What's the difference?
Audi’s littlest and most affordable SUV, the Q2, has been updated with new looks and tech, but something else has snuck in with it. Or should I say roared in? It’s the SQ2, with a whopping 300 horsepower and a snarling bark.
So, this review has something for everybody. It’s for those who want to know what’s new for the Q2 in this latest update - those thinking of buying a cool-looking little SUV from Audi - and for those who want to wake their neighbours up and frighten their friends.
Ready? Let’s go.
The Suzuki Jimny is back with a tech refresh and very minor update after a year-long pause in production.
The line-up now has an updated autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system – so that system is now compliant with Australian Design Rules standards – as well as adaptive cruise control, lane departure prevention, and front and rear parking sensors.
My test vehicle – the entry-level Jimny Lite – also gets a new 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of this latest line-up refresh.
So, does the updated base-spec Jimny – which now costs $1500 more than it did before – represent best value for money in this Zook range?
Read on.
The Q2 is good value and great to drive – especially the SQ2. The exterior looks new, but the cabin feels older than the larger Q3, and most other Audi models.
More standard advanced safety tech would make the Q2 even more appealing, as would a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. While we’re at it, a hybrid variant would make enormous sense.
So, a great car, but Audi could offer more to make it an even better proposition for buyers.
The Suzuki Jimny Lite is the most basic of the Suzuki Jimny line-up but that’s not a bad thing.
It’s ordinary on-road, it’s on the wrong side of small – especially in terms of cargo-carrying ability – and it’s still an exercise in driver-adaptability because it’s basic, bouncy and requires a lot of effort to keep it driving in a straight line.
But the Jimny is a lot of fun off road and even on sealed surfaces. It is go-kart-like in terms of everyday suitability and comfort, but its day-to-day drivability has received a healthy boost by way of those new driver-assist technologies and the updated AEB.
If you’re willing to give into the fun and cop a few compromises along the way, then you won’t be disappointed, because the Jimny is a tonne of fun.