Audi sharpens the SQ2
Aggressive new frontal treatment gives the SQ2 an edgier appearance for 2021 and design ques are carried through to the interior.
Jun 17, 2021
The new design language will also feature on the rest of the Q2 range available through 2021
Audi New Zealand has released the new SQ2, giving the sporty compact SUV a design facelift and more edgy looks. The quattro all-wheel drive model is priced at $80,900 and naturally for Audi, a comprehensive technology suite is also packaged with the aesthetic enhancements.
Key to the new, aggressive appearance of this facelift model is significantly redesigned headlights and bumpers, featuring a lower set grille and now standard LED headlights. The facelift has done it’s job well on the SQ2, providing the sporty compact SUV a more chiselled look, it’s a subtle but refreshing evolution.
Audi’s focus on design is carried through to the interior where the new Audi connect services and assist systems make driving the car even more effortless.
Don’t call it a shopping trolley, as you’d expect from an S model, the Q2 also boasts strong performance credentials with the 2.0 TFSI with 221 kW capable of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and the turbo powerplant will push the SQ2 to a remarkable top speed of 250km/h. The performance is accompanied by a additive exhaust note that satisfyingly growls with each stab of the throttle.
Acceleration is as sharp as the new looks, with the seven-speed S tronic’s offering lower gear ratios for spirited performance, meanwhile the tall seventh gear reduces overall fuel consumption, especially on longer road trips. Drivers can operate the snappy dual-clutch transmission in modes D or S or shift themselves. If the Audi drive select system is in “efficiency” mode, the clutch disengages when coasting, allowing the compact sport SUV to freewheel safely and just sip the minimum amounts of fuel.
The S sport suspension of the Audi SQ2 sits 20 millimetres closer to the ground delivering sharper handling characteristics and allows the vehicle to be even more agile, benefitting the drive experience whether you’re in the city or on the open road.
It wouldn’t be an Audi if it didn’t leverage technology to tailor the driving select dynamic handling system offers five profiles which change the character of the steering. The driver can also press a button to set the Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) to off-road mode.
LED headlights are now standard equipment, with an option to have the new Matrix LED headlights as an alternative. For our money, the Audi Matrix LEDs are among the best headlights in the automotive landscape, these intelligently controlled high beam lights always adapt and perfectly illuminate the road as brightly as possible without blinding other road users.
The SQ2 includes driver assist systems such as the pre sense front safety system, adaptive cruise assist and park assist as standard.
The new design enhancements also carry over to the Q2, ensuring Audi’s compact SUV looks even more dynamic across the entire range. The Q2 35 TFSI has already arrived in dealerships, with the Q2 40 TFSI due to arrive later this year.