration such as build quality, ride comfort and interior and exterior design, the Audi Q2 is well worth its price tag. For me, the Q2 is a premium crossover vehicle, one only needs to see the optional extras list with items such as Audi’s Pilot assist, for example.
Personally, I feel the Audi Q2 attracts attention from a similar market to the Q3. It has a very soccer mom type feel and it’s a very nice option when nipping to the shops or getting the kids from school, for those who can afford it.
A buyer on a budget looking for the best deal won’t buy this car, but a buyer looking for a daily run around without much concern for any kind of budget will head straight to the Audi showroom and purchase a Q2, and they will have a very nice car indeed.
Alternatives to the Audi Q2
Mazda CX-3 – The Mazda CX-3 shares many similarities to the Audi Q2 with one of them being a unique and edgy design. It’s a very nice drive although the powertrain is not as rewarding, but it also features a pretty decent interior too.
Audi Q3 – A slightly bigger but also slightly more boring version on the Audi Q2. It has more space and is definitely more family orientated. The starting price is just over R470,000. For R578,000 there is a 2.0 TFSI powertrain on offer with 132kW – That’s just R10k more than our Audi Q2 test car.
Pricing for the Audi Q2 in South Africa:
Audi Q2 1.0 TFSI – R464 500
Audi Q2 1.0 TFSI S Tronic – R483 000
Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI – R511 000
Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI S Tronic – R529 500
Audi Q2 2.0 TDI – R565 000
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