Switchback after switchback, it was becoming pretty apparent that I was never going to test the limits of the 2023 Audi Q2.

Not like I was trying to anyway. The only challenge I held myself to was to get out of the Tapah backroads before night fell, because heaven forbid if I had to change a tyre (or worse) by the unlit roadside. In roads that'll make Genting's look wide, this wouldn't have been fun.

Gentle highway character

Going up to Cameron Highlands however was another matter completely.

A hold up along the way meant Waze brought me up through the newer but longer route through Simpang Pulai. It's a bit of a roundabout, as it threads through Perak only to come back down to Pahang.

But it's a much smoother and I'd daresay safer route too, as the scraggly bits only come at the final stages of the 3-4 hour drive, and even then the roads are wider.

No matter. We're in fully-imported Audi (CBU Germany) – albeit the cheapest one you can get brand new in Malaysia – so this is also a suitable test to see if it has some of that Autobahn cruiser genealogy carried over.

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It gets along briskly enough, and the first thing one would notice is the quietness. The interior is plushly isolated from road and wind noises, and it does well enough to dampen most but the shrillest exhausts from the assortment of kapchais that whizzed by.

A good start for the junior Q2. Then you remember the RM 275,710 sticker. Right in the realms of the Mercedes-Benz GLA (RM 255k – RM 288k) and the F48 BMW X1 (RM 221k – RM 240k).

Steep, steep asking price, one hell of an uphill trek.

Lots can be said about that, just as opinions might be divided on its blocky physique. To us it stands out enough from the sea of models that prefer to go the swoopy route.

We'll admit that is subjective; but having a straight roof that affords uncompromised headroom (well, as much as size allows it to) at the back is a fact.

A punchy colour palette (Torch Red on our tester) and contrasting rear pillars help with the razzmatazz, although my main complaint is that its plain 17-inch wheels are very base-model chic.

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Inside, you'll note most of the extroversion of its exterior dissipates. Everything works as it should and laid out with the usual Audi logic...but it's sorely missing a nice hook, a clincher that gets you raring for another go soon after you've parked it.

There's leather sports seats that offer decent support, but less than decent for value as they're devoid of any electrical assistance save for 4-way lumbar adjustments.

The pews are only the beginning; sadly the rest of the features carries a feeling that product planners were hamstrung by a constrictive budget, and that's strictly speaking in terms of accoutrements rather than quality.

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Kit count is where that's painfully obvious. By hour two of my drive up along a slowing AH2, I was sorely missing adaptive cruise control. No auto brake hold too.

In truth, the Q2 shows its age. It not with the newest Audi design language, consequently there's a protruding 8.3-inch infotainment screen that hasn't got touch control.

Plenty annoying when you need to change destinations and/or playlists on the fly; the quicker way to do it is to unplug your phone, type, reconnect...it's either this or scrawling on the circular trackpad. Safe while driving? We bet its not...

In terms of space it feels like a car better suited for young couples, maybe plus a little one, more than a full-on family car. That is fine; Audi makes the Q5 for the latter group of customers. For what it is though the space the Q2 affords is fine – plenty of feet wiggle room, and ample headroom.

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Your things? A lot can fit in the boot, which is 402 litres at its smallest, and can be expanded to 1,050 litres with the rear seats folded away.

An appetite for corners

Our plan was actually in reverse – I wanted to do Route 59 (Tapah – Cameron Highlands) when the sun was out, and the highway at night. But Q sera sera, as they say...

The buffet of corners on the way back was a nice role reversal from the morning's slightly humdrum journey, and that's also where the Q2's appetite for them was neatly discovered. 

Even in the rain there was good grip and traction, and the relatively light weight – about 1,300 kgs or so – lends it a sprightly character.

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There's little body roll when cornerning, and the tiller responds quickly and accurately to inputs. You can adjust the steering and gearbox behaviours through the Audi Drive Select system, although I found no qualms just leaving it to dictate its own pace by leaving it in Auto.

Praise too goes to the MQB platform. Our past experiences with it in other VW Group products, like the Tiguan Allspace, Arteon, Passat have all been pleasant, and the Q2 essentially coming across as a raised hatchback meant the driving experience is more car-like then you'd expect.

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Also, no multi-links for you, only a torsion beam setup at the back. Frankly for most use cases this car will likely see – trips to the university? More of the city than anything else we reckon – it won't make too much of a difference as it's comfortable enough, shaken only by the deepest ruts.

Straight lines in the cabin and slim pillars meant you look out of this thing quite confidently. The upshot to this, when combined with its diminutive size, is that the Q2 is easy to manouevre around said bends and in traffic too.

Under the hood there's 'only' a 1.4-litre engine, but the turbocharged four-cylinder puts out a healthy 150 PS and 250 Nm. Much of that is available down low (from 1,500 to 3,500 rpm), so despite the lack of tech, you don't feel like pulling your hair out on the highways because it also lacks power.

Selecting 'Dynamic' gets it properly chipper, but you don't need to if you have to peel away from a slow moving big rig. The 8-speed torque-converter automatic responds intuitively, and power delivery comes on just as you need it.

Do we miss the 7-speed dual-clutch? Eh, not really. The conventional 8AT shifts speedy enough to not feel lazy, and in traffic it's very smooth. Plus it doesn't require you to change your driving habits much, and we'll take these wins as we get them.

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Somewhat of a bonus too is that it's reasonably fuel efficient. Our 118 km mixed route returned a net fuel consumption figure if 8.1-litres/100 km, bang on what the trip computer calculated. 

Verdict

Boiling it down to its essentials, the Audi Q2 is a car that's as difficult to lambast with criticism as it is to heap praise upon. You'd have noticed we like the exterior, less so the interior, love the drive, can't quite say the same about its short list of features.

We appreciate the punchier base aftersales package though (5 years warranty, 3 years free service) than either of its class rivals – four years for the Mercedes, two years for BMW (5 years is a paid option).

That aside, the other point to note is the Q2 is one and done; Audi's renewed focus onto larger premium vehicles mean there will be no successor for it after it reaches the end of their model lifecycle.

For some, that could hold sway, a last chance to try something different in a category ruled by Mercedes and BMW.  Granted, it's not one for those seeking a value buy, so the Q2 ultimately remains a thoroughly emotional proposition – does it stir yours enough?