72 STYLE | motoring
T
IN-YOUR -FACE
AUDI
Audi’s baby sport utility vehicle stands out in a crowd, says motoring writer Ross Kiddie.
he mid-size sport utility vehicle market is rather crowded, but then again it is one of the most popular, it’s affordable and there’s an extensive range of quality product. Toyota and Honda almost pioneered that segment with the RAV4 and CRV, both of those models are still current, but they have been joined by a vast number of other competitors from Asia, and from Europe. Audi has entered the cluttered segment with what I consider one of the class leaders – the Q2. That’s a bold statement considering I’ve only spent four days with the car, but it made a huge impression with its quality build, style and engineering. It also comes with a price – $54,900 – that rivals the two mainstream players in my introduction. However, RAV4 and CRV can boast four-wheel-drive whereas, at this stage the Q2 here doesn’t get Audi’s Quattro system, neither does it get the diesel engine options that are available overseas, but I’d be surprised if it remains a solo product for long. That aside, the Q2 is an absolute honey in terms of driveability and functionality. It isn’t a big SUV at just under 4.2m and, that being the case, it is also going to battle Toyota’s new C-HR, but it translates its compact proportions to a family-friendly cockpit environment. It also gets the familiarity which makes Audi desirable, the trim materials, layout and controls are first-class. I particularly like
the mood lighting when it’s dark, the display graphics with fonts are easy to decipher and the way the satellite navigation display flows around the speedometer and rev counter. The latter is just sheer genius and it is in a perfect position so that the driver’s eyes barely shift from the view out of the windscreen. The Q2 is powered by a 1.4-litre, fourcylinder petrol engine. Before you scoff at its meagre displacement, bear in mind it has a turbocharger attached. Audi is the past master of turbocharging; who could forget the Audi rally cars of the 80s? However, today’s forced induction systems aren’t only there to boost power, they are structured so that fuel economy is a vital component. The key figures are a 110kW power output along with a sublime 250Nm of torque available all of the way from 1500rpm to 3500rpm. The engine is also rated with a 5.5l/100km (51mpg) combined cycle fuel usage average. If you take into account the Q2 weighs in at just 1340kg, it’s no surprise these figures combine to produce good performance and economy. The Q2 will make 100km/h from a standstill in 8.5sec, and if laws allowed it would top-end at 212km/h. It also feels feisty, power is channelled through a seven-speed automatic transmission and it is a beauty with swift shifts and gearing which promotes keen acceleration. There is also a tall top gear for the open