Audi Q2 long-term test: report 5

The car Audi Q2 35 TFSI S line S tronic Run by Darren Moss, deputy digital editor

Why it’s here To prove that small SUVs can still offer the kind of comfort and luxury you’d expect from a larger, more expensive car

Needs to be comfortable for commuting, practical for longer trips, economical, and able to function as a mobile office

Mileage 1318 List price £33,915 Target Price £32,350 Price as tested £35,635 Test economy 41.1mpg Official economy 45.6mpg

19 October 2023 – The sound of music

If you're into theatre and the works of Tolkien, as I am, the fact that there’s now a stage show based on The Lord of the Rings is big news indeed. And going to see it provided the perfect opportunity for an adventure of my own in my Audi Q2.

With bums on four of the seats, we set off from London on a 120-mile round trip to the theatre in Newbury. Despite the heavy load, the Q2’s 1.5-litre petrol engine offered peppy acceleration in city traffic, before settling down to a quiet thrum on the motorway.

Even this was inaudible once we’d got the score from The Lord of the Rings film series playing on the Q2’s Sonos audio system. The crisp sound made me doubt whether there’s any need to step up to Vorsprung trim for its 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen set-up.

After the show, and with our cultural thirst sated, we enjoyed a leisurely drive back home, with my passengers thankful for the Q2’s comfortable seats. Theatre seating can sometimes make you feel crammed in like sardines in a can, so we were all grateful for the Audi’s relatively generous space, which allowed my rear-seat passengers to stretch out – even behind a tall driver.

Other things my party commented on were the Q2’s LED interior lights, which I can change the colour of via the infotainment touchscreen to suit my mood, and the design of my car’s air vents, which have a premium-feeling surround and close with a satisfying twist.

I was reminded as I dropped my companions off home that you could spend a lot less on a small SUV – the MG ZS, for example, costs around half the price of my Audi, and would have completed this same journey while offering similar space for my passengers. Would it have been as comfortable or luxurious, though? I’m inclined to think not. If you want the small SUV with the best interior, my Q2 still holds the crown.

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