2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI Review

It’s no secret that in the past 20 years, car makers have expanded their lineups considerably to account for new segments, new propulsion types, new markets and – ultimately – new buyers. In the 2000s and 2010s, many premium car makers started to think smaller. Audi – thanks to its position in the Volkswagen Group – debuted vehicles such as the A1, which was a lot smaller than any vehicle made by rival firms BMW or Mercedes. Thanks to the SUV boom of recent years, Audi also made a its mark with small SUVs, with the diminutive Q2. Is the entry-level 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI the premium small SUV to buy? Let’s find out.

There is currently a seemingly endless amount of light and small SUVs on the market, and the Audi Q2 – which is actually shorter than the Mazda CX-3 – starts in the upper-$40,000 bracket. That means it’ll get cross-shopped with a lot of different products in different sizes. Why buy it?

How much does the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI cost to buy?

The 2024 Audi Q2 tested here is the entry-level 35 TFSI model which is priced at $49,400 plus on-road costs (or around $56,500 drive away, depending on location). Above the 35 TFSI in the local line up are the $56,800 +ORC (around $64,000 drive away) Q2 40 TFSI S Line Quattro and the $70,800 +ORC (around $78,500 drive away) high-performance SQ2.

Q2 35 TFSI standard equipment:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with a tyre repair kit
• Dusk- and rain-sensing automatic all-LED exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Leather upholstery
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 12.3-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital driver’s display
• 8.3-inch infotainment screen
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation with live traffic
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• LED cabin ambient lighting
• Six-speaker sound system
• Keyless entry with push button start
• Heated and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors
• 4x automatic electric windows with remote operation
• Electric parking brake with auto hold functionality
• 2x USB-A and 2x USB-C ports
• Wireless phone charger located underneath the centre armrest
• Cargo net

Q2 35 TFSI standard safety equipment:

• Six airbags
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Emergency assist (slowly and safely stops the car if the driver becomes incapacitated)
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Low-speed automatic rear braking
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Driver attention monitoring
• Auto high beam

Q2 35 TFSI options:

• Comfort Package with a 180W 10-speaker sound system, automatic parallel and perpendicular parking, auto-dimming rear view interior and exterior mirrors, hill hold assist, rear privacy glass, heated front seats and auto folding/dipping exterior mirrors: $2,150 (fitted to our test car)
• Decorative inserts (10-colour ambient lighting): $560 (fitted to our test car)
• Black styling package (black-accented exterior trim): $1,200
• Premium Plus Package with 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix adaptive high beam with scrolling front and rear indicators, the black styling package and the bumpers and lower body section in body colour: $3,190 (fitted to our test car)
• 705-watt 14-speaker Sonos sound system including subwoofer (only available to order in conjunction with the Premium Plus Package): $1,100
• Rear privacy glass: $750
• Black headliner: $450
• Heated front seats: $650
• Matte aluminium interior trim inlays: $370
• Power tailgate: $900 (fitted to our test car)
• Glass sunroof: $1,850 (fitted to our test car)

Q2 35 TFSI colour range:

• Brilliant Black: no cost
• Arkona White: no cost
• Mythos Black: $1,195
• Arrow Grey: $1,195
• Manhattan Grey: $1,195
• Progressive Red: $1,195
• Florett Silver: $1,195
• Glacier White: $1,195
• Navarra Blue: $1,195 (fitted to our test car)

Regardless of exterior colour chosen, black leather trim is the only interior choice for the Q2 35 TFSI.

While many manufacturers offer at least one small SUV in their lineups, it’s only Lexus in the premium small light SUV segment with its new LBX, which is due to launch locally in the coming weeks and is priced from $47,550 plus on-road costs. Otherwise, the Q2 35 TFSI sits in a somewhat unique part of the market: it’s positioned above mainstream light SUVs like the Mazda CX-3 but below small SUVs like its Q3 bigger brother, but then also, it faces competition from mainstream medium SUVs like the Mazda CX-5.

How fuel efficient is the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI?

Under the bonnet of the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 110kW of power (from 5,000rpm to 6,000rpm) and 250Nm of torque (from 1,500rpm to 3,500rpm) and features cylinder deactivation technology for greater efficiency. This engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘S-Tronic’ automatic transmission and the Q2 35 TFSI, is also front-wheel drive only. Opting for the Q2 40 TFSI adds a more powerful 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, as well as the brand’s famous ‘Quattro’ all-wheel drive system.

As we’ve seen in other cars that use this engine – like the Skoda Kamiq – the 1.5-litre turbo donk in the Q2 35 is quite a nice unit. It’s refined, punchy and can be quite fuel efficient as well, thanks to its cylinder deactivation tech. Peak torque hits at just 1,500rpm and stays until 3,500rpm, which is where the majority of town driving will occur, making it well tuned for urban driving. But even when called on for more power, the Q2 35 TFSI’s engine responds keenly and provides more than satisfactory thrust, even at highway speeds. It’s a great partner to the Q2, we think, and proves you don’t need the upper-spec 140kW Q2 40 TFSI – though we’re sure that’s on another level for fun.

The only available gearbox on the Q2 range is a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘S Tronic’ unit that’s a good partner to the engine. As we’ve seen with pretty much every other dual-clutch transmission, it does exhibit some hesitation at lower speeds that can take a bit to get used to, but once you’re used to its characteristics, it’s perfectly fine. At speed, it shifts smartly and smoothly as well.

The claimed combined fuel consumption for the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI is a thrifty 5.2L/100km and its claimed CO2 emissions are rated at 119g/km. For a claimed fuel consumption rating, that’s a pretty solid number without any hybrid assistance – the LBX is rated at just 3.6L/100km but it’s a hybrid and we’d wager the Q2 being more efficient in country driving. In our testing, which was skewed towards urban driving, we achieved 7.8L/100km. The Q2 35 is rated to Euro 6 emissions standards, uses minimum 95RON premium unleaded fuel and features a 50-litre fuel tank.

What is the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI like to drive?

Based on the same ‘MQB’ platform that also underpins many other Volkswagen Group cars like the Audi A3, TT, Skoda Octavia, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Tiguan, the Audi Q2 is a mature and refined car to drive that feels quite solid on the road. As we’ve seen with many other cars that use this platform, the Q2 is not the sportiest car from behind the wheel, but it still drives quite nicely and can be reasonable fun to drive. The ride quality on our test car – thanks to the optional 19-inch wheels and the torsion beam rear suspension of the 35 TFSI – was a touch sharp over larger bumps, but it’s still quite comfortable.

Audi Australia recently added a lot of active safety kit to the Q2’s standard specification sheet and features like adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality are now fitted to every Q2 model. As we’ve seen from many other VW Group cars, the Q2’s active safety equipment works quite well and it’s nicely subtle as well. The Matrix adaptive high beam functionality is awesome too, particularly on higher-speed country roads, and is worth ticking the Premium Plus Package alone.

How practical is the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI?

The interior of the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI is a nice place to spend time with plenty of typical Audi details, just in a smaller package. The quality is pretty good with a solid build quality, plenty of soft touch materials and the typically lovely Audi switchgear. Design highlights include the circular air vent surrounds, while our test car featured the optional illuminated dashboard and lower centre console panels – if you’re able to, tick that box as it adds a bit of theatre to the Q2’s cabin.

As you’d expect for an Audi, the Q2’s cabin is reasonably practical, though a Q3 has noticeably more storage space thanks to its extra size. The door bins are reasonable, but the box underneath the centre armrest is small (it hides the wireless phone charger), there are two averaged-sized cup holders in the centre console (which can be a bit of a reach to get to) but the glovebox is big (and hides a CD player!).

The driving position of the Q2 is pretty good, though there are some niggles. No matter the Q2, electric front seats – or even lumbar adjustment – are unavailable. Not being able to adjust the thigh angle makes the front seats feel a bit flat, though they’re otherwise quite comfortable. The Q2’s visibility is reasonable, though the rear camera isn’t the best quality and there’s no 360-degree camera option either.

Centre of the Q2’s cabin is an 8.0-inch infotainment screen that uses Audi’s older ‘MMI’ infotainment software – an updated Q2 is due later this year with the latest system from cars like the Q3. It features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation with live traffic. It’s not a touchscreen and the graphics look a bit dated – especially compared to the crisp screens of the later Audi models – but it’s easy to use and the 10-speaker sound system (part of the Comfort Package) is pretty good too.

The rear seat of the Q2 is not its strong point, with limited legroom and features available, though headroom is excellent. If the Q2’s rear seat is too small for you, the Q3 provides a more spacious area, especially for child seats. But the Q2’s seat itself is comfortable, and two adults will be fine there – though its positioning makes you feel like you’re perched on top of it. As for features, there are small door pockets, two map pockets and two USB-C charging ports, but that’s it – there’s no centre armrest or air vents on offer, unfortunately. There are three top tether points and two ISOFIX points for child seats.

The boot of the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI measures a reasonable 405-litres with the seats up and 1,050L with them folded. The boot itself is well featured with a net, under-floor storage – which couldn’t be lowered in our test car thanks to the tool kit surround below, despite it not having a spare wheel – and side storage, plus a few hooks and tether points as well. With the seats folded, the floor is almost completely flat. Our test car featured the optional electric tailgate, which is quite convenient – especially as you can press the lock button and the car will lock and the boot will close at the same time – but it’s not a cheap option at $900, and frankly, should be standard.

What warranty covers the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI?

As with its other new cars, Audi Australia covers the Q2 with a five-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance. The Q2’s service intervals are once-yearly/every 15,000km or whichever comes first. Amongst premium car makers, Audi’s aftersales package is one of the best, while buyers can also option a longer seven-year warranty and service package too.

Audi Australia doesn’t quote pay-as-you-go service pricing, but a pre-paid five-year/75,000km service pack for the Q2 costs $2,600 (or $520 per year), which is reasonable amongst premium car makers.

Should I buy a 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI?

Overall, the 2024 Audi Q2 35 TFSI is a great entry point to the Audi SUV range. While it’s not the most spacious or modern product, it more than makes up for that with its handsome styling, good quality, mature and relaxing driving experience, good refinement and appealing starting price. Add in a good service and warranty package – especially if a pre-paid service pack is chosen, which we would very much do – and excellent fuel economy, and we think there’s lots of appeal in the Q2.

Counting against the Q2 are a somewhat tight back seat and boot – though it’s obviously not the largest car in the first place – and no spare wheel, plus the infotainment system makes the cabin feel a touch dated (though it’s being replaced later this year). Overall, we quite like the Q2 and if its sizing and price positioning works for you, we think it’s very worthy of consideration.