What the Audi TT has by the bucketload is grip.
The ultimate test of this is proven by our tests in the RS, which pulled 0.99g on a dry circuit, and at reasonably sane speeds it feels almost stapled to the road. Four-wheel drive provides plenty of traction in slippery conditions, and the RS’s muscular steering resistance only heightens the impression of rhinoceros-like directional stability. So it feels secure, and its confident way with bends only reinforces the impression; there’s very little body roll, the steering is accurate and obedient, and it can download solid amounts of torque to the road with little drama.
The 2.0-litre petrol Quattro models feel similarly stable, while the two-wheel drive cars grip well and drive neatly, even if they are a little short on fun. The extra weight of the roadster knocks a small amount off the sensations.
What the TT TDI cannot replicate is the agility of the 110kg lighter 2.0 TFSI or the adjustability and sheer grip of the TTS. It presents a drive that is secure, responsive to your inputs and ultimately sufficiently quick, if lacking the interaction of a true driver’s car.
The weak point of the TT's dynamic make-up is its electrically assisted steering. The problem is not accuracy but rather the variability in assistance and the absence of feel. Greater steering feel would make the TT more satisfying to drive at any speed.
The TT rides reasonably well, too, especially the TDI. While there remains a little firmness over more extreme ridges or manhole covers, the rebound damping mixes flex with control sufficiently well to maintain an acceptable level of comfort. The RS’s suspension is capable of rounding off the sharp edges of bumps, but it’s a long way from flattening them out altogether.
