Q the applause for Audi's new entry to SUV market

The new Audi Q2 is excellent but pricey

Audi Q2 1.4TFSi COD S Line

The German trio of Audi, BMW and Mercedes are in a race to complete the jigsaw puzzle first.

With many pieces already in place, the race to find the final few pieces is on.

The jigsaw is, of course, the growing number of cars offered by the big three — we’ve saloons, estates, supercars and SUVs.

The premium brands have been on the new-car offensive of late and more and more holes have been plugged in their line-ups.

BMW re-aligned their stable, with saloons getting the odd numbers and coupes getting the evens.

Don’t get us started on Mercedes-Benz: the amount of letters they use would be hard for Countdown contestants to make sense of.

Audi keep things quite simple with the A1, A3, A4 and so on. The fast cars get S/RS and the SUVs get Q.

There are a few missing numbers in the line-up, and you can expect over the next few years that some of these will come to fruition.

The latest model with the four rings we tested was the new Q2 SUV.

Going back to last year’s Paris Motor Show, we were undecided in the styling of the Q2.

The blade-type design on the rear pillar looked out of place and we didn’t know if it was a hatch on steroids or an SUV.

Having spent the week behind the wheel, we really get what the Q2 message is all about.

Many won’t be able to jump straight into a big Q7, or even a Q5 for that matter, so by offering the Q2, Audi is tempting buyers to get on the SUV bandwagon.

Maybe it was a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder, but the mixed feelings we had about the Q2 were dispelled once we spent a few days with it.

The blade actually works as a design addition and gives the SUV a different look. We feel it’s a better-looking car than the Q3.

Our test car was the brightest yellow you could find and, while not our pick of the paint chart, we actually liked it’s vibrancy.

When you drive among the bland silvers and blacks in traffic, it really stands out and certainly turned a few heads.

The Q2 may not look like a big presence from the outside, but once seated, you do feel like you are driving an SUV-type vehicle and you have a nice clear overview of the road ahead.

It’s seriously comfortable and there is plenty of leg and headroom for all passengers. The boot isn’t too bad and has enough capacity (405 litres) to eat up the weekly shop.

It’s beautifully finished off inside, just as you’d expect from Audi – we both still agree that they make the best cabins.

The materials used and the finish is top-class, and every other manufacturer could learn a lot from sitting in an Audi.

The interior LED lighting package, which is an option, is a really nice feature. It looks high-end and when the inlays are illuminated at night (choice of colours), it makes the car feel special.

The new Q2 is available in two trims — SE and S-Line — five paint colours and four blade colours. You can personalise the interior also, so the Q2 has real personality.

Our car was the S-Line model and we feel when buying an Audi, you really need to stretch to the S-Line. It just adds the sporty finish that really sets the car off.

Audi is offering five engines in the new Q2, from the 1.0 petrol to the 1.6TDi. You can also have quattro four-wheel drive, and the power ranges from 115 to 150bhp.

We drove the 1.4TSFi with COD (cylinder on demand) which helps the petrol achieve figures that many diesels would be proud of. The claimed figure  is 4.8l/100kms, which is a little off reality.

However, this is a 150bhp petrol with a seven-speed auto box and we still managed a rather decent 6.4l/100kms.

The engine is lively and gallops along nicely. The S-Tronic auto box is a real joy and makes driving an ease.

Get on the motorway and you can see why you pay a premium for an Audi; it’s just so refined.

Even though this is a small SUV, it would leave many warm hatches trailing in its wake on the back roads.

It has great grip levels and a sweet chassis that allows for a more enjoyable drive.

The Q2 is a fabulous addition to the Audi line-up, but there is one major concern — the price.

Our test car with a nice few extras, bigger engine and auto box came in at almost €47k.

The Q2 starts at €31k, which isn’t too bad, but you will want a few nice options.

Expect to pay close to €40k when you add a few ticks in the extras list and get the engine you want.

For us, if find yourself in an Audi showroom with €40k burning a hole in your pocket, buy an A4 Avant.

Tech Spec:

Model: Audi Q2 1.4TFSI COD 150bhp S-Tronic
Price: From €30,950 (test car €46,369)
Road Tax: Band B1 €270
0-100kph: 8.5s
Max Speed: 231kph
Fuel Economy: 4.8l/100kms (claimed)
Boot Space: 405 litres

Paul Keown & Robbie Farrell