- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.5T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
110kW, 250Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 5.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI review
A good-looking car with a quality interior, an Audi badge and a price tag that’s less than $50K. So far, so impressive. But how do the technology and safety features in the Q2 35 TFSI compare to its prestige and mass-market competitors?
- Affordable price making Audi more accessible
- Exterior and interior both look stylish
- Thoroughly enjoyable drive for entry-level variant
- Some features feel outdated
- Second row and boot both small
- Fuel consumption extremely high
2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI
Dubbed Audi’s ‘gateway car’ as the most inexpensive offering from the brand, the Q2 is in its final season of life after Audi announced it wouldn't be designing any more iterations of the model at the start of 2022.
Audi CEO Markus Duesmann explained the decision, telling German newspaper Handelsblatt at the time that the company was focussing on larger and more expensive "premium" vehicles that offer higher returns on investment.
While it may make sense for the company, there is certainly still a buyers' market for the smallest SUV segment, accounting for almost 15 per cent of all Australian new vehicle sales in 2023. With that in mind, the Audi Q2 may be a fast-track ticket to luxury, but how does it fare against a wealth of competitors across both prestige and mass-market brands?
How much does the Audi Q2 cost in Australia?
I’m in the entry-level Audi Q2 35 TFSI, which is $49,400 plus on-road costs. For reference, there are two other variants in the Q2 family. The slightly punchier 40 TFSI S Line Quattro is priced at $56,800, then there’s the SQ2 Quattro, the sporty sibling, which is a more eye-popping $70,800.
Naturally, there are a couple of other prestige brands with their own compact SUVs: the BMW X1 starts at $60,400 for the entry-level variant, though it does come with a fair few more features as standard, and larger dimensions, than the Q2. Meanwhile, the entry-level Mercedes-Benz GLA starts at $68,900, though once again comes with more included features.
The outgoing Mini Countryman was a closer match, but with the new generation about to launch, it too has had a growth spurt, but holds similar positioning priced from $49,990 plus on-road costs.
But at a hair under $50K, the cost of this entry-level Q2 is more in line with the high-spec compact SUVs from some mass-market brands. Take the 2024 Skoda Kamiq, for example: the highest-spec variant, the 110TSI Signature, costs $44,990 plus on-road costs and comes packed with safety and tech – more than the Q2 35 TFSI model that I'm driving.
Then you've got the Hyundai Kona, one of the top sellers of the segment. The top-spec hybrid variant in the Kona line-up is $46,500 +ORCs, with a little less driver assistance than the Skoda Kamiq but again more than the lowest-spec Q2. And as a hybrid, it's easily the most energy-efficient option between the three models.
Competitors aside, let's talk looks. My first impression before even stepping within a foot of the Q2 is how darn good it looks. It comes with all the usual Audi design hallmarks: the LED lights, the swooping ergonomic design, and of course the famous Audi rings logo. But unlike some of its showroom siblings, it distinctly stands out from the crowd.
The 2024 Q2 has a hardened face and prominent swage line that gives it a somewhat more muscular appearance. The deep front intakes and chunky grille give a more substantial look to an otherwise compact model. Rear pillars can be customised in either black or grey, and there’s a pretty hefty rear bumper adding to the overall more masculine look.
It's the smallest SUV in Audi’s line-up, but looks more in line with the A1 or A3 passenger car than the next nearest SUV, the Q3. The dimensions between the Q2 and Q3 aren't worlds apart, though as the names suggest there's more Q3 if that's what you need. There's not that much between Q2 and A3 footprints either though the SUV stance of the Q2 offers a more commanding view of the road.
My test model comes in an inky Navarra Blue Metallic paint, and there are six other metallic gemstone shades to choose between, should you prefer a shimmer over the two standard solid colour finishes.
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You can opt for either 18-inch or 19-inch wheels, and while LED lights come as standard, Audi’s matrix LED headlights are an optional extra. The Premium Plus Package, which costs $3190, includes both the bigger wheels, matrix LED lights, and an extended black exterior package among other features.
Key details | 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI |
Price | $49,400 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Navarra Blue Metallic |
Options | Comfort Package – $2150 - Heated front seats - Park assist - Privacy glass - Electric, heated and folding exterior mirrors - 10-speaker sound system with amplifier Premium Plus Package – $3190 - 19-inch alloy wheels - Audi matrix LED headlights - Extended black exterior package - Bumpers and lower body section in body colour Metallic paint – $1195 |
Price as tested | $55,935 plus on-road costs |
Rivals | Mercedes-Benz GLA | BMW X1 | Audi Q3 |
How much space does the Audi Q2 have inside?
In front of me in the driver's seat is a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which is dotted with buttons to control the driver's instrument display, the Virtual Cockpit. The 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit is standard even in this entry-level model, with clear, quality graphics making it that much simpler to drive when you’re able to glance at the screen ahead of you, rather than peer over the steering wheel at a small screen in the middle.
Using the buttons on the steering wheel, the driver is able to change the view to what suits. In my case, that's having the navigation displayed across the full screen, which is something I found really handy.
The heating and ventilation systems are controlled by good old-fashioned rotary dials and physical buttons, which means I can keep my eyes firmly on the road while adjusting my temperature. There is a dual-zone air-conditioning system so anyone in the passenger seat can play around with their own customised climate as well.
The seats are electrically adjustable and covered in faux leather in this variant. As I've become used to Audi, they're comfortable even on longer drives, though the seats do vary between the grades of Q2, and I have it on good authority that the higher-spec 40 TFSI S Line Quattro's seats are even more comfortable.
Mostly, the interior looks polished with most surfaces covered in a leatherette-style material, but admittedly there are a few plastic surfaces here and there that remind me I'm not in the top-spec model. As the interior is the same midnight black throughout, the different textures are barely noticeable, but it's worth calling out as it inevitably changes the barometer reading of the overall quality.
The storage space in the car is a tale of two halves: on the one hand, there’s not a heap of space around the central storage area, as most of that space is taken up by a panel to accommodate the infotainment screen rotary dials. The storage holder itself is small but does accommodate a USB-A port.
On the other hand, you’ve got generous-sized cupholders, a large glovebox, and spacious door bins as well, so it might just be a case of getting creative with where you’re putting your keys, your phone and your son’s endless supply of toy cars (No? Just me?).
The back row is okay in terms of comfort, but that’s about where the description ends. I’m 171cm and found head room to be fine, as is leg room, but these are both a bit more of a squeeze for taller passengers.
In terms of amenities? There's not a lot in the second row. There’s another USB port but the door bins aren’t as big as in the front row, and the middle seat doesn’t drop down to provide an armrest or cupholders. Bad luck, back-rowers. You’re left holding your own coffee.
The boot is 405L and opens electrically even on the entry-level model. If you don’t need to use the rear seats, then boot space does increase to 1050L but this is still small. If you opt for the grade up, the 40 TFSI, then you will lose 50L of boot space.
Meanwhile, both the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA have larger boots. The X1 has a whopping 476L of boot space, which is one of the biggest boots in the segment. Worth calling out perhaps is that the Kamiq has a slightly smaller boot at just 400L, while the Kona is very nearly like-for-like with the Q2 at 407L.
2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 405L seats up 1050L seats folded |
Length | 4208mm |
Width | 1794mm |
Height | 1508mm |
Wheelbase | 2601mm |
Does the Audi Q2 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The Q2 can support wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but on the whole the infotainment system took me a little time to get used to. I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I was completely thrown that the 8.3-inch screen is not a touchscreen and requires dials and shortcut buttons in the centre console to control.
At first, I found myself getting impatient using the dials to operate the infotainment system, but I have to admit after a few days in the car I was a dial-convert. While the usability might not be quite as snappy as a touchscreen, I did notice you’re spending much less time with your eyes off the road when you’re using a dial as opposed to your fingertips.
The MMI interface itself is perhaps a little less sophisticated compared to the smartphone-style interface I’ve become used to in cars, and it feels a touch outdated as a result. However, I can’t fault the graphics. And, of course, I have the big Virtual Cockpit in front of me as well if I need visuals to be larger.
CarPlay or Android Auto aside, Audi owners can also stay connected via the Audi Connect Plus app. The app offers features such as navigation and the weather in the local area. Then, even more reassuringly, the app allows you to access hands-free emergency and roadside assistance if and when needed.
It also houses individualised stats for your car – how much fuel is in your tank, when your next service is due, and a helpful nudge if you’ve left any doors open. It allows you to lock and unlock your car from afar and set up geofences or speed limits.
Aside from phone connectivity in the car, the Q2 comes complete with a DAB+ digital radio and six-speaker audio system. I found the speaker system perfectly good, but if you're after something with a bit more oomph behind it, then the SQ2 comes with a Sonos premium sound system included in the configuration.
Is the Audi Q2 a safe car?
The Audi Q2 currently doesn't carry an ANCAP rating, with the original five-star score from 2016 having expired in 2022 in line with the crash-test authority's guidelines and the incompatibility of older scores with newer results against and ever-evolving criteria.
The expired crash test report for the Q2 can be found here, but may not align with more recent five-star scores.
The car does have six airbags in total: front and side airbags in the front row, and head-level curtain airbags in the front and rear.
2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI | |
ANCAP rating | Unrated |
What safety technology does the Audi Q2 have?
The suite of safety features included as standard across the whole Q2 range consists of pedestrian and cyclist detection for the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, side assist to alert drivers of vehicles in the blind spot, active lane assist, tyre pressure loss indicator and, for the first time in this iteration of the model, adaptive cruise control as standard.
Safety features such as park assist, and hold assist (AKA hill-start assist), are only available when you opt for the Comfort Package in both the 35 TFSI and the higher grade up, the 40 TFSI. Not for the first time with this car, this omission feels a little outdated. For reference, the Volkswagen T-Roc, Skoda Kamiq and the BMW X1 all come with parking assist as standard in their lowest-spec models.
What I will say, though, is that all the available safety features did work a treat. Unobtrusive but helpful when I needed them.
How much does the Audi Q2 cost to maintain?
Audi offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is just about the industry standard, and certainly on par with the brand’s biggest competitors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Servicing intervals are 12 months or every 15,000km, whichever comes first. Prepaid servicing is available. The standard five-year package is priced at $2600, with the option to add an additional two years for an extra $1550. The Audi Advantage Package, lets you add not just two years of servicing on top of the five year plan but also an extra two-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and two years of roadside assistance, for an extra $3140.
Comparatively, the BMW X1 is just $100 less at $2500 for a five-year service plan. That leaves Mercedes-Benz whose five-year service plan for the GLA is a slightly more eye-watering at $5155. Gulp.
When it comes to insurance, one leading insurer quoted me $1910 based on a comparative quote for a 35-year old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history and personal circumstances.
In order to benchmark the Q2, I’ve taken a look at what it would cost me to insure both the GLA and the X1 using the same details. While the Mercedes-Benz is in a similar price bracket to the Q2, the X1 was much dearer at $2338 annually.
Finally, I had a look at the cost of a Volkswagen T-Roc to insure: at $1376, it’s $534 less than the Q2.
At a glance | 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $2600 (5 years) $4150 (7 years) |
Is the Audi Q2 fuel-efficient?
Audi claims the Q2 returns an incredibly efficient fuel usage of 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres based on a combination of highway and city driving, but my final reading was in reality much higher: 9.3L/100km.
To be transparent, I did a small amount of highway driving as part of my commute to and from work, but I mostly stuck to suburban and city driving. Even so, according to Audi, if I'd stuck purely to city driving I should still be expecting to return a fuel reading of 6.0L/100km. My 9.3L/100km by comparison feels very high, though is in line with the T-Roc, which delivered a reading of 9.1L/100km upon recent testing.
Compare this to the recently reviewed Hyundai Kona Hybrid Premium, mid-range in the Kona line-up at $43,500 drive-away, which returned a fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km upon testing. Granted, a hybrid car will always deliver a lower fuel consumption, but in this instance fuel useage is a significant 54 per cent lower.
Fuel efficiency | 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 5.2L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 9.3L/100km |
Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 50L |
What is the Audi Q2 like to drive?
While certainly not a performance car, there is quite a sporty feel to the Q2. When it gets going, it feels fast and grips to the ground, handling corners and sharp turns well, thanks in part to its relatively dinky weight of 1380kg by Audi's measure.
But given it's a 1.5-litre engine, I wasn't wholly unsurprised nor disappointed that the power output wasn't huge. The car felt most comfortable at around 80km/h on the highway, where it could pick up some speed without having to try too hard as it did on the freeway. If speed and power were my two priorities, the higher-grade variants would certainly be the more obvious choices.
Unlike the 40 TFSI and SQ2 variants, the entry-level Q2 is front-wheel drive only, and not all-wheel drive like the rest of the range. Sydney endured a couple of heavy downpours while I was testing the Q2, which put the car through its paces.
I found even in this horrible weather, I felt a solid connection to the wheels of the car and the steering. Again, nothing out of this world, but I felt in control, which frankly is more important to me than speed and power when I'm caught in a rainstorm.
On the flip side, I feel every lump and bump on cruder roads, which I feel particularly conscious of when my little son is in the back of the car. Visibility out the back is also compromised by the thick rear pillars, and the car is loud on the road, especially when gaining speed.
With a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, the car claims an 8.6sec acceleration from 0–100km/h, but I actually find it a little sluggish to get going, especially on inclines. The 40 TFSI variant may avoid this given its 2.0-litre engine and greater torque.
Given it's an entry-level model, there is still a luxury feel to the car that I don't think you'd find in more mass-market brands. Despite it not having quite the same standard of power as some of its torque-ier siblings, it still felt pretty good to kick back in on a longer drive.
Key details | 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI |
Engine | 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
Power | 110kW @ 5000–6000rpm |
Torque | 250Nm @ 1500–3500rpm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power-to-weight ratio | 77.2kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 1380kg |
Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
Tow rating | 1700kg braked 680kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.1m |
Should I buy an Audi Q2?
The Q2 is exactly what it is claimed to be: a fantastic gateway car into the Audi range. It looks great, the seats are comfortable for long journeys, and there have certainly been no major compromises on the quality of the interiors. Last but not least – or first and foremost depending on what you prioritise – it’s a thoroughly entertaining drive.
But there are enough features and amenities that feel a little outdated or that competitors just have the edge on. The space and lack of amenities in the second row combined with the boot size reduces the overall practicality for me. The fuel consumption was high upon my testing, which leaves me wondering at what point high running costs negate the low drive-away cost.
The infotainment system is definitely a polarising one – some may find the old-school interface charming, others may find it archaic. The clincher for me is the suite of safety features: even for Audi’s most inexpensive car, I’d hope for a slightly more extensive range available as standard. And as I tot up the list of extras I'd personally want to add on, I'm getting closer in price to the 40 TFSI S Line, the next grade up.
My final thought? It's a fab car, if not the most sensible, so if you’re looking for affordable luxury and favour a great drive over more practical features, then this entry-level Q2 is a fantastic option for you.
How do I buy an Audi Q2 – next steps?
The 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI is available in showrooms now, as are its higher-spec siblings, the Q2 40 TFSI S Line Quattro and the SQ2. Given that Audi has said there will be no further iterations of the model, it may be worth checking out some of the Q2's closest counterparts in the showroom: the slightly larger Q3 SUV, or the A3, a passenger model of a similar size to the Q2.
Take a few for a test drive by finding your nearest Audi dealership here and play around with your own build options. You'll also find Audis for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale.
And if you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to this car since our review, check out the Drive showroom.