Audi to launch the Q2 in India soon

Audi has been on a roll! First with the A8 L, followed by the Q8, then the RS7 and even the RSQ8, it really has stepped up its game ever since its portfolio was cut short due to the lack of diesels. And while the cars mentioned above are halo models, its next launch isn’t. The Q2 (if priced well) should be a very appealing prospect for customers looking to enter into the realm of the big three German manufacturers.

What is it?

The Q2 is the smallest ‘SUV’ the brand makes, smaller than the Q3 even. It measures 4210mm in length, 1799mm wide and just 1540mm tall. The X1 for reference, is 4447mm long, 1821mm wide and 1582mm tall. However, it does get more youthful styling thanks to the sharp angular surfaces all over, aggressive headlights and the dual-tone paint scheme shown here looks cool too. The rear-end has a fairly swooping roof, not exactly like a coupe-SUV, but more like the one on the Volkswagen T-Roc. We don’t know if we will get the S Line trim (or the Black Edition or Vorsprung trims) which gets the fancy body kit, although silver details visible in the teaser does suggest an S Line variant. Even in standard form the Q2 does turn a few heads. And that is the Q2’s primary weapon — style. It won’t be the most practical car you could buy at that price but it might well be one of the coolest.

How much is it?

Exact pricing for India has not been announced yet, but expect Audi to announce pricing and open up bookings (very) soon. The Q2 doesn’t really go up against the BMW X1 and the Volvo XC 40, since it is a touch smaller but it will probably also be priced just under those two. For reference, the X1 starts at Rs 35.9 lakh and the XC 40 starts at Rs 39.9 lakh. If Audi prices the Q2 well, it could certainly find a strong market of younger buyers looking to cash in that cheque for a new SUV with a lot of swagger.

What’s under the hood?

Expect the Q2 to come in India with a 1.5-litre TFSI engine, the same one we’ve seen under the hood of the Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc, mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. It packs 148bhp and 250Nm of torque, and it also gets the EA211 Evo family’s cylinder deactivation tech to keep it efficient. While quattro all-wheel-drive is an option internationally, expect the India-spec Q2 to be front-wheel-drive only.

The Q2 will currently be the most affordable Audi in India, and since the new-gen Mercedes-Benz GLA hasn't been launched yet, it might also be the most affordable car from the big three Germans if it undercuts the X1. That should drive home some more sales for Audi before it launches the new A3 in India.