There’s no doubt that the Audi TT has the cutting-edge style that true auto lovers want in a luxury sports car. There’s little doubt it has the elegance, performance and accents that rival Jaguar, Mazda and other top contenders.
The first thing you’ll notice about this car is — of course — its sleek, macho exterior that includes large air intakes, quad-tip exhaust pipes, and a big, bold grille.
Take a look at the low-slung beauty and you’ll imagine that it has powerful, aggressive handling. No matter what you think, though, you’ll likely be surprised at the boldness of its steering, acceleration, braking and just overall handling. Thank the 2-liter, 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder with S-tronic six-speed automatic dual-clutch gearbox.
» Engine: 200 horsepower, 207 foot-pounds torque at 1,700-5,000 rpm, 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
» Transmission: Six-speed automatic
» Fuel economy: 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway
» MSRP: $37,800 and up
The four-link rear suspension and McPherson strut front suspension keep the car’s ride stable and smooth even on bumpy D.C. streets that haven’t yet healed from winter’s damage. Even on wet streets, the Audi TT hugs the road gliding along smoothly.
Of course this comfort comes at a price. Sports enthusiasts will tell you that the car’s weight — about 3,200 pounds — and engineering are more tuned toward comfort than speed. Having said that, this car is definitely fast enough for most amateur drivers.
The interior is as deluxe as you’d hope with fitted sport seats, a driver-oriented cockpit, and shift paddles. Bluetooth and satellite radio, 10-way power seats and electronic cruise control are standard. Technically this is a four-seater but I can’t imagine any adult crawling into the back and sitting in any type of comfort. Even those that peek inside the car snort a bit at the two back seats that likely can only hold small children or groceries. Still, they do fold down. That gives the car a total of 23 cubic feet of cargo space.
Although I’d heard great things about the nine-speaker, 140-watt audio system it turned out to be just a tad tinny sounding. In fairness, it could be that I didn’t adjust it correctly. This is one of those ultra high-tech cars that makes the owner’s manual a must read. This is not an intuitive system for navigation, audio and even small things such as wipers, so be ready to spend some time adapting.
Those are minor points though.
With fuel economy of 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, the Audi TT is a beautiful member of the luxury sports offerings.
