2019 Audi TT Coupe facelift
There are some cars that have a special place in your heart and personally one of those cars is the Audi TT Coupe. It’s now celebrating its 20th birthday and while it may not be fast and furious it’s a lot of fun.
The Audi TT Coupe has always been considered something of a design icon and why do we love this car so much? Well, way back in 1998 there was simply nothing else quite like the TT Coupe and where Audi led with the TT other manufacturers followed - though not quite as successfully. The TT Coupe became an iconic car and remains one of the most popular coupes in the UK. UK car buyers simply can’t get enough of it which is why we buy more Audi TTs than anywhere else in the world.
So, what’s new about this car for 2019? Well, to celebrate its 20th birthday it’s had the automotive equivalent of a nip-n-tuck though the main changes are to do with the engines. There are a few design tweaks but you’d be hard to see them. There’s a new grille, a wider selection of colours and alloy options but really it’s basically the same car as before. Of course, beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder but as far as we’re concerned this isn’t a bad thing at all as it’s always been a great looking car. Ok, we probably don’t like it quite as much as the original version but we think it still looks good and like to think of it as an Audi R8 mini version.
What’s always made the Audi TT such a success is that its great looks are matched by equally great driving ability. Ok, it’s not a car that’s going to set your world on fire but depending on what engine you go for it packs quite a punch. You get Audi’s reliably sharp steering and composed, although slightly dull, road handling. However, we’re not going to complain too much as this is a really fun car and getting behind the wheel of it always has and still does make you smile.
With regards to the engine line up, rather unsurprisingly the diesel engine has gone from the range. There’s now a choice of four petrol engines and it’s here where things get a little confusing. They get confusing because they all come with Audi’s new and incredibly complex badging system. There’s a trio of 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo petrol engines and as always Audi’s engineers have squeezed every last drop of power out of these engines. The entry-level front-wheel drive 197 break horse power (bhp) version, which is badged 40 TFSi, is more potent than the entry level 1.8 litre engine it replaces. Next step up sees a 242 bhp version which is badged the 45 TFSi and has the option of front or all-wheel drive while the 302 bhp TTS comes with Quattro all-wheel drive only. At the top of the range sits a 2.5 litre five cylinder TT RS with close to 400 bhp. This engine tops out at 155 miles per hour and comes with a rather nice soundtrack from its exhaust. The front-wheel drive TTs are all available with a 6-speed manual while the Quattro all-wheel drive cars get a new 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.
The car we looked at for this short review was the impressive 45 TFSi Quattro S Line S-Tronic. Once you flick this car into dynamic mode it suddenly becomes a lot more fun. The 2.0 litre turbocharged engine has got fantastic mid-range punch and just feels really grippy and sticky into the corners. This car handles really nicely and when you push even harder with your right foot you’ll find that it does run out of a bit of steam at the top end. However, with a car like this you really want the power in the mid-range and the TT really delivers it. And the sound? We’ll it sounds reasonably good and is raucous enough if a little artificial. What we really love about his car is the new automatic gearbox which feels both snappy and slick. Heading into the corners you’ll find that the steering is nice and sharp though a little bit on the light side. Lighter steering isn’t always a bad thing but having it in this car can reduce the amount of feedback you get. However, if you add the nice sharp steering to the excellent grip that you get going into corners and it’s fair to say that you’ll enjoy every challenging bend you come across.
The updated 2019 model isn’t dramatically different on the outside and the same can be said for the inside too. It’s got that simple pad-back look that we really like about the interior and is arguably the nicest interior on any car that Audi make. The quality of the materials is beautiful, from the seating and the dials to the flat bottom steering wheel. It’s all put together in a way that really makes you want to drive it. Back in 2014 the Audi TT’s interior set the standard for other cars and the same can be said even today. The virtual cockpit is standard across the range and the digital display is impressive in both its quality and also just how easy it is to use. A phenomenal amount of thought has gone into the little details that really lift this interior to another level. As you’d expect the storage in the TT is compact as are the back seats and only suitable for small children. However, this is what you should expect from a coupe like this. The boot space isn’t that bad at all you’ll be able to fit in a small stroller and a couple of scooters without any problems. If you do need more space then the rear seats are easy to fold down.
If like us you feel that even after 20 years this TT still make your heart flutter then head to DesperateSeller.co.uk where we have a huge selection of used Audi TT cars for sale.
