The original Audi TT did great things for buyers’ perception of the brand – even if the reality didn’t quite live up to the perception.
That Audi is now offering a diesel-powered TT is an indication that Audi senses that ‘performance’ and ‘diesel’ can be mentioned in the same breath. For the TT TDI is not short of performance.
A headline figure of 7.7sec makes the diesel-powered TT a fraction under two seconds slower than the 3.2 V6 TT we tested in 2006, and about a second slower than the 2.0 TFSI, but completing a 0-60mph sprint doesn’t really play to the TT TDI’s strengths.
Look instead at the in-gear times for an indication of the real-world performance: 50-70mph in fourth takes 4.9sec, just 0.6sec longer than the V6 TT.
With common-rail technology, the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine is smooth for a diesel, and delivers its best between 1750rpm and 2500rpm.
Stopping distances of 48.8m and 59.2m for our dry and wet test are perfectly respectable, and nothing short of what we expect for a Volkswagen Group product.
With a 40kg advantage over the V6 petrol TT, the diesel is more willing to turn in and stays true to your chosen line for longer. It rides a little better too. While there remains a little firmness over more extreme ridges or manhole covers, the rebound damping mixes flex with control sufficiently well to maintain an acceptable level of comfort.
What the TT TDI cannot replicate is the agility of the 110kg lighter 2.0 TFSI or the adjustability and sheer grip of the TTS. It presents a drive that is secure, responsive to your inputs and ultimately sufficiently quick, if lacking the interaction of a true driver’s car.
Like all TTs, the weak point to the TDI’s dynamic make-up is its electrically assisted steering. The problem is not accuracy but rather the variability in assistance and the absence of feel. Greater steering feel would make the TT more satisfying to drive at any speed.