AUDI'S fiery SQ2 is a bit of a conundrum, supposedly smaller than the Q3, it nevertheless belies its size.

A kind of mini SUV with hot-hatch plus performance, it offers plenty of practicality and hi-tech goodies to give it the traditional Audi premium feel.

It is a real firecracker of a motor. The blistering performance could make you question the need for the even more powerful RS version.

Here the 300ps petrol engine delivers exhilarating acceleration, rocketing the car to 60mph in just over four seconds.

This Black quattro all-wheel drive version definitely looks the part with matt titanium finish alloys and a black finish on the air intakes, grille, and mirrors and twin exhausts, plus a black grille, window trims, black and blacked-out Audi rings.

It features flared wheel arches, Brembo brake callipers, and the usual S-line branding throughout.

The interior is what you would expect from Audi, premium fit and finish with soft touch materials and hi-tech gizmos. It features front sport seats upholstered in a black leather and Alcantara and black headliner

The brains of the car is the central touchscreen and the latest version of the firm's MMI system, which controls features like smartphone connectivity, infotainment and navigation. it also houses the latest wi-fi apps which deliver real time information.

For those who like their bells and whistles and the latest tech, you can spend an extra £1,300 and you can upgrade to the Technology package, which delivers Audi's excellent virtual cockpit and a larger infotainment screen, You get a Bang and Olufsen sound system, a wireless charging pad, front seat heating and Audi's Parking System Plus with Park Assist

Mated with a seven-speed S-tronic auto gearbox the two-litre TFSi engine delivers in spades and slips through the gears effortlessly.

There are in fact four drive modes, "auto," comfort," "dynamic," "efficiency" and "individual" that can fine-tune and sharpen the operating profile of the suspension, steering, transmission, engine and other systems. Comfort mode, is quick enough alright, but switch to sportier dynamic and the fun begins.

Floor the throttle and it leaps away from a standing start, with the dual exhausts spitting and popping along the way.

The uprated and slightly lower suspension than you find on the standard model means that the car feels like it is running rails, with superb grip and balance, considering its high off-the-ground SUV stance.The steering too is responsive with great feedback and the car can be safely navigated he most tortuous of country lanes at maximum permissible speeds.

The performance does not mean it is ultra thirsty and official economy figures show up 34 mpg MPG and CO2 emissions from 188g/km.

Being a hatchback/SUV it is a practical day to day machine, with excellent boot space for the size of car, accessed via a powered boot lid. it has an impressive 355 litres available with the seat in places, which increases to 1,000 litres with the rear seats folded.

As ever with Audi, you can spend a fortune on options and the virtual cockpit does make a difference, so if you are already spending well north of £44k it might not be such a stretch.

300ps, 1,984cc four cylinder turbo petrol engine drivingall wheels via a seven speed auto transmission

155mph

4.9 seconds

34

: 38

: 188g/km

37%

3yrs/60,000 miles

4.5