Audi might not be a manufacturer sitting at the forefront of your mind if you were in the market for a new SUV and pondering potential options. It really isn’t a style of vehicle the brand is famous for, having made its name with luxury sedans and a variety of roaring sporty jobs. However, that doesn’t mean the SUVs it does produce aren’t worthy of your attention.
In fact, Audi produces a range of crossovers, in all shapes and sizes, and one of the newer, weenier options comes in the shape of the Q2. The latest in the line-up is a refreshed version of a car that first blinked its headlights in the evening light after emerging from Audi’s manufacturing plants in 2016. For Middle East buyers, though, it is a much more recent arrival, having only been officially available here since July this year.
The Q2 is classified as being a premium compact SUV, in line with the likes of say the (probably more well-known) Volkswagen T-Roc or Mini Countryman. That comparative-notoriety thing could well be down to Audi’s offering having a more humdrum moniker in comparison to the other pair, but nominative issues aside, the Q2 stands up as a definite contender in this automotive class.
From the outset, it has a pleasingly bold and genial appearance, giving off a more friendly look than some of the growlers produced by other manufacturers that often recall the kind of vehicles you might see in a Mad Max film.
The 2024 Q2 has had some significant upgrades, most notably regarding its infotainment system and virtual cockpit set-up. When you’re out on the road, the car, being compact (the clue is in the description) feels responsive, and the acceleration is decent enough to get you up to speed with motorway traffic when you’re entering from a feeder lane very nicely.
This can be a problem with smaller SUVs, but the Q2 has no worries in that area. It feels good in an urban environment too, though that’s probably where you’d keep it – the Q2 has some off-road ability, but it should stay on firmer surfaces.
When it comes to build quality, well… it’s an Audi, so that side is, as far as we could tell, faultless. The Q2 is one of Audi’s cheaper automotive options, but that doesn’t make it a budget option. That said, the starting price of less than Dh140,000 in the UAE gives it definite potential.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
There are cheaper models in the class, but the general feel of the Q2 is unlikely to leave you wishing you’d opted for something less expensive.
Admittedly, one suspects Audi will be selling rather more of these in areas with streets that are on the narrow side – places where a beefier SUV is harder to justify – as opposed to the kind of regions where a tough car is likely to prove useful on a regular basis.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider one though. Audi has clearly gone for a mix of stylishness and practicality with the 2024 version, and the technicians and designers responsible have succeeded in their aims.
There’s plenty of fun to be had in a Q2, and if you’re in need of a quality family compact that is roomier than most of your mainstream sedans – while also being higher off the ground, of course – it remains a solid option.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000
Available: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
