Audi TT Roadster convertible
“The Audi TT Roadster is great to look at, sharp to drive and has a magnificent interior. You also get that special wind-in-the-hair experience.”
Pros
- Stylish
- Fun to drive
- Great interior
Cons
- Quite noisy inside
- S line rides harshly
- Strictly two seats only
The Audi TT roadster has always been one of the most stylish convertibles in its class and the newest generation is no exception. It’s better to drive than ever, offers great performance and is as high quality a product as you’d expect from Audi.
The TT is Audi’s rival to the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLC, while performance versions like the TTS and TT RS are genuine Porsche 718 Boxster challengers. Even in its less glamorous specifications, the TT Roadster is more than a match for its rivals, offering a combination of design, quality, performance and economy that puts it ahead of the pack.
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Audi offers a range of turbocharged petrol engines in the TT, but as with competitors, there's no diesel option. The standard version can be had with two TFSI petrol forms – a 195bhp 1.8-litre or a 242bhp 2.0-litre badged 40 and 45 respectively. They can manage fuel economy of just under 40mpg with front-wheel drive, but quattro four-wheel drive reduces this slightly.
High-performance options include the TTS and TT RS versions of the roadster, and we've reviewed the TT RS Roadster separately. The TTS is powered by a 302bhp 2.0-litre petrol and manages 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds.
Interior quality is as good as you’d expect from Audi; the TT is beautifully designed inside, with an uncluttered dashboard and the driver’s dials replaced by Audi’s Virtual Cockpit screen behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Just 10 seconds are needed to fold the TT Roadster’s triple-layer fabric roof into the boot, where it doesn’t take up as much space as the hardtops used by its rivals. The Audi has 280 litres of space with the roof down versus 225 in the Mercedes SLC and 281 in the BMW Z4.
Despite the fact that the TT Roadster weighs slightly more than the Coupe, little is lost from the driving experience. All the engines provide decent power and performance, while the front-wheel-drive models feel agile and fun to drive and those with Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system grip well and feel secure in corners. The Porsche 718 Boxster may be slightly more fun, but there’s not much in it and the TT Roadster is arguably the better all-rounder.
