Audi TT Roadster 2015 Review

Not unlike a trophy girl/boyfriend, the Audi TT Roadster has always had meaningful aesthetic merit. It's the kind of objet d'art that turns heads and the kind of ornament about which people love to gossip. Alas, in the past, there's little depth.

Now with the new third-generation TT Roadster, something has happened. Something good. It's now a far more engaging partner, a smart, savvy, likeable companion with a more interesting persona that, I for one, was rather surprised to encounter.

Before I get to the sharp throttle response, the crisp quattro grip and the coolest in-car visuals since my mate installed a Super Nintendo in his Subaru Leone, let's talk about the negatives.

The Audi TT Roadster ain't cheap. With the departure of the manual 1.8-litre in this generation, there are now only two models in the range, both twin-clutch, 2.0 quattro AWD. The entry-level drop-top therefore starts at $81,500, which is almost 10 grand more than its predecessor – and the TT coupe for that matter. See our TT Roadster pricing story for the complete rundown on the model range.

The steering is also a bit lifeless and the ride quality is on the firm side; you really feel the deeper ruts and potholes. But when compared to its predecessor, it's a much improved machine.

One of the most crucial aspects of any convertible, the roof, is very good. The electrical push-button operated mechanism is super-fast; the cloth roof can open or close fully in 10 seconds. Plus it can operate at up to 50km/h too – perfect for showing off. There are smarts here too – the car even "remembers" your heating/cooling settings for open and closed motoring.

Wind and weather protection is good and although the cabin isn't as quiet as the coupe, it's well sealed for a cloth top.

During the national launch drive along the Victorian coast it was frosty in the morning but even with the top dropped driver and passenger are relatively shielded from the wind and cold. At around six-foot tall, I experienced some wind swirl around my head at 100km/h and at 60km/h it was peachy.

There's also an electrically retractable wind blocker that's most effective at speeds above 80km/h. But the best comfort feature in this car are the optional neck-level heaters integrated into the seats, which are well worth the $800 investment.

Standard comfort features, such as the electrically adjustable (and heated) leather and alcantara seats are tops, as is the elegant heating/cooling system which concentrates all controls within the vents.

Combining style and technology is one of the Audi TT's strong suits and the funky and intuitive heating controls are one-upped by what is, in my view, the best instrument panel in the biz. Audi calls it the 'virtual cockpit' and it removes the need for a dash-mounted navigation screen by enlarging the instrument panel. It still displays the usual stuff, like road speed and engine revs, but they are superimposed over navigation and infotainment details.

At first it looks a bit cramped but the more I toyed with it, the more I liked it. It's controlled in several ways – via voice, simple steering wheel buttons, a rotator dial or even a touch pad, all of which are well executed.

The attention to detail in this part of the Audi's (electronic) armoury is impressive. It's even got three tiny Bluetooth microphones sewn into passenger and driver seatbelts so you can make clear phone calls with the top dropped!

If you like innovative, cutting-edge technology, this is a car for you.

The new Audi TT Roadster looks sharper – I particularly liked the Le Mans R18 race car-inspired LED driving lights. And it feels sharper too. The standard sports seats hug the torso, the compact flat-bottomed steering wheel adds motorsports cool and this European looker has a stiffer body than Channing Tatum that, together with some savvy sports suspension and a quattro all-wheel drive system, ensures it carves corners with glee.

Fair dinkum, I was genuinely surprised with how much fun it was to blast the open TT along the Great Ocean Road.

Although the steering lacks feel, it doesn't detract from the fun and the well-sorted suspension makes pointing the car's front end where you want almost too easy. Indeed, the TT's nose feels as keen as the coupe's thanks to some nifty torque vectoring, and it rips into corners with the appetite of a ravenous hyena.

The TT Roadster sits flat through corners, there's virtually no body flex (an issue that afflicts many convertibles), and grip levels are impressive, enabling it to track beautifully – and rapidly – through corners.

Factor in the beefed-up 169kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine – the only powerplant offered until the higher-performance TT S Roadster arrives later in the year – and the feisty two-seater gobbles up long straights as easily as it punches out of corners.

Despite being 90kg heavier than the Coupe, this new TT drop top is a pearler and plenty quick point-to-point. The car accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.6sec while claiming a fuel consumption average of just 6.7L/100km. I almost doubled that figure but the throttle was nailed to the plush-pile carpets the majority of the time.

Although there is a touch of turbo lag at low revs, the snappy dual-clutch S tronic auto gearbox picks up a lot of the slack.

One of the most endearing features of the powertrain occurs when the Driver Select mode is switched to dynamic. It's then the car unleashes a crackling snarl between upshifts.

The gearbox is pretty savvy when left in 'Drive' but the steering wheel-mounted paddle gear shifters provide impressive control over engine speed. I found myself short-shifting regularly not only because of the prodigious mid-range thrust, but because I wanted to hear the sonorous exhaust growl between shifts.

Fast, fun and charming, the third-gen TT Roadster is easily the best yet, with more performance than most owners will ever need or want.

In terms of practicality, the TT Roadster is not your typical A to B mode of transport and although storage solutions are not great, the cabin and the boot are bigger than the previous model and make allowances for more than just overnight luggage.

The boot has expanded by 30 litres to 280 – roughly the same space as a small hatchback – and that's with the roof open or closed. There's a 12V plug back there too and storage nets to stop things moving around.

In the cockpit a small centre bin and glovebox will conceal valuables, plus there's one cup holder and a pair of bottle holders. Passenger space is ample with a decent amount of fore and aft seat movement.

Audi's TT Roadster has grown up. A lot… It's no longer a trinket, a trophy or a toy, and more like a proper sports car with the added bonus of a luxury interior brandishing some of the coolest technology available… And all of this is wrapped up with a sophisticated aesthetic.

The new Audi TT Roadster is still a superb poseur, but it now also delivers a far more engaging drive experience. It's as if you get that most splendid in-car tech as a bonus…

2015 Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI quattro S line pricing and specifications:
Price: $89,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 169kW/370Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic
Fuel: 6.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 154g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A