Some automotive model lines can be analogous to human family structure, as with the Audi Q vehicles. While each Q sport utility vehicle (SUV) — from the Q3 forward — follows a progression of purpose and maturity with its size, it’s the smaller Q2 that goes in a slightly different direction, taking advantage of the freedom afforded it as the smallest sibling.

The Q2 is aimed squarely at the individual wanting more personality from their small SUV.

EXTERIOR

The differences begin on the outside. There are visual familial lines, past and present. Up front, the singleframe grille isn’t as prominent as its bigger brothers, but it is there to define it as an Audi.

More subtle is the C-pillar, designed to hark back to Audi’s golden days in motorsports. It mimics the body lines of the iconic Ur-Quattro rally car, and the C-pillar can be adorned with a decal featuring the manufacturer’s four interlocking rings logo for maximum lineage.

INTERIOR

The Q2 has everything you need on the inside. The clean design never ages, giving the Audi an evergreen cabin. Elements such as the circular air vents, bright accents, stitched leather, a variety of materials, including soft touch surfaces at key contact points, and technology that never overwhelms the user, justify its premium status.

The compact body doesn’t impact interior space and practicality.

The standard sunroof expands that sense of volume when open, day or night.

Ergonomic switchgear mixes freely with a convenience feature suite mostly hidden away in the Audi MMI infotainment system. While it’s not the current MMI version, it still functions fast with logical menu structure, and sharp graphics from its combination of the main touchscreen and the configurable virtual cockpit driver instrumentation display. This shows how ahead of its time it was when implemented. You can easily connect through the lit USB-C ports or wirelessly via Bluetooth.

It all pairs well with a cabin that is refined at speed.

ON THE ROAD

Where the real fun of the Q2 lies is under the bonnet and within the chassis. When it first hit Jamaican shores it was powered by a 1-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged motor. On paper it may have looked out of place or lacking, but it was far from such. Looking past its frugality on fuel, it made full use of its 114bhp and 148lb/ft of torque to make the small SUV a joy to drive.

In urban settings, the Audi could easily blast through holes in the traffic, while on rural roads, the Q2’s size, power delivery, and suspension tuning meant an invigorating drive when wanted.

Fortunately, there was enough overhead built into the chassis, as the current 1.4-litre four-cylinder brings a 34bhp boost for a total output of 148bhp. Torque jumps a similar amount to 36lb/ft. The result, same car, more power, and the driving dynamics to keep up.

Put into DYNAMIC mode, and the fun factor increases dramatically. Velocity comes in a wonderful swell as the Q2 rides forward on its now 184lb/ft of torque, as it blasts quickly through its seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. The suspension is firm, but never harsh. Even better its does that interesting Audi magic trick of getting better as one drives faster, soaking up imperfections without disrupting the chassis or passing the impacts to occupants in any meaningful manner. Despite the compliance, the handling is sharp and never nerve-wracking.

When the fun is over, it can go back to being the chill daily driver with a press of a button, or some personal restraint applied to the accelerator pedal.

VERDICT

The Q2 drives better than many other rival small SUVs, which should be expected as it’s pitched as a premium product. However, it has a dual nature and a higher level of driving dynamics beyond that. With its given premium quality, practicality, perfect dimensions for urban living, 30+ miles-per-gallon ability, and the right amount of technology, it works perfectly as an entry into the Audi Q models. The next level is provided by the extra power of the motor. The punchy performance lifts the experience, making it accessible to a wide range of driving skills. For those who like to drive, the Audi Q2 is one of those vehicles.

There are visual familial lines, past and present, in the Audi Q2 with the singleframe grille as its bigger brothers, and a C-pillar, designed to hark back to the iconic Ur-Quattro rally car. Rory Daley

The compact exterior doesn’t mean sacrificing interior space, and the cabin of the Audi Q2 feels just right. Rory Daley

There’s no shortage of rear space in Audi Q2 for passengers. Rory Daley

Small or not, as an SUV the Audi Q2 is still practical with an abundance of of storage space and solutions. Rory Daley

A huge amount of the fun of the Audi Q2 comes from its 148bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. Rory Daley