Audi TT Review
The Audi TT is a desirable small coupe with an excellent interior, stylish looks and an enjoyable driving experience
Strengths & weaknesses
- Superb interior with impressive digital dials
- Wide range of engines to choose from
- Easy to drive and practical for a small coupe
- Not as much fun to drive as it looks
- Can be quite expensive to buy new
- Cramped rear seats no good for adults
The Audi TT is a really popular small coupe, thanks in large part to its stylish looks and high-quality interior. It’s a favourite with people who want a sporty-looking car that’s as easy to drive every day as a family hatchback, so the only compromise they have to make is on space in the rear seats.
It makes sense, because the Audi TT is actually relatively closely related to the Volkswagen Golf, which is the archetypical family car. The two models share many parts including their engines, so there’s a good amount of choice in the TT range, even including a diesel model that’s really economical. Most drivers will prefer one of the various petrol engines, though.
The Audi TT’s looks are the big selling point, but there are plenty of other reasons to enjoy this little coupe. It’s relatively practical for its size, and while the back seats are cramped, they’re still usable for kids and short trips, plus the boot is quite a useful size and shape too - especially if you fold the rear seats down.
You might also consider the BMW 2 Series, Peugeot RCZ or Toyota GT86 alongside the Audi TT. Depending on the version, there’s also the Porsche Cayman, but that’s more of an alternative to the powerful TTS and TTRS models that are more focused on performance and sporty handling.
The current version of the Audi TT has been on sale since 2014 but there was an update in 2019 that gave the range a bit of a refresh. All models are fundamentally similar - the main changes were to what was available within the range. Read on to find out more about the Audi TT and to decide if it’s right for you.
Should I get an Audi TT Coupe?
✔ Superb interior with impressive digital dials
✔ Wide range of engines to choose from
✔ Easy to drive and practical for a small coupe
✘ Not as much fun to drive as it looks
✘ Can be quite expensive to buy new
✘ Cramped rear seats no good for adults
The Audi TT is great if you want a stylish and sporty car to drive every day. It’s not as special to drive as the Porsche Cayman, so it’s not ideal as a weekends-only car, but the TT is so easy to drive that it’s fantastic for commuting, local trips or even motorway driving.
There’s a good range of engines to choose from, plus the TT’s interior is excellent both from a design and quality point of view, so it’s a great place to spend time. It’s not the most comfortable, but it does the job on most roads and it’s rather practical considering it’s a sporty car as well. The rear seats aren’t good if you need to use them often but for occasional use, they can come in handy.
- Models explained
- Trim levels
- Engine/Motor
- Best Audi TT for...
- Rivals
- Dimensions
- Boot space
- Reliability
- Warranty
- Should I buy used?
- Deals
Audi TT Coupe (2014-present): models explained
Audi TT Coupe
The Audi TT Coupe is the model we’re focused on here - it’s a three-door car with four seats and a sloping roofline, but since the boot opens from the top of the glass, the boot hatch is big, making it easy to load large items and there’s a decent amount of luggage space.
The engines are mostly four-cylinder petrol units with varying amounts of power but there is also a diesel option, which is great for those doing a lot of long motorway trips.
Trim levels go up through Sport, Sport Edition, S line and Black Edition to the top-spec Vorsprung version. It’s also worth noting that there was an update to the range in 2019 that saw some changes to the spec and the available engines - most notably, the diesel ‘Ultra’ model was removed from sale so it’s only available on older models.
Other Audi TT models
There are some other versions of the Audi TT that we’ve reviewed separately - the TT Roadster, which is a convertible version with two seats, and the TTS, which is a faster and more powerful version available in coupe and roadster form.
There’s also the TT RS, which is the most powerful version you can get and has a five-cylinder petrol engine for explosive performance and a distinctive sporty engine sound. This model is also available as a coupe and a convertible.
AUDI TT ROADSTER BUYERS' GUIDE
AUDI TTS AND TT RS BUYERS' GUIDE
Which Audi TT Coupe to buy: trim levels
Trim | Equipment | Deals |
Sport | From £10,490: The entry-level Audi TT is the Sport model, which in newer form comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, digital dials behind the steering wheel with sat-nav functions, cruise control and a retractable spoiler on the back. | |
Sport Edition | From £22,431: Sport Edition comes with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, plus extra black trim pieces on the outside and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This version is mostly the same as the Sport so it’s not as good value. | |
S line | From £12,599: S line models look sportier because some of the trim on the bumpers is different, plus you get different 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and sports seats with mixed suede and leather coverings. | |
Black Edition | From £14,950: Black Edition adds 20-inch alloy wheels and extra black trim pieces for a sportier look, plus tinted windows and even a fixed rear spoiler. We’d avoid this model as it’s no better to drive than lesser versions and costs more. | |
Vorsprung | Limited stock: The Vorsprung version is the most expensive model but you do at least get plenty of equipment as standard. It comes with 20-inch alloy wheels with a different design, adaptive LED lights, blind spot assist and an upgraded sound system. |
Best Audi TT Coupe engine
The Audi TT engine range has plenty of choice, so there’s bound to be a model that suits you. Older models were available with a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a 2.0-litre diesel, though the range, including post-2019 versions, has been available with several excellent 2.0-litre petrol engines, too.
The 2.0 TDI Ultra diesel is an interesting model because it offers very low running costs and is great if you just want a stylish car and don’t mind what the engine sounds like. It’s a bit gruff but delivers high fuel economy.
We reckon the best model to choose is the 40 TFSI version, though, which has plenty of power for overtaking and sporty driving but is still reasonably economical. It’s a 2.0-litre petrol with 197hp, and while there are more powerful options in the range, you don’t really need to have more power than this to have an enjoyable time driving the TT.
Best Audi TT Coupe model for…
The Audi TT comes in quite a wide range of trim levels and with various engines, so we’ve picked out some of the best options for a range of uses here. Have a think about what you will mostly use the car for before you make a decision on which engine you want.
For example, those doing a lot of long motorway trips will benefit from the extra fuel economy of the diesel version but if you do mostly local trips or a mix of driving then a petrol is a better all-rounder. If you want a sporty model then the more potent TTS (reviewed separately) might be the best option.
Audi TT 40 TFSI Sport: The entry-level model is the best value because it still comes with crucial kit such as the fantastic digital dials (called Virtual Cockpit) and cruise control. It looks great and the ‘40’ engine has nearly 200hp so it has plenty of performance. | ||
Audi TT 2.0 TDI Ultra Sport: The TT Coupe might have four seats but it’s not a very good family car thanks to its very small rear seats. We’ll take this to mean visiting family far away, in which case the best option is the diesel Ultra model, which is the most economical. | ||
Audi TT 45 TFSI quattro S line: The 45 TFSI model has a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 245hp, so it’s capable of 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds. The S line trim looks a bit sportier so it goes well with the theme, although we recommend the TTS for keen drivers, as it’s even faster. | ||
Audi TT 45 TFSI Black Edition: This version doesn’t make much sense because the Black Edition doesn’t get much extra over the S line spec, but costs quite a bit more. The ‘45’ engine is also not as good value as the lesser ‘40’ - both are plenty fast enough and since they’re based on the same engine, they are just as smooth. |
Audi TT Coupe rivals
BuyaCar prices Limited stock
The Audi TT’s rivals include the BMW 2 Series, the Peugeot RCZ, the Toyota GT86 and to some extent the Porsche Cayman. Not all of these models appeal in the same way as the TT, though.
The BMW 2 Series is the most important rival to consider, as it’s a similar price and is just as good for driving every day. It’s more fun to drive than the TT but not as practical in some ways, as it doesn’t have a hatchback boot opening. It does have more usable rear seats, however.
The brilliant to drive Porsche Cayman is more expensive and only really rivals top versions of the TT, while the opposite is true with the Peugeot RCZ, although this car is the most visually similar to the TT. The Toyota GT86 isn’t as nice inside, but it’s more fun to drive, meanwhile.
Audi TT Coupe practicality: dimensions and boot space
Audi TT Coupe dimensions
The TT Coupe is 4.2m long, 1.8m wide and 1.4m tall. It’s a compact size and is smaller than its direct rival, the BMW 2 Series. The cabin isn’t hugely spacious, especially in the back seats, but it’s cosy and comfortable inside and there’s plenty of room for those in the front seats.
The rear seats are very tight and even kids might complain about the amount of legroom and headroom inside. They’re meant for occasional use rather than regularly transporting people, but they’re very nice to have for the odd trip with four people inside.
CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON AUDI TT COUPE DIMENSIONS
Length 4,191mm - 4,201mm | Width 1,832mm |
Height 1,343mm - 1,353mm | Weight 1,280kg - 1,450kg |
Audi TT Coupe boot space
The TT Coupe is surprisingly practical for carrying luggage, as there’s a useful 305 litres of boot space. The boot door is a large hatch, so getting things in and out is fairly easy - though there’s a big loading lip that you need to lift things over to get stuff in and out.
The rear seats also fold down to open up 715 litres of boot space in total, which is really useful for carrying bigger items and means that the TT is one of the most practical options if you are choosing a small coupe.
CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON AUDI TT COUPE BOOT SPACE
Seats up 305 litres | Seats down 712-715 litres |
Audi TT Coupe reliability
The Audi TT is based on a common set of parts that’s shared with a huge number of other models in the Volkswagen Group (which includes brands such as VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda), including the incredibly popular VW Golf, as well as models such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Audi A3.
This means that it should be well-engineered, although the automatic models have a reputation for being less reliable than the manuals - yet nearly all TT models are automatic because after 2019 it is automatic-only.
Audi finished poorly in the 2021 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey - it came in 23rd place out of 29 manufacturers - but BMW also came in near the bottom of the list as well. This is likely because premium car makers’ customers have high expectations that aren’t quite met by the brands' customer service.
Audi TT Coupe warranty
There’s a very typical warranty on all TT models from the factory, which is three years and 60,000 miles. The first two years of that cover is unlimited in terms of mileage, but if you’re buying used you’ll need to find one built in the last three years and under the total mileage limit to have any manufacturer warranty left.
It’s the same with virtually all the TT’s rivals with the exception of the Toyota GT86, which can have up to 10 years’ warranty, provided you get Toyota to service the car every year.
Audi also offers two extended warranty options: the four-year cover goes up to 75,000 miles and the five-year cover goes up to 90,000 miles. Prices for these are reasonable, so it might be worth looking into current costs on the Audi website if you're buying a new model.
3 years | 60,000 miles |
AVERAGE REPAIR COST PAID BY WARRANTYWISE: £643
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON USED CAR WARRANTIES
Used Audi TT Coupe: should I buy one?
The best reason to buy an Audi TT is that you love the looks. Under the skin it’s quite similar to the Audi A3, so if you don’t need the practicality of a car like that, but love the TT’s sleek styling and high-quality, upmarket interior then it’s a great choice.
It’s easy to live with day-to-day, the engine options are all good, there’s plenty of standard equipment and it’s even relatively practical for a small coupe. It’s not as good to drive as the BMW 2 Series and Toyota GT86 but it’s roomier than both and more upmarket than the Toyota.
If you’re looking for a thrilling sports car, though, the TT isn’t going to be your cup of tea - both the mentioned rivals are more fun, plus there’s the Porsche Cayman that’s better than all of those options.
Best Audi TT Coupe deals
The Audi TT 40 TFSI Sport is our pick as the best value choice, as it combines the entry-level trim - which may be the cheapest option, but still comes with lots of kit - with the ‘40’ engine, a 2.0-litre petrol with nearly 200hp, which means it’s powerful enough for nearly everyone.
Choose a 2.0 TDI Ultra diesel model if you do a lot of miles on the motorway - it can manage more than 60mpg fuel economy and is even quite fast (0-62mph takes just over seven seconds). It’s not the smoothest engine, but it’s worth a look for drivers who want a sleek and stylish car that offers very low fuel costs.
The TT 45 TFSI S line is a sporty option that isn’t as fast or powerful as the high-performance TTS, but it’s not as far off as you might think and is still good to drive. Since no versions of the TT are aimed at sports car fans, this version is a good value performance-oriented choice.
*Representative PCP finance - 2018 Ford Fiesta 1.0 ST-Line Hatchback:
PCP representative example | APR rates available | |||||
Cash price £12,000 | APR 7.90% | Value of loan | From | |||
Fixed monthly payment £218.12 | Annual mileage of 8,000pa | £25,000+ | 6.9% | |||
Total cost of credit £2,755.55 | Term 48 months | £12,000-£24,999 | 7.9% | |||
Optional final payment £4,285.79 | Loan value £12,000 | £8,000-£11,999 | 8.9% | |||
Total amount payable £14,755.55 | Deposit £0 | <8,000 | 9.9% |
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.
Other Editions
TT Roadster (2015)
The Audi TT Roadster is a stylish two-seater sports car that’s great for driving every day
TT RS (2015)
The Audi TTS and TT RS are fast, luxurious and stylish sports cars available in coupe and convertible forms