PROMENADERS

Ride high and show off in the compact hatches from the premium brands

even get individual map lights — or lights for the vanity mirrors in the sun visors.

Unusual for an Audi, the centre console and door pockets are small. The rear door linings are finished in a cheap plastic while the front doors have better trim.

The air vents in the front work well but are presented in plain black plastic — it’s apparent they’re missing the alloy garnish of the dearer models. The control panel in the centre console that operates the audio and navigation is intuitive to use.

Generously sized, the boot has a wide and low load area and houses a space-saver spare under the floor (the others have run-flat tyres).

The Audi’s 1.4-litre turbo might be the smallest engine here, with less grunt than the BMW, but it’s also lighter.

The X2 is about a second quicker to 100km/h but the Q2 is eager enough and delivers its power smoothly and quietly through the sevenspeed twin-clutch auto driving the front wheels.

The suspension can be a touch busy over bumps but it’s not jarring, and the steering is light yet precise — the best blend of agility and comfort among the trio. Mercedes was among the first luxury brands to join the city SUV brigade when the GLA arrived in 2014 ... which means the Benz is starting to show its age. We’ve tested the cheapest ticket into the line-up, the GLA 180 priced from $48,600 drive-away.

Despite delivering a level of comfort many can’t match and packing a full suite of safety tech — including nine airbags, three more than the other pair — it lacks some basics.

The airconditioning is single zone and there are no rear air vents. The map pockets behind