Audi Q2 review

Although the Q2 is a little pricier than mainstream rivals such as the Seat Arona and Renault Captur, it's still a sensible buy. That’s because its premium badge and sporty SUV styling will have people queuing up to buy one, boding well for future resale values. Monthly PCP finance deals are surprisingly affordable, too.

With CO2 emissions of 147g/km, the 30 35 TFSI petrol engine occupies the 33% Benefit-in-Kind company car tax band. Those results, while competitive, are not quite as good as those of the 1.2-litre 130 Puretech engine in the Peugeot 2008, which emits 132g/km. 

Our True MPG tests have revealed the Q2 to be relatively frugal, too; the 35 TFSI returned 39.1mpg.

Trims start off with Technik. This isn’t especially well equipped for a car in this price range, highlights being 16in alloy wheels, a DAB radio and air-con, as well as that 7.0in infotainment system with smartphone mirroring. We’d recommend taking the step up to Sport, because, for a reasonable premium over Technik, you get 17in wheels, sat-nav, automatic lights and cruise control. It looks jazzier, thanks to contrasting paint on the exterior of the rear pillars, and Audi’s Drive Select driving modes are included, too. 

Finally, range-topping Vorsprung cars get almost everything on the Audi options list; the aforementioned adaptive suspension comes as standard, plus there’s that larger 8.2in infotainment screen. There’s also an upgraded stereo by Bang & Olufsen, a panoramic sunroof, adjustable lumbar support and front sports seats wrapped in Nappa leather, all as standard. It’s eye-wateringly expensive, though, compared with lesser models.

The Q2 didn’t perform particularly well in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing third bottom of the small SUV class results table; that said, it did beat its close rival, the Volkswagen T-Roc.

Audi didn’t do too well as a brand, either, finishing 16th out of 31 manufacturers. At least it beat other premium rivals including BMW and Mercedes. 

You get a comprehensive three-year, 60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty, which includes breakdown cover. You can extend this for a reasonable cost for up to five years or 90,000 miles.

The Q2 received a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, with a strong 93% score for adult protection and 86% for child protection. That makes it one of the safest cars in its class.

All models come with a generous scattering of airbags and two rear Isofix child seat mounting points, plus there are a number of safety systems to help prevent accidents. These include automatic emergency braking (AEB) to mitigate the risk of rear-ending the car in front around town, and optional lane-keeping assistance to reduce the likelihood of wandering out of your lane on the motorway.

Also on the options list is Audi Side Assist, which warns you if another car is in your blind spot when you are about to change lane, and can apply the brakes if you haven't seen a car crossing behind you when reversing out of a tight driveway or parking space.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here