Before the first Audi Q2 had even turned a wheel Down Under back in 2017 it was already being hailed a triumph of design around the world. It boasted a style that while obviously ‘Audi’, was also something of a departure for the brand, its use of polygon forms on its flanks was a completely new approach and struck a chord with car enthusiasts and automotive design judges from the get go.

It received top honours in the Automotive Brand Awards as the ‘Best of the Best’ in the Exterior Premium Brand category and then shortly after collected a Gold Medal in the German Design Awards where the jury said of the Q2 that it ‘has the potential to be a trendsetter’.

Their prediction was very quickly proved correct, and since its first appearance on the world stage in 2016 and arrival in Australia the following year, the Q2 has indeed proved to be a trendsetter and has also more than lived up to its original claim as being the ‘ultimate urban SUV’.

Now the revised Audi Q2 has been revealed for the first time, showcasing a new design that builds on the award-winning styling of the original while still creating a persona of its own.

Slightly longer than before at 4.21 metres, with width and height remaining the same at 1.79 and 1.54 metres respectively, the new design is bolder and more athletic than before and its drag coefficient of 0.31 (when fitted with sport suspension) is the best in segment. 

Once again the use of polygon shapes give the Q2 a distinctive design, those multi-faceted surfaces of the original – reminiscent of the stealth bomber in some respects – are more pronounced and extensively used, while the Audi Singleframe grille nows sits lower than on the original emphasising the width and adding to the overall presence.

Design elements such as the slim air vent between the top of the grille and the front bonnet lip – a nod to the rally cars of the ’80s – has also been adopted, while the standard LED headlights and optional Matrix LED lights add to the strong new ‘face’ of the Q2. Customers will be able to choose between two LED versions for the rear lights – with or without dynamic indicators – and if the Matrix LED headlights are optioned, the dynamic indicators are also standard. 

Although specification for Australia will not be announced until closer to the vehicle’s arrival here mid-2021, five new colours have been added to the Q2 line-up, while the distinctive blades on the C-pillars are painted in vehicle colour, black, grey, or silver shades, depending on the equipment line. Wheels start at 16-inches and go up to 19-inches, with three new rim designs on offer.

Although a compact SUV design, the Q2 has always boasted significant accommodation and storage and that remains true with the new model. The redesigned cabin comfortably accommodates five passengers as well as its 405 litres of storage (1050 litres with the rear seats folded down).

Customers will be able to choose the standard or S line interior package, with Dinamica microfibre material a new addition to the range, replacing the Alcantara material. Audi will bundle all upholstery and colours into eight packages, four of which are assigned to the basic interior, while the other four are assigned to the interior S line. Optional equipment will also be bundled into packages to make configuration easier for customers.

Choice is also at the heart of the infotainment and extensive automotive technology on offer, with everything from an analog instrument cluster and the MMI radio plus with DAB+ to the Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch diagonal and MMI navigation plus with an 8.3-inch display. 

Natural language voice control, Audi phone box in two versions, Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System, MMI navigation plus with LTE module for fast data transmission and a Wi-Fi hotspot all feature in various trim levels. Audi connect services will also be available in the Q2 for the first time.

Although addition TDI and TFSI power plants will join the line-up later on, at launch the new Q2 will be powered by a 1.5-litre TFSI engine producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed manual as standard or seven-speed S tronic as an option. This efficient four-cylinder features cylinder on demand technology (COD) and boasts extraordinary efficiency of 5.4 or 5.1 litres per 100km (depending on transmission).

Progressive steering is featured on the Q2 as standard equipment while sport suspension that lowers the body by 10 millimetres can be added as an option. Suspension with damper control, which includes the Audi drive select dynamic handling system is also available separately.  In standard trim the Q2 offers 15 centimetres of ground clearance and its ESC stabilisation control has an integrated off-road mode. 

Audi’s comprehensive safety and driver assistance systems also feature strongly in the new Q2. Standard is the Audi pre sense front system and lane departure warning with three additional packages – Park, Safety and Drive, available to add. The assist package Park includes a reversing camera and the parking system plus. The park assist, which can steer the car into and out of parking spaces automatically, is also available as an upgrade. The assist package Safety includes the side assist, rear cross-traffic assist, and the Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense rear systems. 

The assist package Drive includes a new high-end system, the adaptive cruise assist, which is available in combination with MMI navigation plus, the Audi virtual cockpit, and S tronic. 

Audi will offer a Q2 ‘edition one’ featuring the S line interior and an extensive list of standard equipment including sport seats, ambient lighting package plus, illuminated aluminium panels, pedals and footrests in stainless steel, and flat-bottom sport leather steering wheel. 

Australian customers will have to wait until closer to the car’s arrival here mid-next year for final information on the model line-up and specification. Going on the success of the original, the new incarnation of the ultimate urban SUV will be well worth the wait.