2017 Audi TT Pros vs Cons

The Audi TT is a compact sports car available in both roadster and convertible configurations. It is small and maneuverable, delivering lots of driving fun through a combination of strong engines and good driving dynamics. Buyers looking for a fun driver’s car with a touch of the Audi luxury will find exactly what they are looking for with the TT.

What’s New for 2017

The Audi TT was fully redesigned in 2016, so the 2017 update is a small one, mostly focusing on appearance and features. The rearview camera, which was an option on the 2016 model, is now standard, addressing one of the major complaints. There is also a new smartphone integration package and a Black Optic appearance option available as well.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2017 Audi TT – The Pros

1. Exciting Exterior

The 2017 Audi TT draws a lot on the larger Audi R8 sports car for inspiration for its exterior, resulting in supercar styling on a smaller scale. Flared fenders, sharp headlights and gently-sloped rear window give it a look that is both exciting and serious. It clearly communicates the car’s purpose as a performance vehicle rather than a luxury cruiser.

2. Innovative Interior

The dashboard of the 2017 Audi TT is a technophile dream, with conventional instruments being replaced by a 12.3-inch digital screen. It is controlled through Audi’s Multi-Media Interface, which includes a selector knob and a capacitive touchpad that you can write commands on. The system is powerful and easy to use.

3. Spacious Seating

The Audi TT is designed primarily as a two seater and these two seats are very comfortable. There is lots of legroom and the seats themselves are easily adjustable and quite supportive. It makes it easy to both relax on a leisurely drive and concentrate during gutsy maneuvers.

4. High Material Quality

You would not expect anything less from an Audi, but the 2017 Audi TT is fitted out with high rent materials and well put together, resulting in a high degree of overall quality. Both Nappa leather and Alcantara suede are available, and accents are carefully chosen. That makes sitting in the TT quite easy on the eyes.

5. Full Set of Features

Performance-oriented roadsters and convertibles often get a much smaller list of options than their sedan counterparts, but that is not the case with the 2017 Audi TT. The feature list is comparable to Audi’s sedans, including such features as smartphone integration, navigation with Google Maps and StreetView, parking assistance and even a 680-watt smart surround sound system by Bang & Olufsen.

6. Plenty of Power

Given its small size, the 2017 Audi TT packs plenty of punch from its two engines. Both are 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinders, with the standard one putting out 220 horsepower and the other tuned up to 292 horsepower. The former hits 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds, while the latter can do it in 4.6 seconds. That’s fast.

7. Excellent Handling

The 2017 Audi TT goes to great lengths to make you feel in control of the car and in tune with the road. The steering is very responsive, allowing you to easily whip the small car around corners with minimal body roll. Adding to the control is Audi’s Drive Select system that allows you to adjust engine, steering and transmission response for a sportier drive as well.

8. Standard All-wheel Drive

All 2017 Audi TT models come with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, adding to both performance and safety. Capable of responding to not just wheel slip, but acceleration and turns as well, the all-wheel drive system reduces understeer and oversteer and helps you get the most acceleration out of every turn.

9. Magnetic Ride Suspension

Featured on the sporty TTS models, the magnetic ride suspension on the 2017 Audi TT adjusts to both give you better control of the car and to provide a more comfortable ride. Given the already-great driving dynamics of the car, this only cements the TT as a performance vehicle. It also reduces the amount of road noise in the cabin as a bonus.

10. Solid Safety Tech

The 2017 Audi TT is well-equipped when it comes to safety equipment, featuring many modern active safety features. A rearview camera is standard this year, and both blind-spot monitors and lane departure warnings are options. Another innovative standard feature is the secondary collision brake assist, which activates the brakes after a collision to reduce the chance of a secondary impact.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2017 Audi TT – The Cons

1. Practically Only Seats Two

There is no room for anyone other than young children in the second row of the 2017 Audi TT coupe, and even less in the roadster. It is best to simply think of the second row as extra storage than passenger space. Drivers who even occasionally carry more than one passenger may find this aspect of the TT frustrating.

2. No V-6 Power

Most of Audi’s competitors in the luxury roadster and sports car classes have much more than just four-cylinder engines on offer. The 2017 Audi TT is quick given its size, but it falls short when competing against dedicated sports cars.

3. Driver-only Infotainment

Audi’s Multi-Media Interface offers new ways to interact with your car’s infotainment controls, but locks out the passenger during the process. While this may not be a problem if you mostly drive alone, it is impossible for passengers to do as much as change the music without really getting in the driver’s way. That could make arguments over driving music that much more contentious.

4. No Forward Collision Warning

While the 2017 Audi TT offers the rest of the modern active safety suite, there is no forward collision detection or automatic pre-collision braking available. This is especially disappointing considering that it is available on practically every other car Audi has made.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

The 2017 Audi TT competes primarily with other luxury roadsters and coupes, like the Mercedes-Benz SLC Class and the BMW Z4. The SLC Class offers more features than the Audi TT and is available with a V-6 engine, which gives it a power advantage over the Audi. However, its driving dynamics are not nearly as tight and controlled as those of the TT and it commands a significant price premium. The BMW Z4 offers driving dynamics that are as good as the Audi TT and a six-cylinder engine option, but it is missing Audi’s all-wheel drive, even as an option, and is more expensive when similarly equipped.

Conclusion

The 2017 Audi TT is a car focused on the driving experience. It does not have the power of a dedicated sports car, but it combines its excellent handling and performance with a luxurious and sophisticated cabin to give the best of both worlds. For buyers that want to enjoy driving their car, there are few choices as good as the Audi TT.