Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 21

M

odern-day icons are rare,
but this is an accurate label
to attach to the Audi TT. Now
in its third generation with an
R8 supercar-style front end
and more chiselled lines, the
TT kicks off at $74,700 for the
169kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol
TFSI/six-speed manual with
front-wheel drive — just like
the VW Golf, with which it
shares familial DNA.
It costs $78,155 with the six-
speed dual-clutch S-Tronic
transmission, while the best-
selling quattro all-wheel drive
with S-Tronic combination will
set you back $81,155.
The popular S-line variant (from
$81,255) brings a surprisingly
subtle body kit, full LED
headlights, LED arrow-style rear
indicators, better audio, digital
radio, brilliant body-hugging
sports seats with pneumatic
adjustment and 19-inch alloys.
The TT Roadster, with quattro
and a folding soft top, costs
$84,655. S Line is $91,605.
The TTS quattro coupe, with
the 2.0 tuned for 210kW/380Nm,
is $101,855. The TTS roadster is
priced at $105,372.

While the 1998 original set

about establishing Audi as a

design leader and the second-gen

version from 2006 attempted to

infuse proper sports car dynamics,

today’s TT is all about enhancing

the experience from inside the car.

To that end, there’s more cabin

space than before. Surprisingly,

the TT fails to achieve a fi ve-star

ANCAP crash test score.

Avante garde design is still

a central TT theme. The dash

features wing-like motifs with

incredibly exquisite detailing. The

turbine-look trio of air vents have

their electronic controls in their

centres while the instrument

binnacle is a massive screen with

3D-effect virtual dials, landscape

mapping and multimedia info

displays. It all sounds complicated,

but everything operates

effortlessly and intelligently.

The coupe’s rear seat is, as

usual, a kids-only affair, while

the 305-litre cargo capacity,

aided by folding rear backrests

and a sizeable tailgate, isn’t

great. But you don’t buy a TT to

carry people and gear.

Uncommonly fl uid in its

power delivery, the 2.0 TFSI’s

169kW/370Nm 2.0-litre direct-

injection four-cylinder turbo

doesn’t initially seem all that

strong, but choosing Sport mode

in the Drive Select drivetrain

management system alters

throttle and dynamic responses

from Normal or effi ciency-focused

Eco settings, for an emphatic

character metamorphosis.

Plant your foot and the TT’s

performance transitions from

refi ned to rorty with rapid

immediacy. Rolling acceleration

above 60km/h becomes

especially forceful, while even

the slowest version can hit

100km/h from standstill in just

six seconds on the way to a

250km/h top speed.

Aiding progress is a sweet

shifting manual, though most

buyers will ignore that for the

equally crisp, intuitive seven-

speed S-Tronic alternative.

Sharing the Volkswagen

Group’s vaunted MQB modular

architecture with the latest Golf

and A3 small cars, the front half

of the TT is aluminium-intensive,

as are the MacPherson strut

front and four-link independent

rear suspension systems,

befi tting to the light-yet-strong

Audi’s athletic attitude.

The TT corners with hungry

intent yet remains stable and

solid on the road, especially in

quattro guise. Braking is superb.

The top-spec TT RS coupe and

roadster are priced at $137,240

and $141,240 respecively.

Boasting 294kW from its

2.5-litre fi ve-cylinder turbopetrol

engine — a 44kW increase on the

previous model — the RS coupe

reaches 100km/h in just 3.7

seconds. That’s quicker than a

Porsche 911 Carrera S. It’s a high

performance bargain.

The TT range was due for an

update as we went to press.

A new seven-speed S-Tronic

transmission is among the

improvements, while a special

Competition variant is added to

the TTS.

By Byron Mathioudakis

AUDI TT FROM $74,700

THINGS WE LIKE

 Unique design

 Gorgeous cabin

 Stirring performance

 Sharp dynamics

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Firm to hard ride depending on

wheel and tyre size

Near-useless rear seats

Expensive options

Four-star ANCAP rating and no

rear camera

VW’s ongoing reliability issues

and servicing costs

SPEX (2.0 TFSI quattro

S-Tronic coupe)

Made in Hungary

2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

six-speed S-Tronic/all-wheel drive

169kW of power at

4500–6200rpm/370Nm of torque

from 1600–4300rpm

0–100km/h in 5.3 seconds (claimed)

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

5.4L/100km highway; 8.3L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 149g/km

Standard: Seven airbags, stability

control, automatic air, parking

sensors, navigation, leather/

Alcantara trim, 10GB music

storage, Bluetooth phone and audio

streaming, cruise control with

speed limiter, push-button start,

LED exterior lighting elements,

ambient interior lighting, 18-inch

alloys and tyre repair kit

Redbook future values: 3yr: 45%;

5yr: 31%

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Nissan 370Z, BMW 2 Series,

Porsche Boxster, Cayman and 911