Review: Audi TT (2014)

Audi TT (2014): At A Glance

• New prices start from £28,855, brokers can source from £25,425
• Contract hire deals from £291.59 per month
• Insurance Groups are between 25–42
• On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

Audi TT (2014): What's It Like Inside?

• Boot space is 305–712 litres

Dimensions
Length	4177 mm
Width	1832–1966 mm
Height	1353 mm
Wheelbase	2505 mm
Full specifications

Like many cars in the Audi range, the TT benefits from an excellent cabin, with an intelligent design and practical layout. All of the materials have a high quality feel and everything appears to have been bolted together with a sense of longevity, with solid switchgear and soft touch materials throughout.

The third-generation Audi TT also gets a 'virtual cockpit' as standard, with the system replacing the traditional instrument cluster in front of the driver with a 12.3-inch high-resolution LCD screen. As a result, all of the in-car functions are displayed on the instrument binnacle, which lets the driver access Bluetooth, media or the optional navigation via the steering wheel mounted controls.

In fact, the virtual system comes into its own with the navigation system, the foreground doubling up as a map, which makes it a lot easier to follow directions as the driver doesn't have to constantly look away from the road to see the route. 

Admittedly, the system takes a little acclimatisation, but after an hour we found its use to be second nature, with a number of nice customisation options for the display of speed and rev counter. This means you can choose between sporty or standard displays.

With the infotainment neatly stored in the instrument binnacle, the Audi TT dashboard is a lot cleaner. We like the two tone styling and turbine style air vents, which feature integrated controls and display for the air conditioning and heated seats.

On the downside, with no central display, the front passenger is no longer able to browse the radio station lists or media, but we think this is a small price to pay for an attractive dash. 

There's also plenty of head and leg room for both the driver and front passenger, with sports seats fitted as standard. Both are manually adjustable, finished with a high quality leather and cloth combination, but if you go for an S line model you will get full leather and electric seats included, with lumbar support and memory functions.

However, the Audi TT coupe should only be considered as a two seater. For sure, there are a set of seats in the back, but they're extremely small and even children will find it cramped for long trips.

On the plus side, Audi has enlarged the TT's boot which is now 305 litres - 13 litres more than the old model - that can be extended to 712 litres should you flatten the rear seats. Not only does this mean you can carry decent sized suit cases, but the TT will also swallow a set of golf clubs, which makes it surprisingly practical. 

Standard equipment:

Sport gets 18-inch 10 spoke alloy wheels, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights, heated door mirrors, manual air con, a retractable rear spoiler, Audi drive select with five driving modes, Audi virtual cockpit, MMI control system for infotainment, keyless start, sport seats finished in part leather and a first aid kit.

S line has 19-inch five arm design alloy wheels, light and rain sensors, sports seats finished in black leather, S line badges, Led headlights, LED indicator lights and S line bumpers.

What's the Audi TT (2014) like to drive?

• Engines range from 1.8 TFSI 180 to TTS 2.0 TFSI 310 quattro S tronic
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 24–61 mpg

The Audi TT coupe feels very much like its predecessor, with smooth, stable handling and plenty of grip in the corners. Admittedly, the ride is on the hard side, even on basic 18-inch wheels, but the TT is comfortable enough for long trips, with the ride settling down on motorways and dual carriageways. 

There are three four-cylinder engines available - one diesel and two petrols - with the economical headliner being the 2.0-litre TDI. Limited to front-wheel drive only, the diesel returns some impressive numbers with Audi claiming 67.3mpg and 110g/km of CO2, which means it is one of the most frugal engines you can get in a sports coupe.

The diesel also packs a punch, with 184PS and 380Nm of torque, which means it will sprint from 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds. However, the 2.0 TDI is also content with general motoring duties, thanks to its refined nature, with bags of torque and minimal diesel clatter. The six-speed manual gearbox is slick too, thanks to short and precise changes and well weighted ratios, which let the driver push along urban roads in high gears.  

The 2.0-litre TFSI engine range starts with the 230PS unit, with 370Nm of torque, available with either front-wheel or quattro four-wheel drive. Both set ups work well, with the quattro system giving a stronger footing in the corners and the TT feels notably more alive with the petrol option. Obviously, the frugal diesel will tempt many buyers, but if you can live with the reduced economy, the 230PS petrol would be our choice, with quattro four-wheel drive. 

Economy for the front-wheel drive petrol is a claimed 47.9mpg and emissions are 137g/km of CO2. However, fit the quattro four-wheel drive system, and the economy numbers diminish to 44.1mpg and 149g/km of CO2. Like the diesel, a six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard to front-wheel drive models, while the quattro uses the six-speed S tronic automatic, which is our preferred choice.  

There's also a performance focused TTS, which uses the uprated 2.0-litre petrol with 310PS, available with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The TTS has 380Nm of torque and provides strong, sports car rivalling performance, with a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds.

Indeed, the TTS is impressive, with solid, predictable handling and a good turn of pace, that will easily leave most hot hatches standing at the traffic lights. However, the ride is notably harder, with 19-inch wheels fitted as standard. The TTS is also not a sports car. For sure, it's quick in a straight line, but push it hard in the corners and you'll find the coupe struggles to cope with sudden and hard changes in direction. 

However, for general spirted driving, the TT and TTS are more than apt for the task, with stable handling at high speed and plenty of feedback through the steering wheel. TTS and S line trim models also gets Audi magnetic dampers, which improve handling and stiffen then ride. 

Audi’s Drive Select system is also standard across the range with five modes – auto, comfort, dynamic, efficiency and individual – which modify the throttle response, steering and shift speeds on the S tronic gearbox. The system will also adjust the four-wheel drive system on quattro models, which lets the driver modify the torque distribution or instruct it to reduce to front-wheel drive to save fuel - a first for the Audi TT. 

The Audi TT also gets progressive steering, which adjusts the weighting according to your speed and how hard you turn the wheel. This means the steering always feels engaging at speed, but light and easy when it comes to low speed manoeuvres, such as parking.  

Engine	MPG	0-62	CO2
1.8 TFSI 180	47 mpg	6.9 s	138 g/km
1.8 TFSI 180 S tronic	48 mpg	7.0 s	133 g/km
2.0 TDI 184	60–63 mpg	7.1 s	110–117 g/km
2.0 TDI 184 quattro S tronic	52 mpg	6.7 s	142 g/km
2.0 TFSI	46 mpg	6.0 s	137–141 g/km
2.0 TFSI quattro	43–44 mpg	5.3 s	149–153 g/km
2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic	43 mpg	5.3 s	153 g/km
2.0 TFSI S tronic	44 mpg	5.9 s	146–150 g/km
40 TFSI S tronic	-	-	138 g/km
45 TFSI	-	-	150 g/km
45 TFSI quattro S tronic	-	-	161 g/km
45 TFSI S tronic	-	-	148 g/km
TTS 2.0 TFSI 310 quattro	39 mpg	-	168 g/km
TTS 2.0 TFSI 310 quattro S tronic	41 mpg	-	159 g/km
TTS 2.0 TFSI quattro	39 mpg	4.9 s	164–168 g/km
TTS 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic	41 mpg	4.6 s	157–161 g/km

Real MPG average for a Audi TT (2014)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

What have we been asked about the Audi TT (2014)?

Every day we're asked hundreds of questions from car buyers and owners through Ask Honest John. Our team of experts, including the nation's favourite motoring agony uncle - Honest John himself - answer queries and conudrums ranging from what car to buy to how to care for it as an owner. If you could do with a spot of friendly advice before buying you're next car, get in touch and we'll do what we can to help.