2015 Audi TT Test Drive Review

Counting from its debut as a concept in the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Audi TT’s now-familiar shape has been with us for a mere 20 years – a mere blink of an eye when you stack it against the history of more established and no less iconic nameplates such as the Porsche 911 or the MINI.

In this brief period of its existence and having gone through three model generations, the TT has quickly established itself as one of the most recognizable shapes in the automotive world – you simply won’t mistake it for something else.

The all-new third-generation TT arrived in Malaysia this year, and it carries the distinction of being the first model to be launched under the watch of Audi Malaysia, which takes over distributing and marketing duties of the Audi brand from Euromobil, which will now focus its effort on the retail and servicing side of the business.

Pricing & Specifications

The beauty of the TT is that underneath its flashy sheet metal reside mechanical components that also calls cars like the Golf and some Skodas home. All generations of the TT shares underpinnings with concurrent models of the VW Group that operate transverse-mounted engines, and the latest one is no different – being built on the hugely flexible MQB template.

Like all benefactors of the MQB, the TT weighs less than its immediate predecessor. Generous utilization of aluminium, high-strength, and ultra-high-strength alloys help the new model to tip the scales at 50kg less its immediate predecessor. It also goes without saying that we can expect the general excellence evident in platform mates such as the Golf 7 and Audi A3 to permeate the TT’s DNA.

At its global launch, Audi debuted the all-new TT with a trio of turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines available with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, manual or dual clutch transmissions. For Malaysia, Audi has selected the 230hp TFSI petrol engine to power the TT’s sole variant on offer at the moment. It powers only the front wheels via a 6-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission.

Pricing starts at RM284,900 on-the-road before options and insurance. For the money, keyless entry thankfully comes as standard along with six airbags, electronic stability control, and xenon headlights. Satellite navigation comes as a RM9,000 option; if you think that’s money not worth paying, Audi still puts a ‘Nav/Map’ switch on the dashboard – trigger it, and you’ll be greeted by the unfriendly reminder that the feature is not fitted in the vehicle. There is no reverse camera either, but this is a car that has thankfully compact dimensions and good rearward visibility.

Exterior

Looks is a major factor in the equation of the TT’s appeal. The basic silhouette that defined our mental image of the TT since the original version and suitably updated for the second generation has served the nameplate well enough that Audi designers saw little point in making radical alterations to this well-proven template.

End-to-end, the new TT retains the compact dimensions of its two predecessors, stretching the tape measure to 4,177mm and spanning 1,832mm wide; its wheelbase is lengthened to 2,505mm, making for shorter overhangs and contributing to a more aggressive stance.

Most significant alteration to the vehicle’s appearance takes place up front, where Audi’s trademark Singleframe grille assumes a more prominent appearance. The headlamp clusters, which carry distinctive signature LED daytime running lights, are in turn moulded narrower than they were in both predecessors. Combined, these styling cues give the TT an angrier more sinister look.

Interior

In the case of a sports coupe built as much for style as it is for driving enjoyment, we unsurprisingly find that the TT’s cabin takes on a form over function mantra. In typical Audi fashion, it is built to exude an aura of expensiveness, which it emphasizes with appropriate insertions of shiny surfaces at various touch points. We would say fit and finish is first rate, although the plastic grade of the dashboard’s top piece surprisingly felt more reminiscent of a mainstream Volkswagen rather than that of an Audi.

In a bid to create a cabin of tasteful minimalism, Audi’s designers have opted to remove the centre screen altogether and integrate the functions of its MMI infotainment system into the standard virtual instrument cluster – or Audi virtual cockpit in official company speak. Visually, the effort is a success, but functionally, the price is paid in the form of compromised ergonomics and functionality.

For starters, this configuration means that the front passenger has no means of effectively operating the MMI system on the driver’s behalf. In the context of a car seeking to project an image of driver-orientedness, it is an understandable compromise, but the problem is that Audi’s MMI interface is not exactly the industry’s last word in intuitiveness. There is for example, no straight forward way of scrolling through pre-selected radio channels without taking your eyes off the road for more than a few precious seconds.

The rear seats, meanwhile, are next to useless. You can safely strap-in your baby there thanks to ISOFIX mounts, but we wouldn’t recommend accommodating adults of any size for even brief journeys. There is more room for your luggage, however – 305 litres of boot space may seem small on paper, but it is usefully sculpted enough that it will take in a great variety of large items. Long objects will require folding the rear seats down, after which 712 litres are at your disposal.

Driving Experience

Despite its undoubted success, previous generations of the TT did not fully garner the respect of automotive enthusiasts. Overwhelming impression of past TTs is of a vehicle that prioritizes stylishness with sportingness a distinct second priority.

None of this is, of course, likely to have bothered Audi one bit – the new TT continues to be built on the same recipe as its forebears, which is to clothe attractive sheet metal over Volkswagen Golf underpinnings. The key difference, this time, of course, is that the current generation Volkswagen Golf is a rather good vehicle, and that excellence successfully carried itself over to define the new TT’s driving experience.

The trademark balance that seemingly characterises the chassis behaviour of vehicles underpinned by the MQB is present and accounted for in the TT. Paired with its quick and direct steering, the TT responds to steering inputs with wonderful immediacy and balance; it feels delightfully darty and agile. Ride never feels particularly crashy, but can be more pliant. If Audi could have incorporated the flawless ride of the Golf 7 into the TT’s dynamic make-up, it would complete a transition from very good to outright great.

Like most modern high-end vehicles, the TT allows you to select between various driving modes. At the flick of a button, parameters of the vehicle’s throttle, transmission, and steering mappings can be altered to suit your mood. In its most aggressive Dynamic mode, the TT makes a passable impression of a car with genuine sporting credentials, thrilling with a guttural exhaust note and bang-hard gear changes from its 6-speed dual clutcher.

Greater revelation is its behaviour in its most docile Efficiency driving mode. Instead of drastically dumbing down of throttle response like how most cars do it these days, the TT simply smoothens it. So, instead of feeling lethargic and unresponsive, the TT pulls less frantically and more linear, responding to sudden prods of the accelerator with gentle but firm conviction. It almost feels like driving a naturally-aspirated vehicle.

Verdict

When we test Audi vehicles, the familiar narrative is of a beautifully-crafted vehicle but utterly forgettable to drive – not poor, mind you, and certainly not incapable; just unmemorable. The first vehicle to break that mould in memory was the A3 Sedan last year, and the TT continues this new trend, in that it is not only dynamically competent, but also fluent and interactive. You feel the vehicle more.

If you’re looking for a vehicle that offers simultaneous dosage of style and sportiness, the Audi TT is quite worthy of consideration. It extracts a comparatively small price for its gaya factor; we’ve tested cars that cloak far less substance behind their good looks. Simply put, the TT is a car which you can count on to arrive looking good, whilst enjoying yourself behind the wheel in the process.