Used Audi TT Roadster 2015-2023 review

What's the used Audi TT like?

Remember that kid at school who was annoyingly good at everything, like a Usain Bolt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Albert Einstein rolled into one? Well, you might experience some déjà vu when reading about the Audi TT Roadster.

This is the third-generation model, following on from the 2006-2014 Audi TT Roadster and 1999-2006 Audi TT Roadster. As well as the convertible version we're focusing on here, the TT is also available as a coupé, simply known as the Audi TT.

Overview

An extremely well-rounded product, the Audi TT Roadster is great to drive, classy inside and affordable to buy and run. As used convertibles go, this one is very easy to recommend. 

Pros

• Fabulous interior design and great use of premium materials
• Crisp handling that will please a keen driver
• Efficient engines across the range

Cons

• Stingy equipment when compared with some of its rivals
• Some wind noise at speed
• Not the cheapest convertible to buy used

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Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 40 Sport Roadster S Tronic Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£11,990

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 45 Black Edition Roadster S Tronic quattro Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£15,989

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 45 S line Roadster S Tronic quattro Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £39,155

£19,999

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 40 Sport Roadster S Tronic Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£19,999

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 40 S line Roadster S Tronic Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£20,995

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 40 S line Roadster S Tronic Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£21,995

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 40 S line Roadster S Tronic Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£22,295

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 45 Black Edition Roadster S Tronic Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£22,750

Audi TT

2.0 TFSI 45 Sport Roadster S Tronic quattro Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£23,090

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Engines and performance: There's a lot of engines to choose from, ranging from a 178bhp 1.8-litre petrol to a 242bhp 2.0-litre petrol – that's discounting the 306bhp (upped to 316bhp for 2021) 2.0-litre petrol in the TTS and the 395bhp 2.5-litre petrol in the Audi TT RS. A 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel option is also available, if you must.

Even that entry-level petrol provides good performance, with 0-62mph taking 7.0sec. There is a 227bhp 2.0-litre petrol that'll scare hot hatches with its 6.2sec time, while the S does it in 4.5sec and the RS in 3.8sec, making them seriously quick.

Ride and handling: Under the skin, the TT Roadster (and TT coupé) is essentially a highly modified 2013-2020 Audi A3 and, as a result, the model is either front or four-wheel drive, the latter being given the 'Quattro' name.

Whichever version you choose, the TT excels in corners, feeling taught, precise and light on its feet. It's good fun, with plenty of grip and composure to give you confidence. Slow steering stunts agility to a certain extent, but there's little else to fault.

True, some keen drivers will remain unsatisfied and understandably so, because even the S and RS lack a final ounce of driver engagement – the more old-school, rear-wheel-drive kind present in the rival Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GT86/Toyota GR86. Just know you won't see the TT's effortless performance from those models – you'll need to rev out their engines to get the best from them. They're a step down in luxury, too. An excellent compromise is the Porsche Boxster, but you'll need a sizeable budget to acquire one of those.

The TT's ride is another feather in its cap. It’s as firm as you’d expect from a sports car, but you'd struggle to call it uncomfortable, making it perfectly usable both around town and on longer journeys. Of course, you'll be dealing with more wind and road noise than the vast majority of coupés, but that's to be expected of this kind of car.

Interior and practicality: Inside, there’s the sort of beautiful interior we’ve come to expect from a TT. Large, round vents house the heating controls; there’s no central screen, because everything’s controlled using the beautiful Virtual Cockpit display – a huge screen located where you’d normally find the dials that can be customised to give you all the information you want to see.

It works beautifully and is easy to find your way around; the same goes for the rest of the interior, which is very well laid out and feels top notch in terms of quality. What’s more, there’s plenty of space for two people, a decent amount of space for their oddments and one of the largest boots you’ll find in any two-seat drop-top. It all adds up to a great all-round package.

Trims and equipment: All but the most powerful of these engines can be teamed with your choice of three main trims. Sport is the most basic but still gets air conditioning, part-Alcantara seats and xenon headlights. S line, meanwhile, adds automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, bigger wheels and a more aggressive bodykit, while Black Edition adds, as its name suggests, black styling accents. The TTS, meanwhile, features adaptive suspension, heated front seats and leather upholstery. Keep in mind, though, that none of these models got sat-nav or climate control as standard; original owners had to pay extra for those.

"Out of the three generations of Audi TT, this third-generation car is my favourite. I think it's the only generation that gets the following three aspects nailed: driving fun, sharp looks and premium quality." – George Hill, Used Cars Editor

Interested in buying a used Audi TT Roadster? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Ownership cost

What used Audi TT will I get for my budget?

Prices for the third-generation Audi TT Roadster currently start at around £8000 for one with lots of miles or previous history of accident damage. Up the money to around £12,000 and you should find a clean 2016 or 2017 model bought from a franchised dealer. Expect to spend about £16,000 to £22,000 on a good 2018 or 2019 TT with minimal mileage bought from a main dealer and between £22,000 and £24,000 on a 2020 or 2021 car, or a little more on a 2022 or 2023 model. Four-wheel-drive ‘quattro’ versions carry a slight premium over two-wheel drive examples. The TTS starts at around £15,000, while the RS shoots up to around £27,000.

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Our recommendations

Which used Audi TT should I buy?

Engine

Although the 1.8-litre petrol engine is great, 2.0-litre petrol cars are more common and available for the same price. The 2.0 (of which our favourite is the punchy 227bhp variant) is barely any less fuel efficient than the 1.8, plus it's both quicker and more fun to drive. It’s the one we’d go for.

Specification:

Pair the 2.0-litre petrol engine with entry-level Sport trim and you’ll have an amazing bargain on your hands.

Our favourite Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI Sport

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Audi TT?

The Porsche Boxster sits atop the two-seat, drop-top, posh sports car tree, both in terms of the driving experience and, well, price.

The BMW Z4 is a little more sedate, meanwhile, and not quite as crisp or taut as the TT to drive. Nevertheless, its prices are attractive and if you like the design, it's worth a good look.

As we mentioned, the TT isn't an old-school sports car, so you should turn to the Mazda MX-5 and (coupé-only) Toyota GT86/Toyota GR86 if rear-wheel drive, satisfying manual gearboxes and truly engaging handling is your thing. The Abarth 124 Spider is a similar proposition, too.

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Interested in buying a used Audi TT Roadster? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.