Geneva 2016: Audi Q2 – Ingolstadt’s New Entry-Level Crossover

Car makers don’t seem to run out of niches to carve for crossovers of any sizes, and the latest manufacturer to expand its crossover model portfolio is Audi.

At the ongoing Geneva Motor Show, the Ingolstadt-based outfit has unveiled the Q2, an all-new compact crossover smaller in size than the Q3 and positioned with an added emphasis on rugged style and youthfulness.

Highlighting its style-focused approach, the Q2 is offered with a high degree of customization with regards to its appearance. Customers can choose to configure the looks of their car various add-on body parts to steer their vehicle to give off either a sporty or rugged off-road styling theme.

A similar level of customization is also offered inside whereby the interior can be trimmed with bright colours such as yellow, orange, and red in certain areas. Trim materials for selection include white plastic and brushed aluminium whilst seats can be upholstered with anything from high-end fabric to fine Nappa leather.

In the practicality aspect, the Q2 will swallow 405 litres of cargo in five-seater configuration or take in a full 1,050 litres with the back seats folded down. A power-operated tailgate is available as a cost option.

A total of six engines, all of them taken from the greater VW Group parts bin, are available for selection. European customers get to choose from the usual assortment of petrol and diesel mills which we summarize as follows:

Petrol

• 1.0 TFSI, 3-cyl, 116hp
• 1.4 TFSI, 4-cyl, 150hp
• 2.0 TFSI, 4-cyl, 190hp

Diesel

• 1.6 TDI, 4-cyl, 116hp
• 2.0 TDI, 4-cyl, 150hp
• 2.0 TDI, 4-cyl, 190hp

Cylinder deactivation is available in the 1.4 TFSI model, whilst both the 190hp petrol and diesel engines are fitted with quattro all-wheel drive and a newly-developed 7-speed wet dual clutch transmission as standard.

The remaining four powertrains can be had with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or 7-speed dry dual clutch transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard in these lower engines, but optionally upgradable to all-wheel drive in the 150hp petrol and diesel mills.

Choosing the Q2 with front- or all-wheel drive affects your rear suspension configuration as well – quattro models get an independent four-link setup, whilst FWD models make do with a torsion beam.

A commendable level of technology has trickled down into the Q2 from Audi’s higher models. The Audi virtual cockpit virtual instrument cluster and head-up display are both available as options whilst autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian recognition is standard in all variants.

Other systems in the line-up include adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function, traffic jam assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistant, traffic sign recognition, and rear cross traffic assist.

Order taking of the Q2 for European customers starts mid-year with market launch expected to take place in Autumn.