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.
