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By Jonathan Crouch

Audi's lightly improved SQ2 shows just how much of a proper hot hatch a fast compact SUV can be. Jonathan Crouch considers its appeal.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 59

Shopping rockets used to be based on superminis and family hatchbacks. Now, increasingly, we're seeing a switch over to performance-minded small crossovers like this Audi SQ2. You get most of the dynamic drive of a hot hatch. With extra style and practicality. And, in the case of the improved version of this Audi, a decent dose of quality too.

Backgroundword count: 113

Audi's 'S' series of performance models is well established. The brand's 'SQ' range less so. Those two letters designate performance versions of the company's SUVs and the SQ model line was originated with the SQ5 of 2013, which was followed by the larger SQ7 of 2016. Curiously, there's never been an SQ3 to widen the scope for this sub-franchise - only a wild RS Q3 variant that few could afford. But in 2018, we did get this car, the SQ2, which really amounted to precisely that. With all the engineering ingredients we would have expected from an SQ3. Do they all add up here in this improved version launched in 2020? Let's see.

Driving Experienceword count: 276

There are no dynamic changes to this improved SQ2 and if you happen to be a student of Volkswagen Group performance models, you might be pretty familiar with the recipe on offer here. Namely, the award-winning EA888 version of the 2.0-litre TSI petrol turbo engine in 300PS form. Plus 4WD and a DSG 7-speed paddleshift auto gearbox. Pretty much what you'll find in a Golf R. And exactly as you'll find it with this car's two similarly priced compact SUV Volkswagen Group cousins, the Volkswagen T-Roc R and the CUPRA Ateca. Or perhaps not quite exactly. Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers are optional (or in the case of the CUPRA, standard) on the other Wolfsburg models featuring this engineering package, but you can't have them at all here. Which seems something of an oversight on Audi's part. Unlike front-driven Q2 variants, quattro versions of this model like this one have proper sophisticated four-link suspension, but the ride of this SQ2 can still feel somewhat over firm on poorer surfaces. It's still properly fast though. There's an actual (not limited) top speed of 155mph. And the 62mph sprint from rest is dispatched with impressive ferocity in just 4.9s, with torque that keeps pulling like a train up to 5,200rpm, so when you put your foot down in just about any gear, the car spears forward. True, there's a touch more body roll through the turns than you'd get in a Golf R or an Audi S3 but you'd expect the fractionally higher driving position to deliver that. An arguably greater issue is the way that this exacerbates the lack of lateral support provided by the sports seats.

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