Best Year Audi TT

‍2016 Audi TT

Audi TT went under significant redesigning in the year 2016. The sporty coupe put on a more sportscar-like appearance. The 2016 TT borrows a lot from the R8, a supercar from the same company. The cockpit and cabin design was more driver-oriented and delivered an excellent driving experience.

It still carries on the recognizable roadster silhouette, but it features smaller overhangs and more creasing towards the sides and the corners compared to the previous models. It looks like a younger sibling of Audi's supercar that is saying, "I will grow up to be an R8 one day!"

Design Features

The new TT seems to take more inspiration from the R8 instead of previous Audi TTs. The matrix headlights, the creasing hood, or the one-frame trapezoidal grille give the coupe a menacing look, similar to that of the R8.

The redesign has made the TT narrower than before, but the creasing and more squared corners make it appear wider. They also make the car look taller with a higher beltline than previous models when it is a low coupe.

The cabin is more sportscar-like and less like the previous TTs on the inside. The cabin features a low-profile dashboard and center stack, with controls oriented towards the driver. Surprisingly, Audi has deleted the infotainment screen from the center dashboard.

However, the TT houses Audi's virtual cockpit, which uses a 12.3-inch screen, and can display gauges, important car information, and even navigation with Google Maps. The infotainment system can be controlled using voice commands, steering wheel buttons, and the responsive touchpad located in the center console. The vents display the climate control settings, and you can press and twist them to adjust the temperature.

The dashboard hangs at an angle towards the passenger side, something like an aircraft wing. The vents are round and remind us of jet engines on an airplane. With different color tones, the interior looks more premium and performance-oriented.

Performance Features

The 2016 Audi TT performs better than its predecessors, and the numbers back this claim. The vehicle uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with direct injection technology, producing 220 hp and 258 lb-ft torque. The TTS variant uses the same engine, but it produces 292 horsepower and 280 pound-feet torque with enhanced turbochargers.

The engine is coupled to Audi's six-speed S-Tronic automatic transmission to transfer all that power to the wheels, which delivers smooth and precise shifts. The powertrain takes the TT from 0-60 in just 5.3 seconds, while the TTS can make it in 4.6 seconds.

These numbers are much faster than the previous versions, even though the powertrain is not much different. The reason for this is, well, weight loss. The 2016 TT uses advanced composites for construction, making it lighter and more robust. Again, this technology is borrowed from you know who, the R8.  

Like previous models, the rear spoiler automatically extends when the car hits 75 mph and draws back when the speed drops to 44 mph. You will not be using it on US highways, but it is an advanced feature worth mentioning. The spoiler can generate a down-force of around 110 pounds when the car runs at 155 mph, adding to stability, handling, and traction.

There is no two-wheel-drive 2016 Audi TT in the US. All models are Quattro, known as all-wheel-drive. However, the TT is equipped with the Haldex Clutch system, which can vary the power between rear and front wheels as needed. This system makes the vehicle quite balanced and responsive during sporty driving.

The TT comes with an advanced steering system that matches the steering and the electronic steering assist ratios. This allows the steering to be nimble at low speeds, such as when running through hairpin bends on mountain roads or while parking, and makes it firmer at highway speeds to ensure safe high-speed driving.

With the TT being a comfortable vehicle, sports car enthusiasts nitpick about how much road feedback it delivers into the cabin, which is very little. On the TTS, equipped with the magnetic suspension, the feedback is further reduced, and you have to rely on the steering to judge the road and how the vehicle is running over it.

Overall, the Audi TT drives exceptionally well and keeps up with the sporty coupe aesthetics featured both inside and outside the cabin. It is well balanced, responsive, and allows you to take full advantage of its crisp handling abilities.

One feature that sports car enthusiasts love is a sound actuator that supplies sounds of a sports car into the cabin. Many drivers claim that these sounds help keep the energy level up and maintain an enthusiastic mood. The TTS houses additional flaps on the exhaust to give that sports car roar.

The TT comes with Audi Drive Select, which significantly alters the driving experience with different modes. It gives you Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic options, and each mode tweaks the steering response, throttle response, transmission shifting behavior, and stability of the vehicle.

Comfort Features

With the narrower dimensions and a redesigned interior for 2016, one would expect the Audi TT to have less space than its predecessors in the cabin. However, it is quite the opposite. The TT feels quite spacious inside, even with the cockpit-style interior. It has more front-seat legroom than many other coupes and sports cars. It also features an excellent driving position.

But we believe that calling the TT a four-seater is a bit of a stretch, as the back seat is not suited for larger passengers; we would call it a 2+2 at its best. The backseat can seat small adults and children, but even they will have to cooperate with the "just enough" legroom and compromised headroom. Not to mention that there is no issue with headroom on the convertible, as the sky is (literally) the limit with the top down. But be careful when you raise the top, as it can start to feel a little congested for backseat passengers.

The dashboard is covered with nicely padded and textured material. The TTS gets a unique material featuring a honeycomb pattern that gives it a retro appearance. You will find 2016 TTs with all sorts of interior colors ranging from rock gray, black, palomino brown, etc.

The seats come with sufficient bolstering and support passengers of all sizes. They feature ample support for the thighs, lower back, and sides. You can find some TTs with the S Line Package equipped with Nappa leather and higher-quality interior upholstery.

The trunk space on the TT is around 12 cubic feet, behind the 50/50 split backseat. This is adequate for a coupe. But for added space, the backseats can be folded down. On the convertible, TT Roadster, the trunk space goes down to around 10 cubic feet to make room for the top.

A few small storage compartments are located around the cabin, including a compartment under the passenger seat in the front, door pockets, and a small bin ahead of the shift lever.

Safety Features

Audi TT has been known for its advanced safety features for years on end. And the 2016 TT carries on the legacy as it is equipped with several safety features. Among the active safety features that are found on all TTs are:

• Stability control ensures that the vehicle is operated within its handling and performance limits. This feature allows the driver to be in control at all times.
• Antilock brakes sense the wheel speed during hard braking and prevent it from locking up. Locked-up tires are more prone to losing traction and can lead to uncontrolled skidding.
• A collection of airbags, including frontal, side-impact, overhead, and knee airbags, ensure that the occupants remain safe during crashes.

Among the secondary safety features found on the Audi TT are:

• Blind-spot monitors watch the blind spots of the vehicle and can alert the driver if the car is moving towards the lane in which there is a vehicle in the blind spot.
• Lane Keep Assist monitors the yellow and white lines on the road. If the vehicle veers off to one side and closer to the lines, this system can alert the driver by sending pulses to the steering wheel. In some cases, the system can even adjust the steering to maintain the correct line.
•  Collision Braking Assist. If the vehicle meets a crash, this system keeps it from rolling on uncontrolled.

Other Important Features

As a sports coupe, we naturally expect the TT to be less equipped than the sedans offered by the company. But when compared to other sports coupe rivals, the TT seems quite well equipped with top technological features.

The TT comes standard with Virtual Cockpit and Audi's signature Multimedia Interface (MMI). Think of it like a 12.3-inch screen that can display two (or three on the TTS) different gauge layouts, trip info, navigation, and more information.

The two different gauge layouts are Classic, which gives a traditional layout displaying the tachometer and the speedometer. The Progressive model shows a navigation map between the gauges. The Sport mode, which is available only on the TTS, allows you to choose between various layouts. The features on the screen are controlled using the buttons and controls provided on the steering wheel and a knob and trackpad located in the center console.

We have some reservations with this system as everything needs to be controlled by the driver and not allow the passenger to toggle the features or check on information.

There are many technological features found on the TT. These include:

• Keyless entry and ignition
• Cruise control
• Automatic, rain-sensing wipers
• Automatic headlights
• Rear parking sensors
• Remote locking with alarm
• Universal garage door opener

The TTS comes with a more powerful engine and the following features:

• More customizable Virtual Cockpit
• Upgraded brakes and wheels
• Magnetic Ride Suspension
• Parking sensors for front and rear

Audi Side AssistThe advanced MMI responds well to voice commands. It comes with a search function that allows you to quickly find your contacts, call details, songs, and destinations. The system is responsive and easy to get used to.

One feature that we cannot help but mention is the 680-watt, 12-speaker, Bang & Olufsen surround audio system. This audio system is excellent at adding flavor to your favorite music collection and also features noise cancellation to keep cabin noise to a minimum.

Fuel Economy Features

The 2016 Audi TT comes with a 2.0-liter engine coupled with a six-speed automatic, dual-clutch transmission. All variants of the TT, the standard coupe, the convertible Roadster, and the faster TTS come with all-wheel drive. The EPA ratings for the TT are as follows:

• The TT Coupe and Convertible Roadster achieve 23 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined.
• The TTS gets around 23 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on highways, and 26 mpg combined.

Price Range of 2016 Audi TT

The 2016 Audi TT prices start at around $23,000 and go up to $43,000. The average price is approximately $33,000. Prices vary for the TT mainly due to the different trim levels available. But location, mileage, optional features, and vehicle condition also play a crucial role in determining the prices.