Audi TT 2015 Review

There's a particular attraction the TT has always held for a specific type of buyer. It's a car that essentially distils Audi's Quattro rally and DTM (German Touring Cars) heritage in a smaller package that visually stands out among the flock.

This TT on test is powered by the 2.0-litre TFSI (turbocharged and direct-injected) four-cylinder engine, driving through a six-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) transmission to a Haldex-based quattro all-wheel drive system.

While the TT was generally very quiet, the engine made up for that at times, offering real satisfaction when it was being pushed hard. Power and torque were exploitable across a flat curve from about 2000rpm right up to redline and there was little evidence of turbo lag, providing near-immediate power delivery when it was needed in point-to-point motoring.

Some flatulence from the exhaust on the upchange let you know when the engine was giving its all, and the exhaust note was enjoyably sporty too. Yet the engine was not unrefined for everyday motoring.

Over the course of the week, the TT returned a fuel consumption figure of 11.3L/100km, which was in the same league as the Mercedes-AMG A 45 or a recently tested BMW 328i M Sport.

There was a little bit of driveline noise present from the S tronic (dual-clutch) transmission at open-road speeds. It was a subdued whine that outweighed the tyre noise otherwise predominating, but the sophisticated transmission was very civilised in almost every other respect.

When required, kick-down trumped sequential gear changes through the Sport mode and rapid-responding shift paddles, as I noted during the car's international launch last year. On balance, you want all stops out in an emergency, but it the kick-down did overtake the driver's demands.

In point-to-point motoring, the TT was a delight to drive. Steering was talkative and well weighted, offering good turn-in as well – provided the car's Drive Select system was set to Dynamic mode. Left in Efficiency or Comfort mode the steering was light and a little inconsistent.

Turning in, the TT was direct and straddled the neutral zone. On a trailing throttle with excess entry speed it wanted to step out at the rear, but with power applied the quattro all-wheel drive system dug in for a stable attitude. In an all-wheel drive sports car it's not unreasonable to expect some push out of corners, but the TT was very well behaved in that respect too.

Ride comfort was sound for a vehicle of this type. And the brakes were pretty strong.

From the driver's seat, the TT offered a really pleasing view. Audi's Virtual Cockpit has allowed the company's designers to dispense with traditional infotainment switchgear and display in the centre fascia. The climate control switches are now incorporated in the three eyeball vents in the fascia, and the overall presentation is simpler and focuses more attention on the nice trim materials.

Unless you're the driver, of course. If you're seated behind the wheel your attention should be focused on the Virtual Cockpit instrumentation directly ahead. It's a credit to Audi that the new concept of displaying information works so well. The driver's attention is contained within a very narrow pane, but everything you could want is there ahead of you – and the switchgear to change views was very easy to use too.

The TT's dashboard and centre fascia looked Spartan without all the instruments and a conventional infotainment display, but the interior design was elegant but uncomplicated. The only thing missing was a reversing camera. That, unfortunately, is a concern in a car with a field of vision to the rear as limited as the TT's.

Most major features were in easy reach and their use followed logically; plus there was a level of redundancy available to change Driver Select mode from either a toggle on the centre fascia, or from the combination of MMI menu and single-point controller.

While the driver can set cruise control, check trip computer functions and change audio tracks or volume from the steering wheel, these functions are also replicated in the MMI system on the centre console, should the front-seat passenger want to share the workload. The driver will have to enter a destination in the satellite navigation by the old-fashioned means, however.

I found the seats to be well designed to hold the occupant properly in place, but the contouring was angular and the cushioning was flat for my liking. It's the one minor issue with a car that provides a good driving position overall, and entering the front seats was made easier by a higher hip point than common in sports cars like the TT.

Entering the rear was not so straight-forward. Climbing in an out of the TT was a serious chore for anyone of teenage years or older. The rear seats are only adequate for pre-teen kids, and the two front seats are restricted to adults of average size or smaller once there's someone else sitting in the back.

One element of the TT I had no chance to sample during the car's global launch last year was its intelligent high beam assist for the (optional) Matrix LED headlights. In this car, on country roads outside Melbourne at night, the Audi set-up was excellent, readily driving away the shadows without blinding on-coming drivers.

Given this car was not the faster TT S, but nor was it the 1.8-litre entry-level TT we're yet to set in Australia, the TT S-Line was a likeable car – and damned near loveable if I set aside my misgivings about its practicality. The TT strode that line that so often eludes other sporty cars – a balance between fun and frivolity on the one hand, and vitamising your internal organs on the other.

2015 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic S Line pricing and specifications:

Also consider:
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