19 Apr 02
For a car so clever, the A2 has never been the most inspiring of vehicles to actually drive, with a somewhat deadened throttle response and inert-feeling accelerator pedal, a typical characteristic of early electronic 'drive-by-wire' systems. This has been ironed out for the FSI, however, which responds without delay and is attentive to the slightest inputs: although it's no hot hatch, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 9.8 seconds, it's keen and nippy, with enough get-up-and-go for darting about town, and more than sufficient torque to keep pace on the autobahn. It's a much better all-rounder than either of the 1.4 models, both of which tend to run out of puff at higher speeds.
Also improved from the 1.4-litre A2s is the suspension; the A2 is a tall, narrow vehicle and previously always felt as such, seeming slightly unstable under hard cornering or at high speeds. This was a problem of perception more than engineering, but the more adept suspension inspires more confidence and the car does feel altogether more agile. The ride is also improved, despite the firmer springing; the 1.4 models can feel unsettled over rough surfaces, but the FSI's set-up is more forgiving and also quieter, even with the larger alloys and low-profile tyres. The 1.4 models will certainly benefit from this revised system when they receive it later this year.
A fully-specified A2 gives all the creature comforts of a much-larger car, including full leather upholstery of a quality entirely comparable to the rest of the Audi range - there's been no cost-cutting for its smallest car. We'd advise against specifying the sickly butterscotch colour though, and going for the yellow could adversely affect your A2's otherwise impressive residual (resale) values of 70-74% after three years/60,000 miles. Likewise the red leather with the red exterior paint. The entry-level cloth interiors also vary, with the cloth seats in a lurid blue looking not quite to the quality of the others. The seats are, in fact, the biggest let-down in the FSI and A2 range in general; the standard-issue items are flat and unsupportive both laterally and under-thigh for taller drivers, and with leather cladding, are even more slippery - the wider-bottomed could find it all too easy to slide off. However, petite drivers can achieve a commanding driving position, thanks to the seat height adjustment. The sports seats are not much better, with the side bolsters only marginally more than a nominal effort. Although much better on the seat itself, there is not sufficient support to the upper back and shoulders, emphasised by the seats' narrowness. However, given that the FSI is not an all-out hot hatch and full-on bucket-style Recaros are hardly necessary, this could be forgiven because they do look good, and are otherwise comfortable.
