Local Launch
Audi Australia has completed its three-variant Q2 model vary with the Q2 sport two.0 TFSI quattro S tronic. Slotting in close to the highest of the pint-sized SUV vary priced at $48,500 and on-road prices, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol all-wheel drive crossover is positioned well higher than the sub-$42,000 entry-level front-drive Q2 style one.4 TFSI, however $600 below the flagship Q2 sport two.0 TDI quattro ($49,100 and ORCs) within the all-auto Q2 S tronic line-up. That’s thanks to a $1200 increment for the latter as a part of a MY18 Q2 upgrade, that brings minor description will increase and conjointly sees the bottom value hike by $700 to $41,800 and ORCs.
Audi Q2 2.0 TFSI sport quattro S tronic
Local Launch
Newcastle, NSW
It might be stating the apparent, however at but four.2 metres long and one.8m wide and around one.5m high, the Q2 – Audi’s 1st design-themed, even-numbered alphabetic character model, with the Q8 to follow – is additional hatchback than SUV.
OK, thus Audi says ESC Offroad mode, additional abdomen protection, 22mm additional ride height than the A3 and (in this case) quattro all-wheel drive permit it to venture more aloof from tarmac than most little hatches.
But with a deficient 147mm of ground clearance and part-time AWD system, this can be no LandCruiser.
The Q2 is, however, nearly distinctive within the market, being atiny low luxury SUV that at simply 4191mm long is shorter than the Q3 (4388mm; next year’s new Q3 is anticipated to grow) and even thought compact SUVs just like the Mazda CX-3 (4275mm).
Bigger than solely the four-metre A1 hatch within the German car-maker’s vary, Audi’s smallest SUV (it was originally about to be referred to as the Q1) is even shorter than the A3 three-door not oversubscribed here (4237mm).
Indeed, solely BMW -- via its mini small-car complete – features a competition for the Q2 within the Countryman, that is priced between $40,500 and $57,900.
MINI’s second-generation Countryman went on sale here in Gregorian calendar month – a similar month Audi launched its 1st Q2 – and since then the latter has found over double the quantity of homes with over 1500 oversubscribed in a very invasive a part of the market.
Like the mini, the Q2 is way additional distinctive on the road than a standard hatchback, during this case because of a ‘polygonal’ style theme that extends to the body sides, headlights, air intakes and grille, that contains thirty four polygons.
Also serving to it stand out from the group may be a sloping, coupe-like roofline, that reduces rear headroom, rear vision and boot capability, though all of those stay generous enough.
In fact the latter is comparatively handy at 355 litres (more than the CX-3’s deficient 264 litres, however but the A3 Sportback’s 380), extending to one thousand litres with the 60/40-split rear seat collapsable down.
And the Q2 compensates somewhat with similar rear legroom to the Q3, whose distance is simply 8mm longer (most of its additional 20cm long is within the overhangs).
That said, rear legroom remains tight, the centre rear seat is heavily crookback, there aren't any rear air retailers and next year’s second-generation Q3 ought to be a lot of larger – and higher, as a result of it'll migrate from the Volkswagen Group’s previous PQ35 platform to its latest MQB design, that created its Audi debut below this A3 and conjointly underpins the Q2.
But the very fact is that the Q2 isn’t as instantly recognizable because the Countryman, or nearly as bold as several thought little SUVs as well as Toyota’s C-HR, Hyundai’s Kona, Nissan’s JUKE and even the Honda HR-V.
That political orientation continues within to a additional classical German dashboard layout, however in typical Audi fashion the Q2 wins solid points for its impeccable interior match and end, as well as soft-touch surfaces on the dash and most contact points.
Options galore
Like the mini (and the A1), the Q2 offers intensive customisation, as well as bumpers and lower body in matching colors (a $500 choice at base ‘design’ level) or a neat trying different Manhattan gray ($500 for ‘sport’ models).
In that case a similar hue is applied to the Q2’s trademark C-pillar ‘blade’, that is otherwise Ti matt gray ($350 for the bottom style variant) or is had in Ice silver gold ($350 for sport models) or body color (no cost).
There’s conjointly a Ti black exterior styling pack ($900), optional alloy wheels up to a $1500 19-inch set rather than the design’s 17-inch and also the sport’s 18-inch alloys.
The only commonplace paint colors ar good black and wading bird white, with Quantum gray and Vegas yellow cost accounting $800, a spread of gold hues (white, silver, orange, black, gray and red) cost accounting an extra $1150 and crystal-effect Ara blue adding $1750.
For the additional $6700, the Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro brings additional commonplace options than the bottom Q2 one.4 TFSI ‘design’, in line with the Q2 two.0 TDI with that it shares its ‘sport’ instrumentality list.
Apart from 18-inch alloys, body-coloured bumpers and facet skirts and matt-grey C-pillar highlights, meaning it comes with facet assist, a power-driven tailgate, leather-appointed sports front seats and aluminium-look interior highlights.
These options ar additionally to straightforward Q2 things sort of a five-star ANCAP safety rating, reversing camera, six airbags, stability management, anti-lock brakes, rear cross-traffic alert and pre sense town (automatic emergency braking) with pedestrian detection at quickens to 65km/h.
However, a superior vary of safety functions value additional as a part of Associate in Nursing help package ($990 for sport models, $1600 for the bottom design) that has AEB up to 200km/h, active lane assist, facet assist, reconciling controller with stop/go, high-beam assist, hill hold assist, park assist and tie up assist, that provides the Q2 with Level two inactive autonomous driving practicality up to 65km/h for brief periods.
Now commonplace across the Q2 line-up as a part of the MY18 upgrade ar crystal rectifier headlights and tail-lights (the latter with dynamic indicators), whereas carryover options embrace a seven.0-inch MMI flick show with 3D satellite mapping, voice management, Bluetooth and eight speakers and Audi connect Wi-Fi hotspot and Google services (requires knowledge plan).
Other range-wide commonplace options embrace a multi-function handwheel with shift paddles, dual-zone climate-control, controller with speed-limiter, automatic headlights and wipers, front/rear parking sensors, front centre rest, 60/40-split folding rear seat, floor mats and power windows/mirrors.
The only real omission here seems to be electrical front seat adjustment, however the optional extras keep returning within the variety of a $1500 interior S line sport pack with Y-spoke 18-inch alloys, 10mm lower sports suspension, embossed/perforated Alcantara/leather seat trim, flat-bottom handwheel with perforated animal skin, brushed matt metallic element inlays, black headlining, chrome steel pedals/footrest and lighted metallic element door sills.
The $1900 Comfort pack contains keyless entry/start, heated/dimming/folding wing mirrors, power front body part change, heated front seats, rear 12-volt outlet and a spread of additional storage options as well as a bags internet.
The $2500 S line exterior pack includes distinctive front/rear bumpers and diffuser with logos and metallic element door sill trims, whereas for a similar value the Technik pack adds MMI Navigation and, multi-function flat-bottom animal skin sport handwheel with paddles, and Audi’s configurable twelve.3-inch virtual cockpit instruments.
Individual choices embrace Associate in Nursing crystal rectifier lighting package ($300), Audi drive choose ($400), 180-Watt 10-speaker sound ($500), digital radio ($550), rear privacy glass ($700), head-up show ($1050), black Milano animal skin ($1400), 705W 14-speaker sound ($1500) and wide sunshine-roof ($1950).
Tick enough of those boxes and it’s straightforward to show this already costly sub-$50,000 little automobile into one thing cost accounting near $80,000.
On the firm facet
Style is within the eye of the perceiver however (after the cool virtual cockpit instruments; shame it's a part of the $2500 Technik pack) the primary choice we’d decide is reconciling dampers as well as Audi drive choose ($1500) and also the last is sport suspension ($400).
That’s as a result of the former’s 10mm lower ride height would negate [*fr1] the Q2’s additional ground clearance over Associate in Nursing A3 hatch and ride quality – in line with its positioning as a “sports automobile for the family” -- is already firm.
None of the cars at the media launch were fitted with sports suspension or reconciling dampers, however we’d guess the previous would solely create matters worse and also the latter would provide additional compliance than the quality suspension set-up.
As proven by its commonplace ‘progressive’ mechanical device speed-dependent steering, that reacts sharply however lacks the feedback of a mini, it’s clear Audi has given the Q2 gaudy dynamics to match its style focus.
But we’d recommend {you try|you ar trying|you are attempting} before you get – with and while not the reconciling dampers – lest you regret the busy ride once road surfaces are but excellent.
If on the opposite hand you make up Audi’s target marketplace for the Q2 -- largely females, largely couples and fewer families than alternative alphabetic character models, as well as the Q3 – and yearn for a gaudy very little SUV that emphasises handling over comfort then the Q2 two.0 TFSI quattro’s (part-time) all-wheel drive system and cheerful turbo-petrol four may well be simply the price ticket.
Plenty of sprightliness
It might consume ninety five Bokkos premium unleaded and need sexual union each twelve months or fifteen,000km, however the 140kW/320Nm two.0-litre turbo-petrol power-driven Q2 brings additional power than each the present 110kW Q2 fuel and diesel models (although the pricier Q2 TDI delivers additional force at 340Nm).
At 6.5 seconds, the Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro’s claimed zero-100km/h time is not up to each the front-drive one.4 TFSI (8.5sec) and also the all-wheel drive two.0 TDI (8.1sec), and its 228km/h high speed higher (versus 212 and 211km/h).
Matched as commonplace with Audi’s snappy seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission, the zippy two.0-litre turbo engine conjointly powers the VW Golf and Audi A3/A4/A5 and brings a replacement Miller cycle-style combustion method with shorter compression and longer enlargement cycles.
That trade-off is fuel consumption, which at 6.5L/100km is over each the bottom fuel (5.3L/100km) and diesel (5.0L/100km) models.
Compared to the front-drive Countryman Cooper S machine, that is $1300 cheaper at $47,200, Audi says the Q2 two.0 TFSI quattro S tronic delivers 1kW less power however 40Nm additional force, yet is 0.9sec faster to 100km/h and even as economical.
So the new Q2 performance flagship is a rich very little automobile – particularly if you go mad with choices -- however it’s conjointly nearly $5000 cheaper (and nearly as big) because the equivalent Q3.
Perhaps additional significantly, at just below $50,000 (before on-road prices and options), it’s $1500 more cost-effective, additional distinctive, easier to measure with and can go (a few) additional places than Audi’s automatically similar A3 Sportback two.0 TFSI Sport quattro.
2018 Q2 2.0 TFSI quattro sport S tronic valuation and specifications:
Price: $48,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 140kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
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