Road Test : 2016 Audi TT
The TT has always been “one of those cars” to us. One which we have spent precious little time with for one reason or another, yet every time we do, we enjoy it tremendously and look forward to the next time we get some wheel time in a TT. And why not? The basic formula of the TT is a recipe for great fun, and success. Take a relatively compact and proven chassis and drivetrain, add a stylish body over top of it, create an equally stylish interior, and you have a winner. The TT formula works so well, it officially has cult car status. There are 2 national gatherings annually (TT East, and TT West) which center on the Audi TT. It is and always has been an ideal car for someone looking for a stylish yet capable and functional coupe.
This latest TT is no exception. The exterior design has gotten sharper edges and more taut skin, and in keeping with the latest Audi design trend, the single frame grille has gotten wider and more angular. The once very organic and curvy body has become crisp and racy, more grown up and sporty than ever. Make no mistake – with all of the design updates, this is every bit a TT. The door is heavy, chunky feeling, just like the older TTs. The seat is very low in the car, and while there is generous room in all directions for the front seat occupants, the TT still feels snug. The low roofline, and lovely well bolstered and diamond stitched sport seats probably have something to do with that. The TT is certainly not claustrophobic, but it is not cavernous either.
The interior is 100% new, completely redesigned and reimagined. What you have here is an exercise in ultra-high-tech minimalism where the total number of controls and switch panels are reduced, yet there is as much if not more functionality than ever in a TT. Most basic examples are the HVAC controls housed in the centers of the 5 individual vents. This alone is insanely well thought out, and reduces clutter from the sleek dashboard. There are so many combination switches here, so much attention to detail, it took us a good half hour to soak it all in. The all new multifunction digital instrument panel is amazing, and really enforces the notion that the TT is a driver’s car, since all functions of the car’s MMI system are essentially out of view to the passenger (making on the go entries by the passenger all but impossible).
We could (and probably will) devote an entire article to the nuances of the new MMI setup in the TT, but suffice it to say that it can be controlled 100% from the nicely sculpted, extra chunky flat bottomed steering wheel if you want. There are new buttons available on either side of the thumbwheels, which make this possible. We spent a good half hour playing with the new MMI controls before even driving the car. It did take some acclimating, but once we figured it out, we found that we hardly needed to reach for the controls on the center console. We do really like the new style main control dial though, with the touch pad located on top, and the very compact nature of the entire control set.
As much as the TT is a “style” car, the second you press the Start button, that ceases to matter. The latest generation 220hp 2.0TFSI engine snaps to life with more of a bark than we expected. There is a decidedly angry tone to the exhaust when dynamic mode is selected, and with that bark comes a bit more bite. 220hp might not seem like a lot, but remember, German horses are strong, and the TT is a genuinely quick car. Audi says it will run from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds, which is plenty quick. In our driving, we never felt like the TT was underpowered or lacking in any way.
With the excellent go, comes excellent brakes. Being that this isn’t an S or RS model, it makes do with standard variety iron floating calipers over vented iron rotors. Note that these are very strong brakes, surely your average TT buyer won’t be left wanting stronger brakes, unless they plan on taking the car to the track on a regular basis.
The transmission is the familiar 6 speed dual clutch automatic, which we are very familiar with. This transmission has a very direct feeling, yet manages to shift very smoothly. The shifts are instantaneous, and greeted with a burble on the up, and a blip of throttle on the down. The quick shifting and quick revving engine combine to enhance the TT’s already go-cart like feel in the twisty bits.
On the road, the MK3 TT feels incredibly solid. You’d forgive the cliché comparing it to being carved from a single block of aluminum, but that is how it feels. The suspension is firm, not jarring or bouncy, but very well controlled. We did not encounter any corner that we could hit fast enough to upset the chassis, even a little. Long sweeping cloverleaf onramps or offramps are ridiculously fun in this car, and can be taken at significant speed. This is an incredibly satisfying car to drive. It changes direction immediately, once again using the cliché of “go cart like handling”, yet somehow manages to be stable while going straight on the highway, something short wheelbase cars often don’t do well.
With all of the sporty aspects of the TT, it remains a practical car. It has actual back seats, albeit for very small people with even smaller feet. It has a relatively huge trunk, made even larger when the rear seats are folded flat. The TT will happily accept roof racks, for carrying bikes and skis and snowboards, and anything else you might want to bring along that doesn’t fit inside.
The TT also is somewhat reasonably priced. Our test car listed at $42,900, and with the various options – Metallic paint for $575, the Technology Package for $3250, the 19” wheel package for $1000, the awesome diamond stitched full leather S Sport Seats for another $1000, and last but not least the very good Bang and Oulfsen sound system for $950 brings the total to $50,600. Not bad for the quality of the car, the overall tech content and the fun to drive factor.
We truly love the TT, hopefully we’ll get to change its role as a once in a while car for us, and find a way to spend a lot more time in that amazing driver’s seat.
For more details on the 2016 Audi TT, check out the AudiWorld.com Model Guide
Please feel free to discuss this and any MKIII TT related items in the Forum
