Audi’s Quick-Witted Q2 will have its Cake and Eat It Too

The ‘#untaggable’ Audi Q2 arrived in Cape Town last week. Why #Untaggable, exactly? By not giving the rebellious-looking Q2 a specific label, Audi is tapping into the individualist trend, and hopes to gain buyers that never looked at an Audi before. Did the conservatively styled Q3 not appeal to you? Well, chances are you’re going to like the edgier Q2. And edgier it is. The sharp and angular design language of the Q2 is the exact opposite of the Q3’s rounded curves. I am loving this return to the neater, boxier Audi hatchback shape we saw in the eighties. The new Q2 is indeed dressed to kill, and will serve to inject some spark into the Audi brand where different models bear a little too much resemblance to one another. Then again, the Q2 will be leading the way in the new style direction Audi is taking - so it isn’t going to be that unique for long, I suppose. But let’s turn that corner when we come to it. For now, it’s getting me rather hot under the collar.

When the long line of multi-coloured Q2’s greeted us at Cape Town International Airport, I was smitten long before I even opened a boot-lid to stow my luggage. As luck would have it, no one had claimed the Q2 1.4 T FSI Sport S tronic in Vegas Yellow, my co-driver and I jumped at the chance. After easily securing both our bags underneath the luggage net in the back (it’s just easier when the clips are made of metal instead of plastic), I sat on the passenger seat, scrolling through the entire spectrum of colours you can choose as your ambient lighting (optional). I’ve always been mad for an Audi interior, and the Q2’s cabin not only underlines it, but adds some hypothetical glitter too.

Another example of clever European engineering is the amount of usable space. I won’t suggest this car for a family of 5, but 4 adults and a week’s worth of luggage (max) will be easily transportable. The Q2 is built on the A3 platform, and offers more-or-less the same amount of room as the Q3. The Q2’s luggage compartment is capable of swallowing 450 litres with all seats up.

My co-driver, Elise Kirsten, would be at the helm of the new Q2 first. Our launch route would take us from the airport to the Du Toit’s Kloof tunnel and beyond, and then to Rawsonville where we’d have our first driver change. After adjusting my seat, I still found it quite unsupportive in the lumbar area. Nevertheless, much fun was had on the twisty and narrow Bain’s Kloof Pass later, which reminded me that we were indeed in a compact Audi, and its nimbleness through the gravel bends was almost to be expected, despite its short wheelbase and high centre of gravity. The 1.4-litre turbocharged, cylinder-on-demand engine is eager and frugal, shutting down two of its four cylinders when cruising to preserve petrol. The 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission is smooth and quietly efficient - as usual.

The athletic character of the Q2 makes for a hard ride, compliments of the large 18-inch wheels and sporty suspension. The optional Audi Drive Select system was set to ‘Comfort’ over the roughest parts of the pass, but this did not make much of a difference. Urban warriors who don’t venture out of town often, probably won’t lose sleep over this (unless their route home has many potholes).

The Audi S3’s light-but-direct steering is carried over into the Q2, which yet again accentuates the Q2’s sportier, city-slicking intentions rather than outdoorsy ones. And even though the Audi Quattro-DNA is evident, the Q2 won’t be offered in anything but front-wheel-drive in SA, where the ‘Quattro’ nomenclature would price the Q2 out of the market.
After another quick detour through the countryside, we were back on the N1 where the Q2 felt right at home, but in heavy traffic, my right foot was beginning to tire. I’d have to flex my foot excessively before depressing the accelerator and the brakes. I trust that this is something one would get used to, but I would suggest plenty of experimentation with the seat adjustment when you do go for a test drive. The Q2’s many (optional) assistance systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control with stop & go, will be the foot-fatigue relieving antidote on your daily commute. This will bring the Q2 to a standstill and pull off when the car in front of you starts moving again.

Our particular Q2 had an array of other optional assistance systems too, of which many are a first in the A0 segment, such as Audi Pre-Sense Front, which uses radar to anticipate potential hazards, like absent-minded pedestrians who start jay-walking when you least expect them to. The system audibly warns you and will make the Q2 come to a stop if needed. Other systems include Cross Traffic Assist Rear (which warns you of other traffic/pedestrians crossing behind you), and Audi Side Assist. 6 airbags and stability control are standard.

Comprehensive connectivity is another priority for Audi customers, so the Q2 offers a standard MMI radio (which includes Bluetooth/audio streaming) with a non-retractable monitor – pity that it doesn’t slide silently into the dash like the A3’s screen, though. MMI Navigation Plus is an option that was fitted in our Q2, as was the Bang & Olufsen sound system that delighted us on our drive. The Audi Virtual Cockpit is also carried over into the new Q2, but is optional as well.

On looks alone I am bowled over. The Q2 is a fashion accessory bar none, and a highly practical one at that… but don’t expect it to do behave like a Range Rover Evoque. It’s not built for traversing mountains. But if you enjoy a premium set of wheels and your image needs serious sprucing up, the Q2 will do rather nicely - adding sportscar-like sex-appeal to that already favourable bank balance.
Click on http://www.audi.co.za/za/web/en/models/q2/q2.html for more info.       
       

Standard equipment:

The 1.0T base models will offer the following standard equipment:

•    16” alloy wheels
•    4 passive loudspeakers (front)
•    Audi music interface
•    Auto release function
•    Blade in body colour
•    Bluetooth interface
•    Child seat anchor in front
•    Cruise control system and speed limiter
•    Driver information system
•    Electronic stability control (ESC)
•    Exterior mirror housings painted in body colour
•    Folding rear seat back
•    Front centre armrest
•    Full-size airbags with deactivation switch for front-passenger airbag
•    Halogen twin headlamps
•    Headlight range adjustment
•    Headlining in titanium grey cloth
•    Inlays in diamond paint finish, silver grey
•    Interior lighting
•    Interior mirror with manual dimming action
•    Light / rain sensor
•    Luggage compartment mat
•    Manual air conditioning system
•    MMI radio plus
•    Multifunction leather steering wheel in 3-spoke design
•    Non-smoker's package
•    Progressive steering
•    Radio remote control
•    Rear fog lights
•    Seats in Script cloth
•    Separate daytime running lights
•    Space-saving spare wheel
•    Start/stop system with energy recovery

The 1.0T FSI Sport, 1.4T FSI Sport and 2.0 TDI Sport model will offer the following equipment in addition:

•    17” wheels in 5-arm  ‘Star’ design
•    Aluminium door sill trims
•    Aluminium front and rear bumper diffusers
•    Blade in Ice Silver, metallic
•    Front Sport seats
•    Bumpers in full paint finish
•    Index cloth upholstery
•    Inlays in red paint finish

Pricing:
The Audi Q2 will be priced as follows, standard with the 5 year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan and inclusive of all taxes:
Audi Q2 1.0T FSI manual	R434,500
Audi Q2 1.0T FSI S tronic	R 453,000
Audi Q2 1.0T FSI Sport manual	R 464,500
Audi Q2 1.0T FSI Sport S tronic	R 483,000
Audi Q2 1.4T FSI Sport manual	R 511,000
Audi Q2 1.4T FSI Sport S tronic	R 529,500
Audi Q2 2.0 TDI Sport S tronic	R 565,000