Audi Q2 Estate

• Body Glass
  • Front windscreen with grey tinted sunband
  • Rear wiper
  • Variable front intermittent wipers
• Brakes
  • Brake calipers painted black with S logo at the front
  • Electromechanical parking brake
  • Electronic stabilisation control including ABS, ASR and EDL
  • Hill hold assist
  • S model enhanced braking system
• Carpets/Rugs
  • Front/rear floor mats
• Chassis/Suspension
  • S sport suspension lowered by 20mm
• Communication
  • Audi connect navigation and infotainment includes innovative services
  • Audi connect remote and control connects your vehicle to your smartphone
  • Audi smartphone interface
  • Bluetooth interface includes bluetooth audio streaming
  • E-call
• Driver Aids
  • Audi drive select - Power steering assistance + engine + gearshift
  • Audi drive select with efficiency
  • Cruise control
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Progressive steering
  • Rear view camera
• Driver Convenience
  • Automatic start/stop system with recuperation
  • Power operated tailgate
• Driver Information
  • Audi virtual cockpit
  • Instrument dials with S logo
  • MMI navigation plus with MMI touch
• Driving Mirrors
  • Auto dimming rear view mirror
  • Electrically adjustable, folding, auto dimming and heated door mirrors with integrated LED side indicators
• Embellishment Trims
  • Aluminium interior element
  • Matt brushed aluminium trim inlays
• Entertainment
  • 2 x SDXC card reader
  • 6 passive loudspeakers
  • DAB Digital radio
  • DVD Drive
• Exterior Body Features
  • Black window trims
  • Rear side wing doors
  • S design radiator grille with horizontal struts and SQ2 logo
  • S Line body styling - SQ2 front bumper with S design air inlets, S design underbody protection, rear diffuser in silver, SQ2 roof spoiler
  • S specific dual branch chrome tailpipes with twin tailpipes on both the left and right
  • Wheel arch trims in manhattan grey
• Exterior Lights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED headlights with LED rear lights
  • LED third brake light
• Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
  • Dual zone electronic climate control
• Interior Features
  • 12v socket in front
  • 3 spoke flat bottomed multifunction leather sport steering wheel with S badge perforated leather grips/rock grey contrast stitch + gearshift paddles
  • Black cloth headlining
  • Front centre armrest
  • Height/reach adjust steering wheel
  • Illuminated door sill trims with S logo
  • Stainless steel pedals
  • Tool kit
• Packs
  • Extended interior upholstery pack - SQ2
• Safety
  • 3x3 point rear seatbelts
  • 6 airbags - Front, curtain and front side airbags
  • Front passenger airbag deactivation
  • Pre-sense front with pedestrian recognition
  • Seatbelt monitoring
  • Tyre pressure warning light
  • Warning triangle and first aid kit
• Seats
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 4-way electric lumbar support for front seats including seat height adjustment for both front seat
  • 60/40 split folding rear seat bench
  • Electronically operated child locks
  • Front and rear head restraints
  • ISOFIX child seat mounting in front passenger and rear outer seats
  • Single front passenger seat
• Security
  • Anti theft alarm
  • Anti theft wheel bolts
  • Remote central door locking
• Transmission
  • Quattro all wheel drive
• Wheels - Alloy
  • 18" 5 V spoke design alloy wheels

• Emissions - ICE
  • HC+NOx:
  • Particles:
  • Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 188
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 190
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 188
• Engine and Drive Train
  • Camshaft: DOHC
  • Catalytic Convertor: Yes
  • CC: 1,984
  • Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE
  • Engine Code: GAGS3Y
  • Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE
  • Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION
  • Gears: 7 SPEED
  • Transmission: SEMI-AUTO
• Fuel Consumption - ICE
  • EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: No
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 8.3
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 8.4
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 8.3
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb: 34
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 33.6
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 34
• General
  • Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No
  • Badge Engine CC: 2.0
  • Badge Power: 300
  • Based On ID:
  • Coin Description: TFSI Quattro
  • Coin Series: SQ2
  • Generation Mark: 1
  • Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 33E
  • Man Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12
  • Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3
  • NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %:
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection %:
  • NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09:
  • NCAP Pedestrian Protection %:
  • NCAP Safety Assist %:
  • Safety Concerns?: No
  • Special Edition: No
  • Special Order: No
  • Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60,000
  • Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3
  • Vehicle Homologation Class: M1
• Performance
  • 0 to 60 mph (secs): No
  • 0 to 62 mph (secs): 4.9
  • Engine Power - BHP: 300
  • Engine Power - KW: 221
  • Engine Power - PS: Yes
  • Engine Power - RPM: 5,300
  • Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 295
  • Engine Torque - MKG: 40.8
  • Engine Torque - NM: 400
  • Engine Torque - RPM: 2000
  • Top Speed: 155
• Test Cycles
  • Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP
  • RDE Certification Level: RDE 2
• Tyres
  • Alloys?: Yes
  • Space Saver?: No
  • Tyre Size Front: 235/45 R18
  • Tyre Size Rear: 235/45 R18
  • Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
  • Wheel Style: 5-V-SPOKE
  • Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY
• Vehicle Dimensions
  • Height:
  • Height (including roof rails): 1,524
  • Length: 4,216
  • Wheelbase: 2,594
  • Width: N
  • Width (including mirrors): 2,009
• Weight and Capacities
  • Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 55
  • Gross Vehicle Weight: 2,060
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1000
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 355
  • Max. Loading Weight: 525
  • Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1,600
  • Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750
  • Minimum Kerbweight: 1,535
  • No. of Seats: 5
  • Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.1

Ten Second Review
Shopping rockets used to be based on superminis and family hatchbacks. Now, increasingly, we're seeing a switch over to performance-minded small crossovers like this Audi SQ2. You get most of the dynamic drive of a hot hatch. With extra style and practicality. And, in the case of the improved version of this Audi, a decent dose of quality too.

Background
Audi's 'S' series of performance models is well established. The brand's 'SQ' range less so. Those two letters designate performance versions of the company's SUVs and the SQ model line was originated with the SQ5 of 2013, which was followed by the larger SQ7 of 2016. Curiously, there's never been an SQ3 to widen the scope for this sub-franchise - only a wild RS Q3 variant that few could afford. But in 2018, we did get this car, the SQ2, which really amounted to precisely that. With all the engineering ingredients we would have expected from an SQ3. Do they all add up here in this improved version launched in 2020? Let's see.

Driving Experience
There are no dynamic changes to this improved SQ2 and if you happen to be a student of Volkswagen Group performance models, you might be pretty familiar with the recipe on offer here. Namely, the award-winning EA888 version of the 2.0-litre TSI petrol turbo engine in 300PS form. Plus 4WD and a DSG 7-speed paddleshift auto gearbox. Pretty much what you'll find in a Golf R. And exactly as you'll find it with this car's two similarly priced compact SUV Volkswagen Group cousins, the Volkswagen T-Roc R and the CUPRA Ateca. Or perhaps not quite exactly. Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers are optional (or in the case of the CUPRA, standard) on the other Wolfsburg models featuring this engineering package, but you can't have them at all here. Which seems something of an oversight on Audi's part. Unlike front-driven Q2 variants, quattro versions of this model like this one have proper sophisticated four-link suspension, but the ride of this SQ2 can still feel somewhat over firm on poorer surfaces. It's still properly fast though. There's an actual (not limited) top speed of 155mph. And the 62mph sprint from rest is dispatched with impressive ferocity in just 4.9s, with torque that keeps pulling like a train up to 5,200rpm, so when you put your foot down in just about any gear, the car spears forward. True, there's a touch more body roll through the turns than you'd get in a Golf R or an Audi S3 but you'd expect the fractionally higher driving position to deliver that. An arguably greater issue is the way that this exacerbates the lack of lateral support provided by the sports seats.

Design and Build
'S'-model Audis specialise in subtle yet potent visual adornment and the SQ2 doesn't deviate from this policy. This improved model gets a slightly lower octagonal grille flanked by upgraded full-LED headlights. The design of the large implied air intakes surrounded by wide frames in selenite silver is also more expressive, and narrow slits between the radiator grille and the bonnet pay homage to the design of the iconic Audi Sport quattro. As before, assertive air intakes in the front bumper feature unique vanes and can be ringed by broad, black accents. There's sports suspension which lowers the car 20mm further towards terra firma. And the rear end features no fewer than four exhaust pipes. Inside, trimming for the doors, air vents and gear lever has been upgraded. Audi's 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument binnacle screen is now standard and there's an improved 8.3-inch 'MMI navigation plus' centre dash infotainment screen operable by natural language voice control. As before, there are the expected sports seats but they position you a little higher up than some ex-hot hatch drivers might like. This is one of Audi's older cockpit designs, but the circular air vents and soft moulded dash top still look good. Good enough though, for a £40,000 car? That might be a matter for more debate. Otherwise, though, things are much as they would be in any other Q2. Which means that rear seat space offers 650mm of legroom and 930mm of headroom. That's pretty similar to what you'd get in an A3 Sportback (comfortable for two adults but a squash for three). Out back, there's a 355-litre boot.

Market and Model
There are three trim levels - standard, 'Black edition' and 'Vorsprung'. Audi wants around £39,000 for the standard version of this SQ2, which you might think sounds rather a lot but is in the same ballpark as the money being asked for comparable VW Group performance products featuring the same engine and performance recipe, cars like the Golf R, the CUPRA Ateca and the Volkswagen T-Roc R. Audi points out that the fee required for this 300PS SQ2 is only a couple of thousand more than the ritziest 'Black Edition' version of a Q2 40 TFSI quattro with the 190PS version of this same 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine. Unfortunately, you'll almost certainly be paying more than that to get the kind of SQ2 you'd ideally want. Almost all buyers of this model opt to pay the £1,400 more that the brand wants for its optional 'Technology Package, which includes a larger 8.3-inch centre-dash screen for the MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system, along with the Virtual Cockpit digital instrument binnacle. Other popular options include larger 19-inch wheels (£1,500) and embellishments like gloss black interior trim and privacy glass. You might also want to pay around £700 more for the 14-speaker 705-watt Bang & Olufsen premium audio set-up with its concert hall-quality 3D surround sound. The sports seats can be had in full-leather finishes that come with a choice of either 'Milano' or softer 'Nappa' hide.

Cost of Ownership
Let's get to the figures: up to 34.0mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. And 188g/km of WLTP-rated CO2. These are reasonable by class standards thanks to the use of a dual-clutch transmission which has an efficient type of oil supply and reduced friction. Depreciation figures should be as strong as they usually are on Audi models. It's a little disappointing though, that the brand sticks to its usual 60,000 mile limit on the three year warranty. Optional extra-cost packages can extend the cover to either four or five years. As for servicing costs, well Audi service intervals tend to range from every 9,000 miles for minor checks to every 19,000 miles for a full service. Further assistance in this regard is provided by a fixed price servicing plan that can cover you for between three and five years. In fact, this car can even book its own service appointments via an 'Audi connect safety and service' system app. As well as providing emergency calling and online roadside assistance, this feature can, at the appropriate time, send a service request direct to your local dealer. Another neat service your dealer can offer you is the so-called 'Audi Cam' system. Here, technicians carrying out workshop inspections on your Q2 can focus a hand-held 'Audi Cam' camera on specific problems, accompanying the image with a verbal diagnosis to create footage that can be sent to your computer or smartphone. That way, you'll know precisely what work you're authorising on your car.

Summary
Cynics dismiss the SQ2 as a 'copy-and-paste' facsimile of every other 2.0-litre turbo 300PS all-wheel-drive performance model in the Volkswagen Group's growing portfolio. But that's evidently what customers want: fundamentally sound engineering available in a variety of different flavours. The one on offer here is distinctly Audi in its presentation and if you like that, then you simply won't want a Volkswagen T-Roc R or a CUPRA Ateca as an alternative, no matter how much the motoring press tell you that they're all essentially the same confection. The SQ2 loses out to these two cousins in its lack of the adjustable damping option we think it needs. And it's a little smaller inside. But you can't help feeling that it's a slightly higher quality item. Or maybe it's just the badge on the front. But so what if it is? Sometimes, we just want nice things.