Photo: Audi
The Audi press release claims that the new SQ2 offers unparalleled performance and the most striking design you can buy for a crossover. But the question is: will you pay €44,500 for a 300 horsepower Q2?
The launch of the SQ2 roughly coincides with that of the Kodiaq RS. This is only natural, as both were shown at the Paris Motor Show. But while the Skoda uses a 240 HP bi-turbo diesel and costs €50,000, the Audi offers 300 HP from a gasoline 2-liter turbo and costs €5,500 less.
We think it would be far more fair to compare this to the Cupra Ateca from SEAT, since both are slightly smaller crossovers, have standard AWD and a similar performance. The SQ2 is about €1,000 more expensive but gets to 100 km/h 0.4 of a second faster.
Of course, there's no such thing as a cheap Audi, particularly when you look at the options which are available. Virtual cockpit, MMI navigation, 19-inch wheels, a carbon pack - we easily added 5k in the configurator.
Of course, the SQ2 has a better badge, but we're not sold on the design. The Cupra Ateca, meanwhile, better differentiates itself from the regular SEAT model, but we will agree that its interior isn't the best. The same kind of 300 horsepower 2-liter will also be used by the Volkswagen T-Roc R, which we expect to see next year.
Both these models sit slightly lower on stiff adaptive suspension. 7-speed twin-clutch gearboxes send power to a non-permanent AWD system. In the case of the Audi, under part load, the engine management system deactivates FSI gasoline direct injection to save fuel.
When the SQ2's front tires slip, the multi-plate clutch of the quattro can transfer up to 100 percent of the force to the rear within just a few milliseconds. Also, this is probably the only Q2 where the nannies can be silenced. Now let's wait and see if this is what Audi buyers wanted.
We think it would be far more fair to compare this to the Cupra Ateca from SEAT, since both are slightly smaller crossovers, have standard AWD and a similar performance. The SQ2 is about €1,000 more expensive but gets to 100 km/h 0.4 of a second faster.
Of course, there's no such thing as a cheap Audi, particularly when you look at the options which are available. Virtual cockpit, MMI navigation, 19-inch wheels, a carbon pack - we easily added 5k in the configurator.
Of course, the SQ2 has a better badge, but we're not sold on the design. The Cupra Ateca, meanwhile, better differentiates itself from the regular SEAT model, but we will agree that its interior isn't the best. The same kind of 300 horsepower 2-liter will also be used by the Volkswagen T-Roc R, which we expect to see next year.
Both these models sit slightly lower on stiff adaptive suspension. 7-speed twin-clutch gearboxes send power to a non-permanent AWD system. In the case of the Audi, under part load, the engine management system deactivates FSI gasoline direct injection to save fuel.
When the SQ2's front tires slip, the multi-plate clutch of the quattro can transfer up to 100 percent of the force to the rear within just a few milliseconds. Also, this is probably the only Q2 where the nannies can be silenced. Now let's wait and see if this is what Audi buyers wanted.
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