2021 Audi Q2 35 TFSI review

The Audi Q2 35 TFSI is one of the cheapest prestige SUVs in its segment. Could it also be the ultimate ticket into the luxury market?

What we love

Competitive price point

Good list of standard features

Audi now offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty

What we don’t

Cabin noise is noticeable

Boot volume is down on main competitors

Fuel consumption is high

Introduction

As I write this review, Audi has just announced that this current model of the Audi Q2 will be the last, with the German automaker focusing on more premium offerings. 

No need to fret, as it still has a few good years to go in this life cycle and is still very much a strong contender in its class. In fact, it placed fifth in total sales for 2021.

To give you some background on this compact luxury SUV, the Audi Q2 underwent a midlife facelift in mid-2021 receiving an engine boost, a price hike and styling tweaks. 

Audi covers a large number of segments in the market, and while the small SUV class isn’t the largest, it’s still a competitive one with vehicles that bridge the gap of getting out of a city car into a city SUV.

We’ve got our hands on the 2021 Audi Q2 35 TFSI – the entry-level model in the line-up. 

The good news – it’s one of the cheapest models in the prestige small segment, and is equipped with plenty of standard features, which I’ll get to.  

The bad news – it has an internal battle in showrooms against the newer-generation Audi Q3, which dominates the class and with good reason. It’s not that much more expensive, and you’re getting more car along with a step up in space, practicality, material finishes and standard equipment.

For some buyers, though, the compact dimensions and city-friendly position make the Q2 an ideal step out of something more traditional, like an A1 or A3 hatch, for instance. Does that make it the ultimate small prestige SUV for the modern urbanite? 

Let’s firstly begin with the price. Just as this review was ready to drop, Audi announced a range-wide series of price increases. In the case of the Q2 expect a $1600 step up for new stock. Shop around and you may still find deals on floor stock, however. Pre-rise pricing is used below, so keep in mind that $1600 surcharge that’s ready to drop – or wrangle your dealer into cutting you a pre-rise deal.

The Audi Q2 35 TFSI starts at $42,900 plus on-road costs. Our test model scores an electric tailgate for $900, Tango Red metallic paint for $1195, plus the Style package that brings 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels in five-double-spoke edge style, matrix LED headlights, Audi Virtual Cockpit, extended black exterior package and bumpers and lower body section in body colour. This brings the total cost to $48,485 plus on-roads. 

There are two other variants in the range with the 40 TFSI Quattro S Line starting at $50,600, while the more performance-focused SQ2 begins at $64,400.Both prices exclude on-road costs. For more information on these, check out our pricing and specifications.

The Audi Q2 battles with the likes of the Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Lexus UX – along with, as stated, the Audi Q3. 

In terms of pricing, the Volvo starts at $48,490 for the XC40 T4 Momentum, the Mercedes-Benz has a starting price of $60,688 for the GLA200, the Lexus UX200 starts from $44,445, while the Q3 will set you back $48,300 for the 35 TFSI, all before on-road costs. 

Standard features on the Audi Q2 are plentiful. These include LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, contrasting bumpers elements and C-pillar, leather seat trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, part-leather seats, dual-zone climate control, an 8.3-inch infotainment screen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and push-button start, an eight-speaker sound system, and DAB+ digital radio.

Our car featured wireless smartphone charging, though Audi notes that at present this component is unavailable due to component shortages. Check with your dealer on this to see what’s available when it comes time to order.

If you want to splash some extra cash, then there’s also the option of the Premium package that adds a bunch of safety features, power-folding heated side mirrors, rear privacy glass, a 10-speaker sound system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated front seats, and a auto-dimming rear-view mirror, ​​adaptive cruise control with lane guidance assist, and semi-automated park assist.

Inside

Audi is known for keeping its interiors clean and simple. With simplicity comes convenience as this cabin is well laid out with little fuss. If you’re after something a bit louder, then perhaps a Mercedes is more to your liking, but Audi interiors are a little more understated.  

Soft materials cover the dash, seats and steering wheel, while subtle touches such as the metal air vent and gear stick dressings give it that extra something. 

But it does come with some hard plastics in areas, which I’ll let slide as this is something we can expect at this price point. That said, the Q3 is more plush and upmarket, both to being a newer design, and a slightly more expensive model.

In the way of storage there’s plenty up front with a large middle compartment (containing a wireless phone charger where fitted), two cupholders with a removable divider, large door bins and a good-sized glovebox.

In the back seats, there’s not much to write home about. The leg, head and toe room are reasonable; however, all you get are door bins and a cubby, which will likely only fit in a flip phone from the nineties.

Boot space is at 405L of cargo space with the rear seats upright and 1050L with the seats folded. This is down on its direct competitors with the Volvo offering 460L and the Mercedes at 435L. 

It is capable of holding a large and small suitcase, though, and the boot floor is dual-tiered. 

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Q2 is equipped with an 8.3-inch infotainment system that protrudes from the dash. All features can be easily accessed via the rotary dial on the centre console or steering wheel controls. Despite how it might appear, the Q2 doesn’t feature a touchscreen, unlike newer Audi infotainment systems.

Functions including satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay all work seamlessly, and the positioning of the screen is optimal for easy viewing while on the road with minimal glare. 

The added bonus is that there’s easy access to just the right amount of shortcuts surrounding the rotary dial, though I did find it was all too easy to lean on or brush past some of those buttons. The only real letdown in the way of connectivity is the voice command. It lacks conversational inputs, and sticks to rigid inputs, and even using those it would often misunderstand and lead to the wrong option. 

As out test car scored the Style package, this adds Virtual Cockpit digital instruments that can be configured to the driver’s preference and adds an extra wow-factor to the dash.

Safety and Technology

Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, cruise control with speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, tyre pressure loss indicator, and six airbags. 

These safety features are a little basic, and you will need to spend an extra $3050 to get adaptive cruise control with lane guidance assist, park assist and hold assist, which come as a part of the Premium package.

The Audi Q2 has a five-star rating from ANCAP based on testing conducted in 2016 with a 93 per cent adult occupant protection score, 86 per cent child occupant protection, 70 per cent pedestrian protection rating, and 60 per cent for safety assist systems. It’s also been handed an 8/10 by How Safe is your Car.

Value for Money

As of January 2022, all Audi vehicles come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. This is an extension of two years on the previous warranty offer. The brand now matches its aftersales package with the likes of Mercedes, Volvo, Jaguar and Lexus, with BMW falling behind still with three years. 

A five-year service plan will set you back $2320, and services occur at 15,000km or 12-month intervals. 

Whereas Audi did lead the compact prestige SUV class on price, recent price rises have seen the Q2 lose that advantage. If you’re on a budget, it’s certainly worthy of consideration, though finding the right deal on the right car could now be trickier.

Official fuel consumption is rated at 5.2 litres per 100km on the combined cycle. Our mixed use with the car skewed more towards urban use and stop-start driving returned 7.9L/100km on test.

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Driving

Sitting in this car it feels, well, like an Audi. You can tell the difference in comparison to driving a non-prestige car with the feel of the seats, the steering, the Virtual Cockpit, and the ride and handling. It’s a pleasant drive, keeping in mind that this is an entry-level option. 

Under the bonnet lies a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, which produces 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. 

It doesn’t have the power that will blow your socks off, nor is it the option you should choose if you’re after sheer performance (the more powerful Q2 40 TFSI might though, and the far more powerful SQ2 is sure to hit that spot, but), but it does give you an enjoyable drive around town, is super refined, and you’re also treated to Audi’s exceptional build quality. 

The Q2 35 TFSI has plenty of responsiveness off the line, and the kick from the engine makes it easy to perform quick manoeuvres or sudden overtakes on the freeway. 

I managed to journey to some back roads further north of Melbourne where it soaked up the harsher surfaces just fine. The tyres didn’t respond so well, though, with plenty of noise entering into the cabin. The engine is best used relying on the torquey mid-range, but don’t rev too hard as it really doesn’t enjoy it. In fact, the engine gets rather angry and the acoustics turn sour. 

The other factor impeding on the drive is the lack of adaptive cruise. As I spent time on highways with higher speed limits, this certainly didn’t go unnoticed. It’s up to you if you’re willing to spend the extra coin for the additional package. 

The steering is impressive. It’s incredibly alert through corners, and the raised driving position provides an exceptional view ahead of you. Not so much at the rear, though, as the rear windscreen is far too small and hampers the view behind you.

Conclusion

The Audi Q2 isn’t perfect by any means, but there’s lots to love about this luxury offering.

It has a slightly offbeat sense of style and isn’t quite as serious as the Q3. Its dynamics are clearly packed with Audi DNA, yet its compact footprint makes it a cinch to slot though city streets.

It works as a comfortable daily driver, has good standard features, enough room for a compact SUV, and a premium feel in the cabin. Not too small, not too light – just right. 

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