Audi Q2 or Mercedes GLA?

[camrose]

I am changing my ancient Honda for a new car. I only do this every 15 years or so, so its an important decision for me!
I have a long commute (45 miles each way) which I do 3 times a week in the South East and will use the car for local journeys on other days.

I like a slightly raised driving position and want an economical fun car which is comfortable and easy to park.

I have reduced the shortlist to the Audi Q2 or the Mercedes GLA, and would be very interested in any feedback on these cars from current owners. Do you like the car? Would you buy it again? Are there any qwerks that really annoy you? Any features you regret not having?

Thank you

I have a Q2. It's a beautiful looking car and the 1.6TDi Automatic Sport (Diesel...obvs) is fantastic in Sports mode. However be aware that they are not actually designed or built by Audi. They're built by an Italian manufacturer called ItalAuto.

I do like it though!
Some things that annoy me?
Erm.... Not a massive amount. I wish it had keyless entry. The in-car entertainment system is dire compared to Ford (I've had a few new cars & new hire cars, and Ford far far beats them all. Mercedes one was one of the worst though after Audi).
The Sat Nav is horrific. Truly horrific.
Another thing I dislike is not having many extras like auto folding wing mirrors & heated windscreen in ice but of course they are not important really.
I would say the build quality is not at all what I expected from Audi. I leant on the closed car door the over day and the body popped in & out like a jam jar!
It can also be a fairly shaky ride compared to some cars. Still smoother compared to the worst ones though.
One final major annoyance is that to enable Apple Car Play, you have to plug your phone into a cable, so you can often forget once you've set off and is too fiddly to do whilst driving or even whilst in stationary traffic. Again, with Ford, your phone automatically connected to their in car system as soon as you got into the car. With Audi you have to do it manually ever damn time OR connect to Apple Car Play.

However I don't have any major gripes about the car itself. Oh, well, besides not really liking the silver/grey C-Pillars at the back but that can be altered 🤷🏼‍♀️

Good points:

Has 7 gears!
Looks gorgeous from the front
When in Sports Mode on the Automatic Gearbox it suddenly turns into a beast! The exhaust becomes louder & sportier, the acceleration is amazing and you really enjoy yourself!
Good quality engine
Comfy seats
Very reliable
Despite the bodywork not being as solid as I expected, I do feel safe!
There is Isofix in front passenger seat should you need it (I don't advise putting kids car seats in front however!!)
There's a Wireless phone charger
There's in-car WiFi
Has Google Maps (Apple Car Play not Audi)
Oh and the bonnet opens using Hydraulics like the boot so you don't have to hold it up with a stick. Very cool!

I test drove a Q2, but on slamming the door it sounded tinny and of poor quality. I was out that showroom pretty quick.
Also test drive a Mercedes GLA, great car but the boot was too small for me. I bought a coupe instead 🤷🏼‍♀️ Don’t use sports mode as the fuel economy on these cars is rubbish. Fun if you’re sitting at the lights and leave everyone behind if you’re feeling devilish.

Sorry, me again! Can I just say that some of the extras I've mentioned may actually be available with the next model up from mine (S-Line) and of course, some of the extras I have may not be available with the one down from mine (SE I think?)
Two other things I forgot to mention. All Q2 models come with pedestrian/collision detection which slams the brakes on 1 second after a distinctive warning beep; if it detects something a certain distance in front and determines from your speed that you're not going to stop in time. Sounds great? But I have had it do this when NOTHING is in front! Apparently it's a well known thing. Doesn't happen a lot at all but is annoying when it does! On the flip side, it has actually stopped me from hitting a car in traffic whilst I was distracted by another accident! So it obviously does work.
The other thing is that it's not touchscreen... No biggie 🤷🏼‍♀️ Just means you have to use the dial quite a bit.

As for the Mercedes GLA.....
I had one as a hire car for two weeks and disliked it a hell of a lot more! I found it to be plasticky inside, the in-car system was almost as bad as the Q2 (worse in some aspects) and felt cheap overall. I genuinely didn't feel 100% safe if I'm honest. It was fairly new too. It HATED reversing. Made an awful noise and jerked backwards.
The windows jolted as they were going up & down and reminded me of an old Peugeot my Dad once had! It was also the only automatic I have ever come across that managed to stall itself!
I honestly remember thinking to myself how annoyed I would be if I'd paid tens of thousands of pounds for one....

@Longdistance I agree about the doors. The rest of the car is solid though. Just a section of the doors which aren't great. A lot of car reviewers have mentioned it.

Here she is! Meet Alexa the Audi....

When in Sports Mode on the Automatic Gearbox it suddenly turns into a beast! The exhaust becomes louder & sportier, the acceleration is amazing and you really enjoy yourself!

Just no. That’s got to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. It’s the slowest Q2 you can get and couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding with its whopping 114bhp. Most hatchbacks will waste it off the lights.

OP - if you plan on keeping something long term then I’d be avoiding either of these like the plague and getting something Far Eastern. By 7,8,9 years old these will be a liability.

You must have a fault with yours then! Mine is 168bhp is sports mode love

It beat my friend's V8 off the line

Funny how they don’t make a 168bhp 1.6 diesel isn’t it? The 2.0 diesel comes in 150bhp and 190bhp flavours and neither of those are remotely quick either. Your description of what is in reality a sluggish, white goods box is both cringeworthy and embarrassing. Your friend either wasn’t trying, doesn’t know how to launch a car off the line of was driving some strange 1970s US V8 with about 20bhp. Your car takes more than 10 seconds to get to 60 which is pretty much glacial, I doubt there is a V8 currently on sale which takes more than 7 seconds - most will be in the 4/5 second range. If you want a beast try and SQ2, that genuinely does accelerate rather well.

Audi Q2 is a good choice! I personally love Audi.

Thank you for all your comments. I am veering towards the Q2 s line even though some of the extras I want will make it ££.

I have an injury at the moment which means I can't have a test drive fir another couple of weeks and am spending too much time looking at websites.

I am not worried about the size of the boot because we have a large Volvo too.

Any other cars I should consider??

I think that would be a mistake for a long term ownership proposition. Probably be fine for 3/4/5 years whilst under warranty and just outside but they’re not really a quality product. If you’re genuinely going to keep it for 15 years buy something Japanese, preferably Lexus or Honda. The Audi might just have nicer soft-touch plastics but will that still be important to you in 10 years when faced with a big bill? Also, it goes without saying really, but make sure you don’t get a diesel.

I was about to suggest a Volvo XC40 but if you've already got one Volvo at home you might not want another!

Maybe have a look at the Lexus UX. It's new. It's a similar size and concept to the Q2 and GLA; high-riding hatchback with a bit of crossover styling. Might suit what you're looking for and Lexus cars are generally extremely reliable. If I was looking to keep something for a decade, I'd definitely look at Lexus over Audi or Mercedes. A relative of mine had a Lexus GS that got to over 300,000 miles.

I ran an Audi myself for a while and I wouldn't have another. It was fine for three years and then suddenly became very expensive for repairs.

I don't know much about the GLA but I think it's being replaced soon as it's based on the old-shape A-Class.

I love the look of the XC40 but I really need an economical (petrol or hybrid) commuter car which is fun and easy to park. Our Volvo is an xc90 which is a lovely car and great on the motorways, but not economical and the turning circle is huge so not good for parking in multi-storey car parks!

My teenage ds has a VW Up which is fun to drive and easy to park but not so good for the commuting.

I will have a look at the Lexus. I know this is not logical but I am just not keen on the styling of most of the Far East cars. My Honda has been great but I really want a change in style.

@kalopali I think you're misunderstanding me. On the automatic, there is a sports setting on the actual gearbox itself. It improves acceleration. Which goes up to 168bhp......Acceleration.....

@kalopali Also, diesel Audis are much better. My Mum has had them since the 80s and they are amazing. They last forever and the fuel economy is incredible. I get 800 miles from a full tank and that's an automatic.

I think you need to accept that sometimes people will have a different experience than you - or SHOCKER a different opinion and you know what? That's ok! You don't need to get offended! Relax!

I think you're misunderstanding me. On the automatic, there is a sports setting on the actual gearbox itself. It improves acceleration. Which goes up to 168bhp......Acceleration...

No, there is no increase in power when you put it into sport mode. Whoever told you that is an idiot. All that happens is that it changes the throttle map and probably the gear shift speeds. Its woeful 0-62 time will have been recorded with the gearbox in sport mode. You’re delusional if you think it’s some kind of rocket ship. You’re also incorrect about who builds the Q2 and where it’s built. As for reliability, Audi were a quality brand back in the 80s but alas that is no more, as they age you can expect big bills which is just not the case with a Honda or Lexus. Audi rate 34th out of 40 manufactures in the UK for reliability which tells you all you need to know.

I think you're misunderstanding me. On the automatic, there is a sports setting on the actual gearbox itself. It improves acceleration. Which goes up to 168bhp......Acceleration...

Errr...NO. It improves acceleration by changing the gear change setting so it stays in a lower gear for longer, changes the exhaust note to give an impression or sportiness, and stiffening up the steering and suspension. But you don't get any more bhp, and top speed will be unaffected. And you'll get worse fuel economy, by being in a lower gear for longer at higher revs.

Nothing makes me cringe more that people on mumsnet claiming that their fairly average car is 'a beast.'

Go and test drive both cars OP to see whether you like them.

I had a 3.0 diesel SQ5 a few years ago. You don’t get more bhp for it being in sports mode; whoever told you that thinks you’re a gullible idiot. The fuel consumption when driven in sports mode is horrendous too. Actually it was horrendous in drive mode too.

OP if you need an economical car, Audi is not the one to go for. I’ve taken two Audi’s -A3 s-line and the SQ5 back to the garage within a week of delivery because I thought there was an issue as the real figures differ so much from the published figures

I’d personally take a look at the BMW X2, Mazda & Lexus.

I am desperate to have some test drives but am currently recovering from an ankle injury which means I can't drive for another month. I am trying to do all my research now so that I can test drive and order as soon as I am able.

In many ways the XC40 looks good but I just feel it is too big for my needs.

There seems to be a consistent message that the q2 is not a car for a decade plus. I may get a more basic model and plan to change it in 5 years (probably for an electric car by then). Lots to think about while I am laid up!

Nothing makes me cringe more that people on mumsnet claiming that their fairly average car is 'a beast.

It's ridiculous. Someone who thinks a diesel Audi with 114bhp is a beast would have kittens if they drove the car I was using for a few months at work last year, an Audi RS6.

Now there's a car which I think can reasonably be described as a beast.

An update - I bought a Q2 and am delighted with it!