The first generation Audi Q3 was quite a remarkable car. It had a high entry, but not those bulky shapes of regular SUV's.
The new Q3 follows the same recipe. It's longer, wider, but it has a lower roofline.
BMW even goes one step further with the X2. That's not an SUV Coupé, because the roofline would be too low...
to even sit in the back, but it clearly distinguishes itself from the X1.
Of course, that means losing space in the rear seat. Sure, I've got enough legroom with my 1,80 m.,
but the headroom isn't really royal. Just like the luggage space of 470 litres isn't really royal either.
If you put the Audi or X3 next to it, they're much spacier and a lot more practical.
The Audi has adjustable rear seats as standard.
Nice.
In the front, it's kind of dependant of what you think is important. This X2 looks a lot less good from the inside,
but when it comes to controlling it, it's better because of i-Drive.
You can do everything blindly, really. In the Audi, it's the complete opposite.
It looks fantastic with great materials and very good finishing, but the usability could be better.
Everything is in that screen. Even if you want to adjust the dashboard lighting, it's a big task...
When you're underway, the Audi is mostly predictable. We're driving a version with big wheels, 20-inch to be exact,
with 255 mm wide tires. Also, it has the S-line chassis, which is the sporty one. That makes it not very comfortable.
You do have to sacrifice something. Especially on deeper potholes or anything, it's quite the sturdy car.
It's not as hard as its predecessor, the previous generation. But still, it's not very comfortable.
On the other hand, there's a positive side to it as well. The car feels incredibly good on the road.
You can really throw it around corners. It's very predictable. Eventually you'll encounter understeer and the nose...
starts moving outwards, but that's a sign you should take it a little easier.
An easy solution.
The steering is quite a disappointment. It's too vague in neutral position and in the city, it's too light.
You can't feel what's happening.
Right now, I'm driving the 35 TFSI, which means I'm driving the current entry level engine.
It's a turbocharged 1.5-litre 4-cylinder, producing 150 horsepower.
It has to work pretty hard on the motorway sometimes, but it's more than enough power for the Netherlands.
It's connected to a double clutch gearbox, which Audi calls the S-Tronic. Of course, it's just a DSG.
DSG-gearboxes have become a little bit more annoying when you're driving off.
It never immediately does what you want. It feels a bit lazy really. You really have be be rolling to get it to react the way you want.
BMW uses double clutch automatic gearboxes as well in their smaller-engined models with front wheel drive;
the DCT. A seven speed, and it works incredibly fluently.
It senses perfectly what you want. The software is almost perfect, a very nice transmission.
This BMW X2 has a 1.5-litre petrol engine as well, but instead, it's a 3-cylinder.
And if you're just driving about, you almost can't hear that. If you're stationary however with your foot on the brake,
you can feel a little more shaking going on if the engine is still on, then it's not as refined as the 1.5 TFSI 4-cylinder in the Audi.
Other than that, it's a very pleasant engine with enough power to play with as well.
It produces 140 horsepower and 220 Nm, which is a tad less powerful than the Audi,
but this BMW weighs 80 kg less than the Audi. So it compensates nicely.
They're just as quick. Not very fast, but quick enough for Dutch use.
Then, a front wheel drive BMW. It says S-drive on the back, so it's front wheel drive.
I always have to get used to it in BMW's. When you start to lose grip on the front wheels in quick corners,
it still reacts differently than a rear wheel drive BMW, but I think they've done a good job.
And it's a very dynamic car at that.
A BMW gives you such a trusted feeling. If you're driving quickly, you'll always know what's happening.
The steering is better than in the Audi as well. Also, this X2 has adaptive dampers,
which it makes it more comfortable, whilst being more dynamic at the same time.
And those adaptive dampers aren't the only thing which are on the X2, but not on the Q3.
Leather upholstery, panoramic roof, electric bootlid, adaptive cruise control...
That must cost a lot of money, right? And it does. It'll set you back €65.699.
But the Audi is €4.000 more, which'll make you seat on unheated cloth seats,
and you still have to start the car with a key. But, you do get 20-inch wheels and more space.