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What to check: Audi Q2

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Ranked across all years of the Audi Q2, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

DampersRuns high on this modelLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 5.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 0.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

A binding brakeAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 0.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 20.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 11.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 18.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Rev a TFSI petrol gently from idle and pull away a few times.Hesitation, misfire or a flat spot low down can point to carbon-fouled intake valves, common from 50-70k miles on direct-injection engines.

On manual cars, find the clutch bite point and try a hard pull away in a higher gear.A high or vague bite point, or any slip under load, suggests the clutch is on its way out.

On S tronic automatics, pull away from a dead stop several times, including on an incline.Jerky or hesitant take-up, or reluctance to engage a gear, is the classic sign of a failing DQ200 mechatronic unit.

Drive slowly over a speed bump or pothole and listen for knocks from the rear.Could be ordinary suspension wear, or on pre-Nov-2017 cars, tied to the rear hub carrier defect covered by a 2017 recall.

On manuals with the electronic parking brake, do a hill start and feel when the brake releases.Releasing before the clutch has taken up drive was the fault behind a 2018 recall; confirm the fix has been applied.

Run the car's registration through the government vehicle recall checker before you view it.The Q2 has had five recalls, including the hub carrier and parking-brake fixes; an outstanding one is free to fix but a sign the previous owner didn't bother.

Test every electrical function, dash lights, infotainment, central locking, before driving off.A 2023 recall covered a loose fuse-carrier connector that can cause random electrical faults on newer cars.

Full Audi Q2 reliability report