On the road: IT’S not often that a car’s interior surpasses its exterior, but that’s certainly the case with the Audi TT Coupe. That’s not to say that the German sports car is not good looking – far from it. With its curves and purposeful stance, it certainly draws attention.
Horizontal lines are the order of the day for the latest model, with a broader and flatter grille, while the headlights have also been flattened to give what Audi believes us a more determined look.
Side on, whether the car sits on 17ins wheels or all the way up to 20ins, the appearance is most definitely a muscular one, while the sweeping indicators are a real feature.
While a diesel engine in such a car would have been viewed with derision not so long back, these days their popularity, due to their obvious fuel-saving qualities, is on the increase.
The 2.2 litre unit in our test car was somewhat raucous under acceleration, and not in a good way, but its performance cannot be questioned. Nought to 62mph arrived in 7.1 seconds, while it maxed out at 150mph.
It also handles like a dream thanks to its sublime chassis and responsive steering.
On the inside: THE inside of the Audi is beyond what I had expected. Stylish and imaginative, the word ‘beautiful’ is not out of place.
Save for five buttons that operate the likes of the spoiler, hazard lights and traction control, the fascia is clutter free. All of the other information is contained in a digital layout behind the steering wheel.
Controlled by a central controller or by buttons on the steering wheel, it is easy to use and informative. You, or perhaps to be safe your passenger, can even write commands down and the onboard computer will interpret the scrawl and do the rest.
Everything has an air of quality about it, the seats – in the front at least - are comfortable and offer a good driving position and the view, considering, the nature of the car is not at all bad.
What do you get: WHILE you get a decent level of kit as standard there’s a lot of equipment offered as optional extras. All get the MMI radio and electronic parking brake, among other items. In addition, our car came with Audi’s Matrix LED headlights - including light and rain sensors and auto dimming rear view mirror – LED interior lighting package, a Bang and Olufsen stereo system and rear parking sensors.
How practical is it: THIS all depends on your definition of practical. You have to be realistic. The TT Coupe has provision for four people. The two in the front are fine, however, anyone sitting in the back, and I include children of any size or shape, will not thank you for it. Seating an adult back there is pretty much out of the question, but even my 11-year-old and nine-year-old had to splay their legs in order to find even a semblance of comfort. The three-year-old, meanwhile, had his feet pushed up against the chair in front.
The boot has 305 litres of space, which I found was enough for an average shop. However, the sloping rear window means awkward shaped items might be out of the question. Drop the seats though and increase the load space to 712 litres and you can get a bike in, minus the front wheel.
Running costs: AUDI reckons you could get more than 67mpg from the diesel powered TT. We managed closer to 50mpg. CO2 emissions are a very respectable 110g/km.
Verdict: SUPERLATIVE design, especially on the inside, makes the TT an extremely desirable proposition.
Alternatives: VW Scirocco, Porsche Cayman
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