THE Audi Q2 arrived back in 2016 and was the German company's first venture into the challenging compact SUV market.

As you would expect it was a success but in September last year the Q2 was given a major makeover to keep it competitive in an ever demanding market.

The shape remains much the same with some tweaks but the car now features improved technology and additional safety equipment.

The Q2 is a little longer than before and is also slightly lower and wider and as a result has a more sporting look. It also has a bigger grille and new LED lights are standard across the model range.

I sampled the latest Q2 in S Line form with S tronic automatic transmission. Powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, delivering 150PS and 250Nm of torque, the Q2 tackles the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 8.6 second and has a top speed of 135mph.

It is also reasonably economical and according to official figures under WLTP testing, it can deliver a combined 44.8mpg thanks to its cylinder-on-demand technology.

Power delivery is smooth thanks to the seven-speed automatic box and there is a choice of drive modes called efficiency, comfort, auto, dynamic and individual. I found it was best left in the comfort setting.

Steering wheel mounted paddles allow you to take more control and have a bit of fun should you feel the urge and the Q2 felt at home in town, on twisting roads and motorways. The suspension did a good job of smoothing out rougher surfaces.

The cabin offers typical Audi quality and there is room for four adults to travel in comfort. The boot offers 405 litres of space and this can be increased to 1,050 litres with the split rear seats folded flat. The interior also boasts plenty storage space.

The interior features black Alcantara leather upholstery with S embossing and contrast grey stitching. There is a Bang & Olufsen sound system, full navigation, smartphone integration, heated seats, an infotainment screen on top of the dashboard, along with a host of other tech and kit to enjoy.

As you would expect comfort levels within the car are high and thanks to all the adjustments available it is easy to find a good driving position with excellent all-round visibility.

The controls, dials and readouts are ideally positioned and easy to read and use and thankfully the climate controls allow you to make changes without having to fiddle with a screen menu.

This model was priced at £30,420 and finished in striking Navarra Blue paint - a £575 option. Other options are endless and on this model took the cost to a hefty £40,025.

They included 19-inch alloy wheels in matt titanium with red brake calipers at £1,250, Matrix headlights, including LED rear lights and dynamic indicators at £975 and a panoramic sunroof costing £875.

Safety systems are comprehensive on the car but again there are options including Audi side assist with cross-traffic assist, a Driver Assistance pack that adds adaptive cruise control and an upgraded parking pack.