Anyway, according to Audi, the Q2 is a compact, city-focused SUV. The hope is that it\u2019ll attract young, urban buyers, who\u2019ll inevitably move up the range as they get older. The young target audience is certainly reflected in the styling. It\u2019s \u201cfunky\u201d, as middle-aged marketing execs would say.<\/p>\n
In terms of its underpinnings, it\u2019s essentially a raised A3 Sportback with a shorter boot. And it\u2019s priced pretty much the same as the A3 as well.<\/p>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2017\/11\/Audi-Q2-2016-Vorstellung-Motor-Marktstart-Preis-1200x800-b78ef59a871f9003-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nHow does it drive?<\/h3>\n
Better than expected, if we\u2019re honest. Usually, these small crossovers don\u2019t really offer much in terms of driving engagement, but our test model \u2013 a mid-range one with a 1.4-litre TFSI four-cylinder \u2013 was reasonably entertaining.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s only 150 bhp, but the Q2 is reasonably light, and the engine makes up for the lack of power with masses of torque (250 Nm), meaning it\u2019s good for a 0-100 km\/h time of 8.5 seconds. In practice, the Q2 feels much quicker than that, thanks in no small part to the fabulous new 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Put your foot down, and the response is instant. The \u2018box drops a couple of cogs, the engine hums a little louder, and the speedometer powers upwards \u2013 all in the blink of an eye. On the motorway, this means ample power for overtaking, and on more twisty roads, very satisfying bursts of speed as and when you want them.<\/p>\n
The steering and handling aren\u2019t great, but they\u2019re not bad, either. Push too hard into a corner, and you\u2019ll eventually run into some understeer. But if you flow from bend to bend, the relatively clever FWD system keeps you nicely planted. And while direct, the steering is a little light \u2013 great for navigating car parks, no good for attacking corners in anger.<\/p>\n
The refinement also bears mentioning. The Q2\u2019s additional ground clearance helps quite a bit when you\u2019re on rough roads. Not only cab the Q2 shrug off the bumps and holes, thanks to the extra suspension travel, but the ride is properly good, no matter how punishing the road is. The A3 feels stiffer in comparison.<\/p>\n
And you wouldn\u2019t believe how quiet this thing is. Doing 120 km\/h on a highway feels no different, noise-wise, to doing 50 km\/h down a quiet back road. You could (and we did) cover plenty of miles in this car and emerge from your journey feeling reasonably fresh.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, if you\u2019re thinking your Q2 will be any good off-road, you\u2019ll be disappointed. None of Audi\u2019s Q cars are particularly good when it comes to the rough stuff, and the Q2 doesn\u2019t change that. It\u2019s front-wheel drive-only, and, really, the most the car will handle is a little sleet or snow, or, in this part of the world, a gravel track. Let\u2019s not take that away from the Audi, though, because, let\u2019s face it, none of these small crossovers can go properly off-road. They\u2019re just not designed for that sort of punishment.<\/p>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2017\/11\/audiq2_6-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nInterior quality and tech<\/h3>\n
The Q2 is as good in this department as any other current-gen Audi \u2013 and that\u2019s to say really good. There are a few plastics that wouldn\u2019t make the cut on, say, the A6, but overall, for a car at this price point, we really can\u2019t think of anything else that offers as much of a quality feel. The leather is supple, the flashes of aluminum welcome, and the driving position spot-on. There\u2019s even enough room for adults in the back. That said, the boot is a little smaller than the A3 Sportback\u2019s \u2013 you\u2019ll only be able to fit one large suitcase in there.<\/p>\n
In terms of the tech, our test car did without keyless entry and go, and it also missed out on the fabulous 360-degree parking camera found on the A4, instead making do with a conventional reversing camera. What\u2019s certainly on the list is Audi\u2019s \u2018Virtual Cockpit\u2019, a collection of digital displays on the dashboard that replace traditional analogue dials. It\u2019s as fabulous in the Q2 as it is in any other Audi fitted with it, allowing you to customise what information you see on the read-outs in front of you. It\u2019s certainly an option worth ticking.<\/p>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2017\/11\/1920x1080_0009_AQ2_161031-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nRunning costs<\/h3>\n
With a starting price of AED 107,700, the Audi Q3 looks to be good value from the off. However, in terms of insurance, you\u2019ll be paying a little bit more than the A3 because, technically, the Q2 is an SUV, and SUVs cost more to insure. Expect fully comprehensive policies to start from around AED 4,000.<\/p>\n
In terms of fuel, you get a pretty-impressive efficiency of 4.7L\/100 km. The fuel tank has a capacity of 50 litres, so that means, maths fans, a theoretical range of over 1,000 km. And you\u2019ll only need to pay around AED 96 to fill up.<\/p>\n
![\"Audi](\"https:\/\/cdn.yallacompare.com\/car-deals\/2017\/11\/Audi-Q2-2016-Vorstellung-Motor-Marktstart-Preis-1200x800-c72e27b0375807d1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nOur verdict<\/h3>\n
This is perhaps the best small crossover on the market. No matter what you think of its approach to doing things, in true Audi fashion, the Q2 is a quality product. This means that, if you want something as refined and luxurious as the Audi in this segment, the only real competition is the (recently updated) Mini Countryman<\/a> \u2013 and that\u2019s way more expensive. The Fiat 500X and Nissan Juke are nowhere near as premium, and the ageing Mercedes GLA Class is beat on interior quality, too. So if you are after a small, posh crossover, we\u2019d say the Audi is the most logical choice.<\/p>\n