2016 Audi Q2 2.0 TDI review, test drive

Does Audi’s smallest SUV have what it takes to be a winner? We drive it to find answers.

Published on Jul 14, 2016 11:17:00 AM

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What's it like to drive?

Very impressive to begin with. Levels of refinement are extremely high, especially at low engine speeds. The 190hp 2.0 TDi has a good amount of punch in the mid-range, and with the quick DSG gearbox taking care of gear shifts, there's plenty of accessible performance on tap. Yes, in traffic, there is a bit of hesitation and there's a bit of a spike when the boost comes in too, but once the engine starts pulling hard it's quite thrilling from behind the wheel. There's plenty of performance here for sure and though it does feel a bit strained after 4,500rpm, you can avoid this by allowing the car to shift up early. One thing's for sure, the Q2 will be quite a fun car to drive if Audi brings the motor in this spec to India.

It even steers and handles reasonably well. The suspension functions silently and the steering has a nice damped feel to it. It feels fresh, new, light and capable from behind the wheel and what's good is that Audi's variable-ratio steering works in an extremely intuitive manner. The rate at which the steering quickens is always the same and this means it’s easy to judge how much steering lock is needed to turn the car. So most of the time, all you need is a neat flick of the wheel. It also turns into corners quite crisply for a small SUV, body roll is well contained and there’s plenty of grip too. It isn't extremely sporty at the limit and feels a bit wooden at higher speeds, but for regular driving the Q2 is clearly capable enough. The steering though could have had a bit more feel; you do miss it at times. Our test car also came with Audi's Drive Select that gets adjustable dampers, throttle responses and steering weight, but these do little to make the car better to drive.

Ride, on its big wheels, is a bit revealing though. It's not fundamentally uncomfortable, far from it, and you don't get tossed around either, but over bad patches there is more than a bit of pitter-patter and the Q2 does transmit a few of the road’s imperfections into the cabin. Smaller wheels would be a good idea for India.

Should I buy one?

Given how popular luxury SUVs are in India and how important value for money is, it's fair to say that Audi has a big success on its hands. This is especially true if the company gets the pricing right and places it somewhere below the A3 sedan. The Q2 may not have the best ride and handling package around, and because the rear feels a bit cramped, it won't lend itself well to being chauffeur-driven either. Still, look at what the Q2 delivers and it clearly has the makings of a winner. The design is fresh and gets better with time, the cabin is good enough to take on more expensive cars, and the engine and gearbox are right up there with the best. Is the Audi Q2 worth waiting for? Clearly yes, but it's likely to be a long wait. The car isn't expected in India until the middle of next year. And the wait could be longer still if Audi decides to bring the long- wheelbase car from China.