Audi TT - TopCarNews

Audi TT (2014 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The original Audi TT certainly turned heads when it first launched in 1998, the distinctive and stylish small sports car immediately finding a big fan base, particularly here in the UK. It has always been sold in two versions, either as a 2+2 coupé or as a two-seater roadster with a folding fabric roof.

The current model is the third generation, launched in 2014 and mildly facelifted in 2019. However the TT’s days are numbered, with Audi confirming in 2019 that it will be replaced by another sports car “in the next few years.”

According to reviewers the Audi TT has always flattered to deceive, but the latest version is a far more accomplished drive than its predecessors.

While Evo says that on launch “its Bauhaus style and design cleverness made 90% of the car market look stale and uninteresting,” they add that on the road “it always played the understudy to sports car rivals.”

Top Gear adds; “the Audi TT is a safe, almost sensible coupé that’s always been a decent drive but a long way from heroic levels of sporting ability.”

Testers agree that the current model is the best TT in terms of road manners, no matter which of the current engine range is chosen. These comprise petrol units of 197 or 245hp, the latter with quattro all-wheel-drive, while there are also more potent S and RS versions with 320 or 400hp.

Inside the TT earns praise for its quality and surprising practicality, as well as the way the dash is focused around the driver. “The interior feels a little sparse but you can’t fault the quality of it,” says The Car Expert, while carwow offers “the TT’s interior looks absolutely fantastic and comes with lots of neat features.” However several add that the coupe’s rear seats are small and cramped.

As of December 2021, the Audi TT currently holds an Expert Rating of 77% based on 49 reviews. Scores from reviewers have ranged from middling to outstanding, with consumer titles tending to score it higher than enthusiast titles.

Audi TT highlights

Sharp, distinctive styling
Top-quality interior
Confident road manners

Audi TT lowlights

Not particularly sporty to drive
Rear seats cramped
Quite pricey
Days are numbered

Key specifications

Body style: Small coupé and roadsterEngines: petrol
Price: From £32,460 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2014Last updated: Autumn 2019
Replacement due: N/A

Image gallery

Audi TT roadster (2019 facelift)

Audi TT coupé (2019 facelift)

Audi TT roadster (2019 facelift)

Audi TT coupé (2019 facelift)

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: TT Roadster 45 TFSI“The 2019 Audi TT Roadster is a well-made, punchy sports car. It may not come alive like a Porsche Boxster, but you can still have plenty of fun in the sun.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“The Audi TT coupe backs up its head-turning looks with an engaging drive and plenty of tech.”
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Model reviewed: TT RoadsterScore: 8 / 10“The TT Roadster could well be the pick of Audi’s sports car range. It can’t compete with a Boxster for driving thrills, but makes much more sense as a relaxed roadster.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT Coupe is faster and better appointed than ever, and still a surprisingly practical choice in a traditionally tightly-squeezed class. It trades on the accessibility of its performance rather than being a true driver’s car. But ultimately, given its popularity, that’s probably just what Audi intended.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic TT S coupéScore: 7 / 10“The Audi TT S is a fast, refined and beautifully built premium coupe – albeit one that ultimately lacks any kind of character. It’s not as exciting as a Porsche 718 Cayman or rewarding as a BMW M240i, instead sitting as a more style-focused and composed sports coupe.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 9 / 10“Some of its 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.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 9 / 10“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.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic TT S coupéScore: 8 / 10“Within the Audi TT range, the TT S is a brilliant happy medium, giving extra exhilaration over the standard TT but without the considerably higher price of the TT RS. On top of it all, it’s a very enjoyable car to drive.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: TT Coupe 45 TFSI quattroScore: 8 / 10“It’s through usable performance, interior refinement and some semblance of practicality that the TT continues to make a convincing case for itself.”
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Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 8 / 10“It’s not the last word in dynamic zing, but then neither are its rivals, and the Audi’s fluid handling and zesty petrol motor make it good fun when you want it to be and easy-going the rest of the time.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 8 / 10“It’s more agile, adjustable and engaging than ever. But more so than its crucial hot hatch rivals? Not quite – and against them the TT still looks expensive and underpowered – but it is the most promising small Audi coupé yet.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 9 / 10“Audi creates the ultimate low-CO2 incentive car”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 9 / 10“The best tax-friendly sportscar you can buy”
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Car

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic quattro coupéScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT majors on breadth of ability, so while two-seater rivals like the Porsche Cayman and Alpine A110 are better to drive, they don’t offer the same practicality or ease of use. We think the TTS, in particular, is a real sweet spot in the range.”
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Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT and TTS roadster may not take your breath away, but it is notably more involving than the SLK, far more practical than the overweight Z4 and more attractively priced than the Boxster. In addition, it’s more of a trend-setter than all of them,”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual Ultra SportScore: 8 / 10“The new Audi TT can only be viewed as a success. It’s still not a car for die-hard driving enthusiasts, but it takes everything that was good about the old one and brings it bang up to date with bleeding-edge tech and, in the case of the diesel model, eye-opening efficiency.
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic TT S roadsterScore: 8 / 10“If the standard Audi TT just doesn’t give you enough performance, then the TT S is probably the right car for you. The ride is quite firm and the light steering can feel unnverving, but on the whole, the TT S Roadster manages to be quite good to drive.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 8 / 10“The TT has attracted so many fans over the years that the new one can hardly fail. All the same, we’d rather Audi had done a better job with it. In some ways it’s very good, but it could be quieter and it could be better to drive.”
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Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT Roadster might not be as exciting to drive as the Porsche Boxster – not many cars are – but it’s quick, and with quattro fitted, the Roadster is undeterred by the worst of the British weather.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 7.8 / 10“The Audi TT coupe is a modern and attractive two-door with one of the best interiors of any car on sale, plus impressively economical engines.”
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Model reviewed: TT RoadsterScore: 7.6 / 10“The Audi TT Roadster is great to look at, sharp to drive and has a magnificent interior. You also get that special wind-in-the-hair experience.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: TTS Coupé and RoadsterScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TTS is a seriously sporty small car with a fabulous interior and lots of high-tech kit, but the back seats in the coupé are very cramped and some alternatives are cheaper to buy.”
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Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT Roadster might look like a laid-back cruiser, but it feels more like a sports car than ever. It’s genuinely good fun to drive, but lacks the high-tech gizmos you’ll find in some alternatives.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT strikes an excellent balance between being fantastic to drive and gorgeous to look at. Just don’t expect to carry any passengers in its minuscule rear seats.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 45 TFSI quattro S line coupé“The peerless Audi TT is slightly improved, and still as stylish and appealing, inside and out, as ever.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: Coupé range“Overall this is a top coupe. The only real beef with the Audi TT Coupe is that stuff you’d really want as standard is split up between additional packs. The higher performance TTS with four-wheel drive does face more serious competition so we’d stick with the 2.0-litre TFSI for a stunning coupe.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 45 S line coupé“If you want a proper sports car driving experience you should stop here and head to your local Porsche dealer for a Cayman 718 or to Renault for an Alpine A110. What the TT does offer that they don’t are two rear seats, and that’s a game changer if you have a family.”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic quattro coupé“The smooth power delivery is matched to seamless gearbox changes, whether in automatic or manual modes. Combined with a very feelsome steering and ever so progressive footbrake, the Audi TT is very responsive and effortless to drive.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic quattro TT S coupé“It’s a comfortable place to spend time, especially with an extra £995 found for electrical adjustment of the front seats, leaving you as relaxed at journey’s end as when you began the trip several hundred miles earlier.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“The Audi TT is still sharp to look at and comes with a lovely interior, but still doesn’t hit the right notes on a twisting road.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual coupé UltraScore: 9 / 10“The new Audi TT represents progress over the previous generation model, and if you want an economical TT, then the 2.0-litre TDI ultra is the one.”
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Heycar

Model reviewed: Coupe rangeScore: 8 / 10“As a package, the Audi TT is one of the best coupes on the market. Its sporty image and classy interior are matched by a highly polished driving experience, but we do wish it was better equipped as standard.”
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Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 8 / 10“For many years the Audi TT has been the go-to performance car for people who don’t really like sports cars. It takes the sharp styling coupe buyers love, and mixes it with approachable handling and reasonable running costs. Throw in Audi’s customary flair for interior quality and design, and you have the formula for a brilliant roadster.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 10 / 10“The latest TT Roadster is every bit as good to drive as the coupe model, with masses of grip and impressive body control. It also shares its fantastic cabin with the coupe, complete with the high-tech virtual cockpit instrument binnacle.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 10 / 10“Few cars can match the all-round appeal of the Audi TT as a sporty coupe. Lighter, faster and more economical than ever before, the third-generation TT coupe builds on the success of the previous models with a new chassis, updated engines and a radical ‘virtual’ cabin.”
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Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT ticks many boxes. It looks brilliant, boasts a quality-rich interior and can be loaded to the rafters with tasty options. But while it’s undoubtedly quick, it lacks the sparkle of the Porsche 718 Cayman or Alpine A110. It’s also a tad expensive and the ride quality suffers on fashionably large alloys.”
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Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The most recent version of the Audi TT bears more than a passing resemblance to the range-topping R8 supercar, with only the lack of that car’s prominent ‘side-blades’ giving the game away. It’s based on the sme Volkswagen Group ‘MQB’ platform that you’ll find in the current Golf and Audi A3.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 7.8 / 10“The stylish Audi TT roadster still looks good after all these years”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 8.8 / 10“The Audi TT is a hugely desirable and accomplished coupe”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 45 quattro roadster“If clean lines and a fuss-free environment are your thing, this is the car to make you happy. Already one of Audi’s biggest success stories, the TT is still at the very top of its game and I suspect will remain so for years to come.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic TT S roadster“The Audi TT is the most unexciting exciting car yet made. As faultless and as exquisite as a diplomat’s handshake, it comes at you with a beaming smile and a superb suit, but it is completely incapable of ruffling feathers.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic S line quattro coupéScore: 8 / 10“This is Audi’s best car in decades, and yet I couldn’t actually buy one because . . . well, let me put it this way. Imagine Agent Provocateur putting a Y-shaped front onto its latest line of thongs and marketing them at men. You still wouldn’t, would you?” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: TTS roadsterScore: 8 / 10“It isn’t quite as deft or dextrous as a Boxster, nor as good a cruiser as a Z4, but the Audi TTS peddles a combination of brutal yet accessible pace, effortless day-to-day usability and understated class all of its own – and one that makes it very tempting car as a performance car for all seasons.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic all-wheel drive 45 S Line coupeScore: 8 / 10“A facelift in all but name only sees the Audi TT continue much as it was – which is to say, as a fast, fun little coupe with a fabulous interior that probably won’t appeal to hardcore drivers, but will appeal to everyone else for its breadth of ability.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 8 / 10“The Audi TT’s latest update is pretty minor, but that’s fine: it was a very good car to start with.”
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Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 7 / 10“Facelifted Audi TT Roadster features revised engines, tweaked visuals – and very little amusement.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Roadster rangeScore: 10 / 10“The Audi TT Roadster impresses with just how multi-talented it is. It beats the BMW Z4 for having fun through corners and its interior is more than a match for that of the Porsche 718 Boxster. Perhaps the best news, though, is that we reckon the cheapest version is the best.”
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Model reviewed: Coupé rangeScore: 10 / 10“The Audi TT is great to drive and easy to live with, as shown by its seriously impressive What Car? Awards track record. We reckon the cheaper versions (in particular the 40 TFSI Sport) make the most sense, though.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: Range overview“The third-generation Audi TT looks as distinctive as ever, but it’s a more rounded proposition than before, offering comfortable accommodation for two people and a sportier drive. It may not match a Porsche for fun, but you have a range of strong engines to choose from.”
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Safety rating

Overall rating: 4 stars
Date tested: February 2015

81%

ADULT OCCUPANT

68%

CHILD OCCUPANT

82%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

64%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

The Audi TT was crash-tested by Euro NCAP back in 2015 when it was first launched, being awarded a four-star rating. Testers particularly noted its performance in side impact tests, scoring maximum points in impacts against a barrier and the more severe side pole test. It does not, however, have autonomous emergency braking.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Audi TT has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.

If the TT is put through the Green NCAP lab testing programme, we will publish the results here.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Audi TT has received

2020

What Car? Awards – Best Coupé
What Car? Used Car Awards – Best Used Coupé

2018

What Car? Awards – Best Coupé

2017

What Car? Awards – Best Coupé

2016

What Car? Awards – Best Coupé

2015

Auto Express Awards – Best Coupé
DieselCar Awards – Best Sports Car
Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best Coupé

2014

Top Gear Magazine Awards – Best Coupé

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Audi TT, you might also be interested in these alternatives

The Audi TT Coupe and Roadster face a number of rivals – prime challengers are the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster, as is the BMW Z4, while at the bottom end the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ and even the Mazda MX-5 come into the reckoning. A serious new contender is the Alpine A110, while the long-lasting Mercedes-Benz SLC will also tempt those looking at the soft-top Audi.

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