Small margins see Q2 stand out from the pack

Compact SUV’s quality shines through with latest updates, writes Matt Allan

What we regard as mainstream car brands seem to be on an eternal quest to push themselves more upmarket.

The likes of Ford and Vauxhall feel the need to add a premium sheen to their models, chasing the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes. And they’re definitely getting better but a brief comparison between such “premium” mainstream and the real premium brands reveals there’s still quite a gap.

Take the Audi Q 2, for example. I drove this straight after a top-of-the-range Ford Puma Vignale. The Puma’s a similar size and among the best of the mainstream models, with plenty of gadgets and quilted leather upholstery. However a short time with the Audi revealed a feeling of quality that the Ford (and others like it) simply lack.

Whether it’s the the solidity of touch points, the refinement or the quality of the interfaces – physical and virtual – the Q2 shows why Audi and its ilk command a premium over “regular” brands.

And it does command a premium. Our S Line car started at £30,000 – close to that Puma Vignale. However, it had £10,000 of options, most of which were standard on that Puma – heated seats, dualzone climate control, adaptive cruise control and 19-inch alloys.

So, you’re paying more but you can feel where the money, or at least some of it, is being spent.

That interior, for example. The Q2 was recently refreshed with upgraded materials, better adjustment on the seats and a new look to touches like air vents and gear selector, all of which enhance the built-tolast sensation.

The biggest interior change is the 12.3-inch virtual cockpit, which places a configurable digital screen right in front of the driver. Away from that, the Q2 is mostly unchanged. That’s good news for the design and user friendliness, with a clean layout, knurled controls for key functions and a simple rotary controller for the infotainment. However, that system, despite improved connectivity, is now clearly a step behind newer models.

Along with the interior upgrades, the exterior has been refreshed with a revised grille, air intakes and standard-fit

LED headlights. High-spec models also get slits in the edge of the bonnet – a nod to the famous Audi Sport quattro.

That’s part of Audi’s desire for the Q2 to be seen as “sporty and agile” and it certainly feels more lively than its larger stablemates. The steering is surprisingly sharp and the body well controlled without compromising ride comfort.

Our test car’s 1.5-litre 148bhp petrol engine, paired with the optional seven-speed automatic gearbox feels powerful enough for everyday use, with welcome low-down torque, and it is refined under most circumstances. Cylinder deactivation technology helps attain official economy of 45mpg – allow for around 40 in the real world.

Overall, the revised Q2 is a prime example of the difference between the true premium players and the aspirational mainstream. Built quality, road manners and design are all a cut above the norm but come at a significantly higher cost.