Review - Audi SQ2

Typically, compact SUVs prioritises aspects like features, styling, fuel economy and price concerns over speed and performance. Not the SQ2, though, which has seen Audi take an uncompromising approach to dominating the compact SUV market with one of the fastest offerings currently available in Australia. 

The SQ2 benefits from a platform that Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen, has used on cars like the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3, which means it has a rock-solid platform for Audi to build upon with its fast high-riding hatch. The question remaining, then, is what - if any - sacrifices are buyers making when opting for the ultra-rapid SQ2, and how does it stack up as an overall offering in the crowded compact SUV market? 

Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $65,300

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Audi SQ2 (2.0 TFSI QUATTRO) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Audi SQ2 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Audi SQ2 is priced from $65,300 according to the most recent Redbook data, which does not include on-road costs. Audi offers a number of premium features which can be added to the SQ2, including a set of 19-inch Audi Sport alloys for $1,200, a panoramic glass sunroof for $1,850, and a black styling package which is priced from $1,200. 

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What Features Does the Audi SQ2 Have?

The Audi SQ2 comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, and is packed with features like Matrix LED headlights, a powered boot lift, Audi’s 12.3-inch virtual cockpit, an 8.3-inch infotainment system with DAB+ radio, satellite navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry and start, sports suspension, adaptive cruise control, reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors, a set of red brake calipers, dual-zone climate control, Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddles, heated front sport seats, ambient lighting package, semi-autonomous parking assistance and a premium 14-speaker sound system from Bang & Olufsen. This is in addition to a generous amount of safety equipment that we’ll cover later in the review. 

Range Features: 

• 19-inch alloy wheels 

• Nappa leather upholstery 

• 12.3-inch digital virtual cockpit driver’s display 

• 8.3-inch infotainment system with DAB+, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Wireless smartphone charging 

• Heated sport seats 

• Sports suspension with red brake calipers 

• 14 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system 

• Powered boot lift 

• Reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors 

Audi SQ2 Colours

Is the Audi SQ2 Fun & Comfortable to Drive? 

Audi’s SQ2 proves that you don’t necessarily need to be a hardcore sports car to have fun, although this has come at a cost of its comfort as an everyday commuter. The engine at the heart of the SQ2 pushes out 221kW and 400Nm of torque, which is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Translated into plain english, this means that the SQ2 has a whole heap of power at its disposal, which is sent to all-four wheels with an extremely smooth gearbox that provides quick, seamless shifts while accelerating. Away from the city and onto the open road, the SQ2 is extremely fun to throw into corners, admire the Quattro all-wheel drive system in action, and accelerate up to the next bend. It’s a true performance vehicle and will surely put a smile on every driver’s face. 

When you start your journey home, however, Audi’s sports-tuned suspension system can prove somewhat problematic on rough Australian road surfaces. The main problem, here, is that when you design a car to be sporty, this often comes at the expense of all-round comfort. The problem can be fixed with adaptive air suspension, but sadly, this isn’t an option for the SQ2 like it is on other Audi vehicles. In and around city streets, the suspension isn’t too much of a noticeable issue, but for those looking at frequently driving on country B-roads, the SQ2’s sports suspension can eat up the ride comfort and transmit a lot of bumps into the cabin. 

As an everyday drive, though, the SQ2 provides a high quality driving dynamic that, once you’ve adjusted, makes extremely short work of acceleration. Combined with a short wheel-base, this means that the SQ2 is a fabulous car to pilot around the city, and can squeeze into tight car parks and navigate close quarters situations without a problem for the driver. As a whole, the SQ2 is a powerful and refined urban run-around, so long as you can live with a somewhat firm suspension setup. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

Practicality and space might not be the strongest point of the SQ2 as a total package, but it does its best and, depending on your needs and family’s size, may well fit into your lifestyle seamlessly. The driver and front passenger are treated to a well-appointed and sophisticated front cabin design featuring a predominantly black aesthetic, contrasted with red stitching, microfibre textures and the adjustable ambient lighting package for some added colours. The quality, fit and finish of the interior is exquisite, and very much typical of Audi’s excellence with interior packaging of recent years. In terms of practicality, the driver and front passenger get the usual host of door bins and some added storage in the central console, but it’s clear that style was prioritised over practicality in the SQ2’s cabin. Thankfully, though, the steering rack is completely adjustable, and Audi’s sport seats are both well bolstered and welcoming, so the driver and front passenger can get cosy and enjoy the view of the road ahead in comfort. 

The same, however, can’t be said for passengers in the rear of the cabin, especially if they’re adults. While the rear bench seat in the SQ2 is very accommodating to children and teenagers, passengers over 170cm might struggle to get comfortable behind a tall driver’s seat position, due to the limited proportions on offer in the SQ2 platform. This is absolutely fine for shorter journeys, although you might hear some complaints on longer holiday trips if you’re planning on squeezing a tall teenager or two in the rear of the cabin. 

In terms of cargo storage, the SQ2 has a boot that can accommodate 355L of luggage or shopping, which is lacking in terms of the segment’s practicality leaders, but should prove enough for most trips. The rear seats fold down to expand the SQ2’s boot space to 1000L. For those of you with children, Audi has packaged three easily-accessible ISOFIX anchor points into the SQ2’s rear bench seats, accompanied by top tether mounts that make the process of installing a child seat a simple, straightforward affair. 

Is it Safe?

The Audi SQ2 is yet to receive its own ANCAP safety rating, however the car on which it is based, the Audi Q2 has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating back in 2017, where it scored 93% for adult occupant protection and 86% for child occupant protection. As standard, the SQ2 comes packaged with safety technologies like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, a reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors as well as front, front-side and curtain airbags. 

The SQ2 does, however, miss out on key safety features like reverse autonomous emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alerts that are included on similar compact crossovers. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Audi’s SQ2 is officially rated at 7.7L per 100km on a combined cycle, which depending on your driving style, can jump up to 8-9L per 100km. For a relatively small capacity, turbocharged engine, Audi’s claimed 7.7L per 100km figure is unimpressive, and somewhat lacking behind key rivals. Those rivals do, however, struggle to match the SQ2 in terms of its sheer power output. 

Our Verdict: Is the Audi SQ2 Worth it? 

Audi’s SQ2 is a fun, inspiring take on the humble compact, crossover SUV, and proves that the segment can not only be stylish, it can be genuinely fast, too. For the average driver, it’s not a stretch to say that the little SQ2 is a genuine high-riding hot hatch, and will put a smile on your face each and every drive. It’s worth noting that the SQ2’s performance has come at the cost of its performance as a comfortable all-rounder, so be wary that all its cornering ability is made possible by trade-offs in terms of ride quality. 

So long as you don’t need a spacious family-eating SUV, the SQ2 will likely prove a perfect and inspiring addition to your garage. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car or want to trade in your car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Does not receive Audi’s latest MMI infotainment system 

2. Three-year, unlimited KM warranty 

3. All-wheel drive platform 

4. 355L boot space 

5. No official ANCAP safety rating for SQ2 (While the SQ2 is yet to be officially rated by ANCAP, the standard Audi Q2 received a five-star ANCAP safety rating)

Pros

• Impressive engine and transmission combination at speed 

• Feature-packed 

• Quality fit and finish for the interior 

Cons

• Limited three-year warranty 

• Dual clutch transmission can lurch at low speeds 

• Tight second row of seats 

OnlineAuto Rating: 7/10

Audi SQ2 Competition