2005 Audi TT Road Test - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our road test for the 2005 Audi TT includes a full evaluation of the 2005 Audi TT from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2005 Audi TT, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2005 Audi TT help you decide if a 2005 Audi TT is right for you.

2005 Audi TT Road Test

Pros	Cons

Build quality	Noise

Handling/roadholding	Visibility

Interior materials	Rear-seat room

Acceleration	Rear-seat entry/exit

Available AWD	Ride

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
6	7	7	7	8.1

Base models peppy enough, but acceleration doesn't do justice to TT's sports-car looks. The 225-hp models are suitably fast--6.2 sec 0-60 mph for test coupe--but as with base version, midrange power lacking until turbo boost kicks in. Test V6 coupe did 6.5 sec 0-60, but with markedly improved low and midrange response. Still, few testers convinced DSG transmission a good substitute for conventional manual or automatic. Manual mode works best in aggressive driving, while automatic mode suffers hesitant, slurred gear changes.

Fuel Economy

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
6	6	6	5	4.4

Test base TT averaged 23.6 mpg in mostly highway driving. Test 225 models averaged 16.4-23.4 mpg, depending on driving conditions. V6 coupe averaged 20.0 mpg, V6 convertible 21.1 mpg, both in mixed city/highway use. All require premium-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
4	3	3	3	4

Par for small, firmly sprung sports cars. Base versions have best ride by slight margin, but all TTs are stiff enough to jolt over potholes, tar strips, and to jiggle a bit on freeways.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
8	9	9	9	8.6

Great twisty-road runner. Precise steering, minimal body lean, strong grip--quattros especially--and confident braking. Wide tires follow longitudinal pavement grooves too readily, though.

Quietness

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
2	3	2	3	3.9

Prominent exhaust noise, marked tire roar on some surfaces. Convertibles include a power-retractable glass windbreak that reduces top-down cockpit turbulence at higher speeds, but they're still noisier than comparable coupes.

Controls

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
7	7	7	7	6.2

Clear gauges, mostly user-friendly controls, but manual transmission's alloy shift knob can get too hot or too cold for comfort. Stylish cabin boasts high-quality materials, fine finish, nifty design details.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
4	4	4	4	5.6

Narrow footwells, but adequate head clearance for up to 6-footers. Low body build hampers entry/exit. Outward visibility restricted in ragtops, better in coupes than you might think.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
0	1	0	1	.4

Only coupes have a rear seat, and it's little more than a padded cubby, not even fit for toddlers.

Cargo Room

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
2	5	2	5	2

Coupes stow a couple's weekend luggage even with the split rear seatbacks up. Convertible trunk is small but useful. High liftover either way.

Value within Class

Base conv	225-hp cpe	225-hp conv	V6 cpe	Class Average
6	6	7	5	4.6

Any TT shines for solidity, interior dazzle, and road manners. Some rivals provide more power per dollar, but no sports car in the TT's price range offers the advantage of AWD. The DSG's compromised nature tarnishes the V6 just enough to make the 225-hp version the most-satisfying performance value in this line.

Total Score