Audi’s littlest SUV…well, it’s a crossover really…has been updated a bit for the 2021 model year to make it look sharper, and be slightly better value for buyers. The new Q2 goes on sale in October, though we don’t know how much it’ll cost yet. Probably a few hundred quid more than today’s £23,000 starting price, but you’ll get more stuff for your money.
On the outside you’ll see that it’s sharper than before, with a deeper grille up front straddled by larger ‘intakes’ – they’re fake – which are specific to S line models. The rear bumper gets treatment that mirrors the front too. As you can see, you can also specify stickers for the contrasting C-pillar and the inserts on the rear doors, so that nobody could be confused as to which particular VW Group crossover this is.
Surprisingly, Audi hasn’t bothered changing the shape of the headlamp housings, but from now on all Q2 models will get LED headlamps as standard, while Matrix LEDs are optional; Matrix LEDs are a sort of adaptive headlamp because the individual LED lights can be controlled (switched on or off) depending on the circumstances, to alter the light profile.
Buyers can choose from five new paint options, the most striking of which are ‘apple green’ and ‘turbo blue’, although Audi has chosen to show off the updated Q2 in a flat grey colour, also new.
Standard kit is boosted, with all cars getting an automatic tailgate, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, climate control and rear parking sensors as standard, while all cars from Sport upwards get driving modes and sports seats. There are five trims in total comprising Technik, Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung, with the last of those stuffed to the brim including a B&O stereo, Nappa leather, a full panoramic sunroof and something called “adaptive cruise assist” which will speed up or slow the car down upon reading the speed limit sign. It can self-park too.
The interior is unchanged, meaning the Q2 remains distinctly ‘last generation’ in cabin feel. It does feature a digital instrument panel as standard but there’s none of the wow factor of the screen-laden cabins in Audi’s bigger stuff, and the screen isn’t a touchscreen. The gear knob is different now, though, so there’s that.
Engines, then. No changes, with the range propped up by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI petrol but the sweet spot being the 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI turbo petrol engine. A 2.0-litre TDI will be available too, with a six-speed manual standard in all cases and a seven-speed S-tronic automatic optional.
Keyword: Audi Q2 sharpened up with a 2021 model year update