Audi Q2 Review: Most Affordable Compact Luxury SUV With Various Drive Modes

The Audi Q2 was just launched a few days back and it is the most compact and affordable SUV from Audi but the appeal of this car goes beyond that.

Luxury car market has developed in India over the years and the buyers have increased too thus expanding what a luxury car can be. Till now we thought of the luxury car being mostly chauffeur driven but with a younger set of buyers and the emphasis on our cities with lack of parking spaces or generally space in particular, the concept of compact luxury was born. A luxury car need not be huge in size but can be compact but having all the features while being practical to be used every day. The Audi Q2 was just launched a few days back and it is the most compact and affordable SUV from Audi but the appeal of this car goes beyond that. Yes with a price of Rs 34.9 lakh starting it is the easiest way to gain entry into the luxury car club but price aside the Q2 has enough to tempt you. Just like the looks. The Q2 is not your typical SUV and leans towards being a compact crossover. It is also a lot more aggressive over the other Audi SUVs. It is small at only 4.2 metres but still the details like the alloys, crisp lines and the detailing looks good. The red paint on our car attracted attention but else it is a subtle but good looking crossover that is not your average SUV. The quality is as you would expect from an Audi with a nice paint finish too. The rear is more hatchback like and less SUV while the front with the big grille and black out elements adds the SUV presence. Inside it is even better if you like your things to be simple. There is no beige and nor are you surrounded by too many things. It is simple and while many might think is too subtle the quality is really nice. The air vents to the dash materials along with the all digital dials are quality. Surprisingly there is no touchscreen but a scroller below the centre console does the job. in terms of features there are full digital dials, some cool LED lighting on the dash, a big sunroof and all the usual features. However you would be surprised that there are no rear ac vents or powered seats- Audi might be telling you that this SUV is to drive yourself! Being a small car space is not so much but it is around the average for any midsize crossover. The rear seat for example is best for two though actual legroom is quite good for its size. Luggage room is expandable from 405 litres to 1050 litres. Thus while it may lack space or certain features the driving experience makes up for it. There is a 2.0 TFSI turbo petrol and a 7-speed DSG automatic. It makes 190 bhp and also gets the Quattro all wheel drive. Now that last bit is important as most SUVs like the BMW X1 in the price bracket are FWD but Quattro makes this Q2 much more usable in hilly conditions or where there is less grip. When it rains or roads are slippery or with slight snow, you will thank the all wheel drive system. The Q2 is lightweight so with 190 bhp, you can imagine it to be fast and it is. This is surely for the driver and you would be surprised how quick this SUV is. The DSG gearbox is also responsive and gives you the control. The Q2 has various drive modes and you can change it to suit your needs. In the city via the modes, the Q2 is easy to drive due to the compact size but on empty roads the power will make you smile. Plus with all wheel drive you can enjoy the power plus be safe. Being an import the Q2 is firm in the way it tackes bad roads but is it no uncomfortable plus double digit efficiency is easy with a normal style of driving. So the Audi Q2 is an interesting SUV and a lot more exciting to drive than some of the other luxury SUVs while being compact enough to be used everyday. Yes we would have wanted some more features at this price but as things stand the Q2 is a lot more than just being the most affordable Audi as it is also a proper one with Quattro. At this price there are no rivals but for the top-end Q2 which is near 48 lakh plus, there are some rivals but again mostly front wheel drive. Thus the Q2 is for someone who likes long journeys and also wants a small yet practical SUV with nearly all the creature comforts. Look closer and the Q2 just about fills that.