Audi TTS review

The original, somewhat bulbous Audi TT has become more handsome and chiselled over its 20-year evolution, and the latest third generation car looks considerably more focused and aggressive than its first-gen forebear.  

The potent TTS iteration supplements the standard car’s elegant, streamlined silhouette with a sleek front grille, chunky alloy wheels and quad exhaust pipes to bolster its impressive performance credentials. 

Unsurprisingly, the driving position in the TTS is suitably sporty. The driver’s seat is placed low in the body and there’s a good view out front thanks to the car’s relatively slim door pillars.  

When it comes to handling, the TTS’s Quattro 4-wheel drive system and standard adaptive suspension set-up combine to provide a confidence-inspiring, highly stable driving experience. There’s more than enough grip from the tyres and the ride remains planted and.  

With 310bhp on tap from the TTS’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, you’re never going to be short of power. The TTS will make light work of B-road blasts, fast overtaking manoeuvres and high-speed motorway cruising. A marked lack of wind and tyre noise in the cabin allows it to take longer journeys comfortably in its stride as well.  

Inside the Audi TTS is an exceedingly pleasant place to be. The leather-clad front seats are extremely supportive, and a wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment means that getting comfortable won’t be a problem. 

The TTS is generously equipped, coming as standard with heated leather sports seats, onboard sat nav, a DAB radio and wireless phone charging pad, a 10GB hard drive and Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit customisable digital display. The latter is mounted directly behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel. The car also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. 

As with so many Audis, the TTS’s cabin is a beautifully executed exercise in restrained quality, with soft, tactile plastics, opulent leather and brushed aluminium finishes on every surface. The digital dashboard is simple and intuitive to use, while the minimal buttons and switchgear fall easily to hand and boast a premium, beautifully engineered feel. 

Considering its diminutive size, the Audi TTS is surprisingly practical. There’s plenty of leg and head room for front seat occupants, while the boot is big enough to swallow enough luggage for a long weekend away. Drop the rear seats and there’s space for bigger items such as a mountain bike (with its front wheel removed) or a couple of sets of golf clubs.  

While the TTS does have 4 seats, bear in mind they’re only really fit for small children. A normal sized adult will just about fit in the rear, but it will be very cramped and there will be complaints. 

The Audi TTS offers good value against similar performance sports car rivals. It has relatively strong residual values and offers decent fuel economy, returning a combined figure of around 38.7mpg, depending on how heavy your right foot is. The CO2 figure is in line with the competition, but still impressive when you bear in mind the TTS’s power output. 

Audi’s reputation for quality is well established and the TT range runs on tried and tested engines and hardware, so when it comes to overall reliability we don’t foresee any major problems with the TTS ownership experience.  

Having said that, get yourself cinchCare if you’d like the added peace of mind. 

We love the Audi TTS’s purposeful, compact dimensions and its serious performance creds. It’s a small car, but it packs a big punch. The TTS is safe too, coming as standard with a host of airbags, electronic stability control and a lane-departure warning system. Many cars have also been specified from new with optional safety equipment such as a traffic-sign recognition system and blind-spot monitoring.