Audi TT Coupe: review

It’s a style icon – but unlike so many such things, the TT has serious substance too
This latest TT is a very good car
What Car10 January 2016

The TT has been a defining car since the moment the first model broke cover. For some people, what it defines is everything they hate, but that’s mainly because they’re secretly jealous.

What are they jealous of? The well heeled, carefree lifestyle that lets you drive a car like this, mainly. Oh, and the fact that with its iconic looks and brilliant interior, it’s a rather wonderful thing to own.

For obvious reasons, they tend not to find out about the pacy engines and spine-tingling dynamics that make it more wonderful than ever.

And the way it holds its money on the used market? They’re already looking the other way.

The range starts at £29,810 and climbs to £38,945

Which leaves the rest of us, who leave our own hang-ups at the door and just appreciate good cars. And this latest TT is a very good car.

Let’s start with that interior. This follows the modern trend towards less and less buttons and switches, making it look very crafted, very designed – and extremely cool. Stuff that was once in the centre stack has been moved behind the steering wheel, leaving plenty of creative space everywhere else.

Talking about space, for a coupe there’s a good bit of it in the front seats. Less so in the back, obviously, where it’s definitely only for (small) kids.

The interior follows the modern trend towards less and less buttons, making it look very cool

In most cases, the rear seats will be used as no more than a luggage compartment. Better possibly just to fold them down and leave them that way – at which point the space accessed through the tailgate becomes surprisingly usable.

Also very usable, but this time it’s not surprising at all, are the engines you can choose from. These are a 2.0 petrol unit, whose 227 and 306bhp outputs are dished up with free-revving verve, and a 2.0 TDI whose 181bhp comes with a mighty side order of low-down torque.

A manual gearbox is standard across the board, and jolly good it is too. There’s an S tronic auto option, which becomes standard on petrol-engined quattro models.

A manual gearbox is standard across the board, and jolly good it is too

Whether it’s front-only or all-wheel drive, the TT grips and grips and grips. Body control is pin-sharp, as is the feel you get through the steering and suspension; cornering is an absolute joy.

That’s without the optional sports suspension. So we’re not sure why you’d bother spending the extra. Especially not as, this being an Audi, there’s no shortage of other ways to ramp up the ticket price.

You want cruise control? Extra. Climate? Extra? You want it to go beep while you’re reversing? Extra. Most of this is bundled into accessory packs, which is a clever way of making you buy things you don’t want while making it look like you’re getting a bargain – possibly the biggest crime here is that you need to spring for the Technology pack just to get sat-nav.

So, observe the list price with cynicism, because few will pay it. For what it’s worth, the range starts at £29,810 and climbs to £38,945 – the latter is for the 306bhp, four-wheel drive TTS, but we’d suggest sticking with the lower-powered petrol engine and spending your hard-earned on speccing it properly (especially if you want a chance of selling it again afterwards).

After all, those haters will hate you regardless. Which has got to be once of the best excuses you’ll ever need to indulge yourself in this wonderful car.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT