2020 Audi Q2 35TDI Quattro, The Smallest Crossover From Ingolstadt
The Q2 has been around for a while now and a recent facelift included a few styling tweaks and some technological enhancements. So let’s dig into the details.
The Audi Q2 is the smallest ‘SUV’ that Audi makes. Similarly sized as the A3 and sitting on the same platform as the previous A3. The facelift brings LED headlights as standard and optionally you can benefit from Matrix LED Headlights which intelligently controls the high beam in various individual beams.
On the front of the car, the grille has been set lower to give off a wider look to the car. The front air intakes have been redesigned and the front of the bonnet now features the signature three air intakes inspired by the legendary Quattro rally car.
Turning around the back of the car, the same polygon shapes that you’ll find at the front, are present at the rear of the bumper.
Generally, I’m not really a fan of crossovers or SUVs but I have to say, the Q2 does look pretty good. Especially when that C-Pillar is painted black instead of silver.
Quattro
The Audi Q2 on test is powered by the strongest diesel available in the Q2, the 2.0L 35TDI engine, which produces 150 hp and 360 Nm’s of torque. That engine is hooked up to a 7-speed S-Tronic. It’s plenty fast enough on day to day use but the engine can get quite noisy from time to time and kickdown sometimes takes a little longer than it normally does. Other than that, it’s a great engine and even with Quattro (which works really well in the snow by the way), the Q2 averages around 7 L/100 km.
The chassis is as you would expect from the MQB platform. It rides beautifully balanced. There’s very little bodyroll noticeable whilst still being very comfortable for longer journeys.
Small yet surprisingly big
Inside is where you’ll notice this is an “older” car. Meaning that it still uses the old MMI Navigational with the rotational knob in the center console. The facelift however brings a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.3-inch infotainment screen stuck onto the dashboard. As opposed to the new built in all-digital touchscreens with the new interface.
That being said, this iteration is not something that really bothers you, it’s wonderfully intuitive and still has decent amounts of physical buttons. Something that’s actually nice to see in cars these days. It’s a much more simple cabin to navigate through. So although it might be “dated” in the Audi line-up, the lack of too much touchscreens actually benefits in the Q2.
Inside, the car is beautifully finished with soft plastics and leather, the typical premium feel you’d expect from Audi. The sport seats offer plenty of side support without ever becoming too much to handle on longer trips or on a daily base. The added interior lighting patern along the center console and passenger side of the dashboard is a really nice added feature, completely changes the feel of the car when driving in the dark.
Oh and I haven’t talked about the Bang & Olufsen stereo yet. It’s a must for long trips as the tones are crisp clear and there’s a good amount of bass to them. Really, it’s one of the first options you need to select.
In the back there’s plenty of space for children (or a medium sized dog) and with 355 L, the trunk is more than big enough for your weekly trip to the supermarket.
So where does the Q2 fit in?
Similarly priced as the A3, it really is a tough one though. Styling-wise it really depends on taste and you won’t find Quattro in the A3 unless you go to the S3. The Q2 however does offer Quattro in its highest engine spec.
On the consumption side, the Q2 will use more fuel due to it sitting higher and the Quattro system.
In terms of towing capacity (since it’s still a compact SUV), it’s a bit ahead of the A3 depending on which trailer you’re using.
Inside both are stunningly finished, however you’ll only find the newest and latest features in the A3. That said, sometimes less is more.
The Q2 is a little smaller in length than the A3 and that also translates in a smaller trunk. There is more headroom inside the Q2 and it feels a little more open, probably thanks to the higher seating position.
So the Q2’s main selling point is the growing trend of crossovers, people love them. Mainly because you get to sit higher in the car. The differences between the A3 and Q2 are minimal. Yes, the A3 seems to have the edge, but it’s only by a negligible margin. Choosing either of the 2 will come down to your seating and styling preference.
