Overview
Is the Audi TT Coupe a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Phill Tromans
"The TT is an excellent choice for someone that wants a great quality sports coupe. It offers an engaging driving experience with a touch more practicality than some of its rivals. Sure, some of these rivals are more focused to drive, but many people will prefer the everyday usability of the TT, and it’s still more than capable of putting a smile on your face."
Read the review by category
Running costs for a Audi TT
4/5
Identifying rivals for the Audi TT is slightly tricky, as sports car fans will often throw a wide net. You could be looking at cars like Toyota’s GT86, Porsche’s 718 Cayman, BMW’s 2 Series or even a hot hatch of some kind. Audi has a premium image and its cars are priced to reflect that, but the TT performs well in several different areas, from performance to interior quality, so you could argue that it’s worth the extra money over some other brands. It should have rock solid resale values as well. The deletion of a diesel option in the TT line-up means fuel costs might be higher than they used to be, but the petrol engines are pretty good on fuel considering their performance levels.
Reliability of a Audi TT
2/5
Despite a strong reputation for quality. Audi’s reliability has not been the best in recent years. In fact, it’s been pretty poor. The 2018 and 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Studies put Audi third from bottom when ranking all the main manufacturers, although that's one place higher than the 2017 study. Audi is similarly low-ranked in Warranty Direct’s Reliability Index, which looks at the reliability of older, out-of-warranty cars. Should anything go wrong with your Audi TT, Audi offers a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is pretty standard for this type or car, but not as hot as Toyota’s five-year, 100,000-mile offer on the GT86.
Safety for a Audi TT
3/5
The latest Audi TT is largely the same as the car that scored a disappointing four stars out of five in tests by safety organisation Euro NCAP back in 2015. In fairness, the tests had just been made harder when it was tested, but standards have improved again since then. Some modern technologies that you would expect from newer cars, such as automatic emergency braking, aren’t available, and lane assist is only available as an option. Still, there are front and side airbags and two Isofix child seat mounting points in the rear seats.
How comfortable is the Audi TT
3/5
With Audi maintaining a superb reputation for interior quality, it would be hard for the company to mess up the revamped TT. Changes are, again, pretty minimal, which means a very high quality of materials and excellent fit and finish. Sports seats are standard, with all models getting part- or full-leather upholstery. All cars also come with a 12.3-inch display in the front of the driver, rather than traditional instruments or a central screen. This displays both driving information and infotainment options, which is controlled either from the wheel or by a dial and buttons next to the gearstick. It’s certainly cool to look at, and works well once you get to know it, but be prepared to take a bit of time to figure out how to navigate your way around the interface. You don’t buy a small sports coupe because you want a practical car, but within the confines of the genre, the TT is actually pretty good. It compares well to the Toyota GT86 in terms of interior space, and it’s better than Porsche’s 718 Cayman in that it has rear seats. However, these seats are tiny, and really only suitable for small children. There’s a 305-litre boot under a hatchback boot lid, which expands to 712 litres if you fold the rear seats down. This is more than the GT86, BMW’s Z4 and the Mercedes-Benz SLC. There are small pockets in the doors and a cubby in front of the gearstick, and a single cupholder between the front seats. Audi calls the TT a sports coupe, and luckily, it has the dynamic ability to back that up, with engineering that’s unchanged in the revamped version. With strong grip, taut body control and fast, predictable reactions from the steering, gearshift and throttle, the TT feels excitingly nimble in a set of bends. And that’s the front-wheel-drive cars. Some versions are available with four-wheel drive (and a twin-clutch automatic gearbox), giving you even more traction out of bends. But to be honest, they’re no more enjoyable to drive, and we’d save the extra cash they cost unless you really need the extra grip. All the conventional TTs also deliver a ride that’s impressively slick and smooth, and the lowered sports suspension that’s standard on S-Line, Black Edition and Vorsprung models manages to increase the stiffness and cornering ability while stopping short of being crashy over rough surfaces.
Features of the Audi TT
5/5
Audi isn’t renowned for including a lot of features as standard in its cars, but the offerings in the TT aren’t too bad. There are four trim levels, starting with the Sport which features LED daytime running lights and xenon headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as heated seats with an Alcantara and leather upholstery, and keyless start. The next step up is the S line, which comes with brighter LED headlights and 19-inch wheels, as well as a sportier bodykit. The Black Edition comes with 20-inch black alloy wheels and, as the name suggests, lots of black elements on the bodywork while the top-of-the-range Vorsprung has clever Matrix LED headlights that maintain full beam without dazzling oncoming drivers, as well as a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Power for a Audi TT
5/5
The standard version of the TT comes with a choice of two petrol engines (there’s no diesel option), which have more power than before. Both are 2.0-litre turbocharged units, with one badged as the 40 TFSI and the other as the 45 TFSI. The former has 197 horsepower, which might not sound a lot, but it’s enough for the TT to hit 62mph in 6.6 seconds. If you want a bit more zip, then the 45 TFSI has 245 horsepower and will hit 62mph in 5.9 seconds. It’s an engine that’s often used in performance cars from Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagen Group, and it’s a cracker with plenty of grunt and smooth delivery that means punch whenever you need it. Both engines come with a seven-speed, twin-clutch automatic gearbox that can run in full auto mode or manually via the gearstick or paddles behind the wheel. The 45 is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox if you prefer the extra involvement of a clutch pedal. The 45 is also available with all-wheel drive, which is labelled by Audi as Quattro.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£568.99
Monthly payment
£3,413.94
Initial payment
£591.94
Monthly payment
£3,551.64
Initial payment
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Audi TT Coupe. This may vary between trim levels.
Other vehicles in the TT family
TT Convertible
Eye-catching looks
Good to drive with punchy engines
Great quality interior
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