Audi Tt Roadster
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The new Audi TT Roadster will probably be the most fun you’ll have had since Christmas when you were a kid. It’s now more involving than ever, still as stylish and still one of the most affordable convertibles out there.
There’s just something about the TT that sets it apart from its rivals. Has it attained icon status yet? Possibly not, but that doesn’t mean it’s not capable of putting the hairs on the back of your neck when you fire up the engine and lower the roof.
OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2018 Audi TT Roadster review.
Overview of the Audi TT Roadster
On the Road
In the past, you could always rely on the Audi TT for some fun but it was never the most engaging car in this class. It still isn’t but it’s more enjoyable than ever. It’s a real treat and Audi have done a terrific job of keeping its weight down, despite adding lots of new kit and tech. Its roof is lighter than last time and this certainly boosts its agility.
That said, this Roadster is considerably heavier than the Coupe variant but, in all honesty, it’s barely noticeable once you’re behind the wheel. It’s composed in bends, stability is fab and there isn’t much body lean. And if you add quattro four-wheel-drive, you’ll arm the car with a reassuring amount of grip. [vc_single_image image=”80577″ img_size=”article-image”]The suspension setup is a bit on the firm side, but that’s to be expected from this type of car. Moreover, the TT doesn’t exactly over bumps and lumps. The S-Line’s suspension is firmer still but you can specify the standard setup for no extra cost.
In terms of the engines, all the petrols feel quick and agile. The entry level 2.0-litre petrol engine might be entry level but it can still whisk you away from a standstill to 62mph in 5.6 seconds if you add the 6-speed automatic S tronic transmission and four-wheel-drive. Stick to a front-wheel-drive setup and the manual ‘box and it completes the same dash in 6.2 seconds.
That’s still not bad but the TT RS model is where the real excitement is. Its turbocharged 2.5-litre five-pot petrol engine can get you from rest to 62mph in just 3.9 seconds before maxing out at 155mph. Should you want to keep going until 174mph, you need to pay an extra £1,600. It comes with quattro four-wheel-drive as standard and is paired up with a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic ‘box.
Audi TT Roadster Interior, Design & Build
[vc_single_image image=”80578″ img_size=”article-image”]Audi interiors come in for very few criticisms, and the TT Roadster is no exception to the rule. It looks a lot like the Coupe inside but there are a few features that distinguish it, such as the lack of rear seats, the rollover hoops and the flat boot deck.
It looks great either way and the inclusion of the brands Virtual Cockpit system certainly helps. Because so much driving information is displayed on its 12.3” high-def screen, Audi have been able to clear the dashboard of the usual clutter. Gone are the conventional dials and the TT’s dash looks all the better and smarter for it.The Virtual Cockpit is a useful addition as it brings together the car’s driving data, infotainment and sat-nav into one place. It might take you a bit of time to get to grips with it, but once you’re up and running with the rotary dial you’ll be just fine.
And if you do need a bit of extra help, the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel will prove useful.
Build quality is excellent, the modern design is gorgeous and other cabin highlights include the swanky leather trim. Refinement is good even when the roof is up, but some tyre noise will creep into the cabin when you’re on the motorway.
Is the Audi TT Roadster practical? Its lack of rear seats frees up a bit more space for those sat upfront, while its boot measures 280-litres. That’s pretty good for a car of this type, but there are rivals that offer even bigger boots.
Storage spaces are otherwise a bit sparse but let’s face it, no one buys a car like this for the family.
Equipment & Safety of the Audi TT Roadster
There’s just two trim levels to pick from, with the Sport model getting the likes of bright xenon headlights, leather and Alcantara trimmed seats, Bluetooth, a digital radio and 18” alloys as standard.
The S Line adds rain-sensing wipers, automatic LED lights, sports seats and 19” alloys.
There’s a lot to choose from the list of optional extras, but one option we’d definitely consider adding is the £1,695 open-top driving package which nets you heated sports seats, an electric wind deflector and head-level seat heating.
In terms of how safe it is, the TT Roadster hasn’t yet been crash tested by Euro NCAP. The TT Coupe scored four stars for its test and we’d expect this one to follow suit. A lot of its safety kit is optional, such as traffic sign recognition, parking assistance, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring.
Costs of the Audi TT Roadster
Prices for the new car start out from around £30,600 and rise to £54,200. For more information on our leasing deals, check out our page here.
In terms of its running costs, the 2.0-litre 227bhp TFSI unit is the most frugal petrol engine in the range. It can be paired up with either front or four-wheel drive, as well as a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic ‘box. If you stick to front-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox, you could return as much as 45.6mpg on a good day. That isn’t bad at all, while emissions stand at 144g/km of CO2.
The TT RS, meanwhile, produces 349bhp and returns 34mpg at best.
Pros and Cons of the Audi TT Roadster
Pros:
Great To Look At
The TT has been around for over two decades now. While it still looks classically like a TT, its design language has evolved to keep it looking nice and modern.
Fast But Economical
A 0-62 time of 5.6 seconds and returns of over 45mpg can’t be bad at all.
Virtual Cockpit Comes As Standard
This means that not only is the dashboard free from button clutter, but you also get access to all kinds of useful driving info.
Cons:
Bit Noisy
Road and wind noise will be an issue.
Average Boot
It’s not big and it isn’t deep.
Verdict of our 2018 Audi TT Roadster Review
Modern, slick, fast and gorgeous, the new TT Convertible sounds a bit insatiable. And fortunately, it isn’t all talk and no action, as it proves to be as great to drive as its looks suggest. In fact, it weighs less than its predecessor, which means it’s sharper and more efficient. It’s also faster. Raise your hands if you want a new Audi TT Roadster. 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