Audi Q2’s mellow yellow is ray of sunshine

Why get the Q2 when you already have the Q3? Because it’s funkier, cooler, and more stylish, writes John O’Mahony.

Sat, 28 Jan, 2017 - 00:00

John O’Mahony

When it comes to car colours, we’re not the most adventurous nation.

Stick a psychologist on a flyover for a couple of hours and he’ll report back with a bland picture of greys and browns, and a diagnosis of a motoring public more eager to be head down than flash, low-key than loud.

For the record, the most popular colour of new cars sold here last year was grey (30,701 units).

Second most popular was black (28,244); followed by silver (22,910); white (21,368); red (17,207); blue (17,709); brown (2,636); beige (1,260); green (719); gold (558); orange (312); and yellow (117).

If you are to believe the experts (cut me some slack here), the colour you choose reveals a lot about your personality, even allowing for your brand of choice.

If your colour of choice is:

Red: You love life. You’re outgoing, fun, and want to get the most out of your time on the planet.
Grey: You’re cautious and don’t particularly want to stand out. It can also symbolise a certain maturity and dignity.
Silver: Symbolises good taste and a certain sophistication. There is a steeliness in your business dealings — but you might just be working too hard.
Blue: A sign of sensitivity, and if you own one, chances are you are compassionate, sensitive, and honest. You seek out the good in others and like to maintain the status quo.
Green: If you drive green, chances are you are green. Not the tree-hugging type, more the environmentally friendly type. You’re comfortable in your own skin and are not too pushed about what others think of you (or your car colour).
Brown/beige: Safe and cost-conscious, you tend to opt for the kind of car that lasts longer than looks better. You’re a one car man/woman and tend to see a motor as merely a way of getting from A to B, as opposed to a fashion statement.
Black: A sign of dignity, luxury, and class, it’s the shade most linked to power. Drivers who chose to go black are always in control (or just don’t like having to watch their care that often).
White: Often associated with honesty and purity. It’s a sign of freshness, taste, elegance, and the drive for perfection (not to mention countless washes).
Yellow: A little ray of sunshine, you’re in the glass half full category. You take a few risks, like life, and have a good sense of humour (which might come in handy).

The feeling of newness is carried inside, where the combination of strip lighting (available in orange, red, yellow, and white), brushed aluminium, and leather makes the cockpit a very nice place to be.

The focus is on colour this week because the tester is the spectacularly yellow Audi Q2. Bright, bold, beefy , beautiful — the Q2 is yet another entrant into the popular small SUV segment (Audi’s smallest yet), offering a premium alternative to the Renault Captur, Opel Mokka X, and the Nissan Duke.

Before I was handed the keys to the Q2 I was trying to work out the logic — why a Q2, when you already had the very respectable Q3? But after the week, the question was why a Q3, when the younger sibling is funkier, cooler, and more stylish than its older brother.

One of the minor complaints I’ve had about the recent Audi range is the similarity in looks across models, but the Q2 gives us an indication of what the future might hold.

The new line design, which puts the focus on the sharpened corners and edges, coupled to the angled LED lights and octagonal singleframe grille gives the Q2 a much more defined look, which makes the look of the Q3 slightly dated.

That feeling of newness is carried inside, where the combination of strip lighting (available in orange, red, yellow, and white), brushed aluminium, and leather makes the cockpit a very nice place to be.

Standard equipment includes Audi Drive Select, 18” 5 spoke Y design alloy wheel, LED headlights, LED interior lighting package, 3-spoke multifunctional steering wheel, front sport seats, smartphone interface, and a 7” MMI Screen.

Add the Tech Pack (for an additional €2,450) and you get the very popular virtual cockpit, phone box and MMI Navigation Plus. The metallic paint adds another €881, electrically opening Boot Lid, €697 and interior ambient lighting package, €144. You get the picture.

The Q2 comes with a range of five engines — petrol options comprising the 1.0 TFSI 116hp three-cylinder turbo and a 1.4 TFSI 150hp turbo four-cylinder. There are two diesel engines available, a 1.6 TDI 116hp, and a 2.0 TDI 150hp. Quattro four-wheel drive is standard on the 2.0 TDI, along with the seven-speed S tronic.

The 1.4 TFSI turbo in the tester was sharp and responsive and very lively around town, with the 7-speed S tronic transmission adding to the overall sporty feel.

Despite being a few inches shorter than the Q3, the Q2 offers plenty of legroom in the front and equally comfortable for two adults and three children on the back. Boot space at 405 litres is just a tad shorter than the Q3, and expands to 1,050 with the back seats folded down.

The new line design, which puts the focus on the sharpened corners and edges, coupled to the angled LED lights and octagonal singleframe grille gives the Q2 a much more defined look and make the Q3 look slightly dated.

All in all, the Q2 will shake up the small SUV market, appealing to those looking for a small family car, with a big-budget, rugged, and sporty feel. It looks great, drives great, and is impressive enough all round to carry off the range of accentuated colours it comes in — even Vegas yellow.

At a glance