Used 2021 Audi TT

Buy a 2021 Audi TT model while it’s still available. It wasn’t always a given that this premium compact sports car would be around right now. The rise of crossovers and the increasing interest in electric vehicles has left the TT appearing to belong to a past era when driving thrills and high style were prized over raised ride heights and zero emissions.

Here they are, though, in all their glory, the 2021 TT Coupe, 2021 TT Roadster, and the higher-performance 2021 TTS Coupe and TT RS. The TT Roadster is a true 2-seater, while the Coupes have what’s known as a 2+2 seating configuration, although the rear seats are virtually useless for anything bigger than weekend bags. That’s OK, though. No one buys a TT to be practical.

These TT cars are for enthusiasts who also want that special Audi style and technology. Don’t underestimate the daily thrill of walking up to a TT, clicking it open, climbing in, and pressing the ignition button. All-wheel drive is standard.

Audi’s first-generation TT had a strong visual impact, but couldn’t provide a similar driving experience. The second generation was a little more engaging but perhaps lost something in the looks department. This 3rd-generation TT is more likely to suit a greater number of people.

Its handling talents are much closer to major rivals from BMW and Porsche, while still making a definite style statement. The all-wheel-drive system (known as Quattro on Planet Audi) optimizes traction in tight turns and fast, sweeping corners alike.

The straight-ahead 2021 TT Coupe zips from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds; the TTS accomplishes this task in 4.4 seconds. The TT RS drops that to 3.6 seconds. Yet each variant can also be civilized and relaxed.

The Virtual Cockpit allowed Audi’s interior designers to create a tidy cabin with fewer controls and make intelligent use of technology. For instance, as well as directing air, the vents in the dashboard display temperatures, and may also be used to adjust the climate control and heated seats.

The S Sport front seats are comfortable and shaped for great support. But they may be too snug for some.

The 2021 TT Roadster is a 2-seater, the Coupe models have a pair of small back seats. Folding them down increases cargo space, which is how we’d leave them. Aside from that, the ergonomics are well-considered and every model is enlivened with highlights of brushed aluminum.

The current Audi TT is a compact coupe or convertible with sharp style, but nothing could really have the same impact as the original TT, which shook up the car design world. Nevertheless, the 2021 TT looks distinctive, muscular and squat, sporting crisp lines, full LED exterior lighting, and the trapezoidal grille that’s an Audi hallmark.

The Coupe’s hatchback is part of a classic silhouette. The TT Roadster’s power-operated fabric roof opens or closes in 10 seconds and at speeds of up to 31 mph.

As TTS and TT RS models, this Audi is available solely as a coupe.

VIRTUAL COCKPIT
The Virtual Cockpit in the TT and TTS replaces the traditional analog speedometer and rev counter with a digital reproduction in a 12.3-inch screen. It uses an NVIDIA quad-core processor to produce a beautiful, high-resolution display that can be configured to suit the driver’s tastes and requirements. It can even show the navigation system’s map across the whole screen.

QUATTRO
All-wheel drive has been around almost since the birth of the automobile, but Audi has made it a core ingredient, developed it in the crucible of motorsport, and called it Quattro. It provides reassurance in slippery conditions as well as tremendous traction on dry roads.

Even the “entry-level” 2021 Audi TT Coupe has an automatic rear spoiler, along with 18-inch alloy wheels, Virtual Cockpit, heated S Sport front seats covered in Nappa leather, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, two USB ports, 12-speaker/680-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, Wi-Fi, navigation, blind-spot monitoring, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, and selectable driving modes.

The 2021 TT Roadster adds the powered roof, powered wind deflector, neck warming, roll-over protection, and a microphone set into the driver’s seatbelt for voice commands.

The 2021 Audi TTS has a more powerful engine, adaptive suspension, quad exhaust system, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

In addition to its 394-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-5 and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the TT RS is equipped with 19-in alloy wheels (with summer tires), RS-specific aero and cosmetic tweaks, a fixed rear wing, adaptive suspension, 8-piston front brakes, and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

Some features in the TTS are available in the TT as extras, such as the Virtual Cockpit’s Sport mode and 19-inch alloy wheels. Other options include cosmetic additions and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The TT RS can be ordered with a Sport exhaust ($1,000), an RS Design interior package ($1,450), and OLED taillights ($1,600).

Propelling the 2021 Audi TT Coupe and Roadster is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 228 horsepower. This same engine is used in the TTS, only with increased output of 288 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The most powerful engine is the turbocharged 2.5-liter in the TT RS, which puts out 394 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque.

Power goes to all four wheels through a rapid-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The technical term for this type of transmission is an “automated manual,” and most drivers will probably let the automatic function do most of the work, occasionally using the paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel when struck by the desire for greater involvement.

Fuel consumption is more than bearable. The TT variants average 26 mpg combined (coupe or roadster), while the TTS achieves 25 mpg combined. The TT RS is a lot more powerful, but it’s rated at a respectable 24 mpg combined.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (TT Coupe/Roadster)
228 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (TTS Coupe)
288 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/29 mpg

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 (TT RS)
394 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
354 lb-ft of torque @ 2,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy 20/30 mpg