Audi TT Roadster (2015-2023) Review

By the time this final TT Roadster arrived in 2015, Audi had already refined the TT formula, first created in the 1990s, into something very distinctive. The car had long been associated with design-led appeal rather than raw sports-car thrills, and this version leant into that identity rather than trying to become something it was not.

That turned out to be a strength. The TT Roadster offered exactly the sort of open-top ownership experience many buyers actually want: compact dimensions, strong build quality, enough performance to feel exciting and none of the day-to-day intimidation or compromise of a more focused sports car.

It also managed to feel special without becoming exhausting. Some convertibles demand that you accept poor refinement, awkward cabins or a permanently compromised driving experience for the sake of style. The TT Roadster did a much better job than most of balancing glamour with usability, which is why it still makes so much sense as a used buy.

Audi no longer builds the TT Roadster and there's no direct successor in the current range, so this car now stands on its own as a used car rather than as an outgoing version of a live model. That gives it a slightly different kind of appeal now because it's not simply an older Audi convertible, it's the final version of a familiar design icon.

For most used buyers, the sweet spot is the 40 TFSI in Sport trim. It gives the TT Roadster all the performance most owners will realistically need, while keeping running costs and purchase prices more sensible than the quicker versions.

If you want more pace, the 45 TFSI is the obvious step up, and if you value extra traction in poor weather the quattro all-wheel-drive version has its attractions.

Trim matters too. Sport is the trim most buyers should start with because it keeps the ride more compliant and the costs more sensible. S line looks sharper, but larger wheels and sportier settings can chip away at everyday comfort.

Used Audi TT Roadster prices now start from around £14,500 for older diesel and lower-powered petrol versions, while later facelifted cars, higher trims and TTS examples sit notably higher.

There's enough choice on the used market to be selective, which is important to note because options make a real difference here. Navigation, climate control, the wind deflector and wheel size are all worth paying attention to.

For many buyers, the best value sits in the middle of the range with a well-kept 40 TFSI rather than at the extremes.

The BMW Z4 is the most obvious direct alternative if you want a more traditional rear-wheel-drive roadster, while the Mazda MX-5 remains the purer and cheaper way into open-top motoring.

The Mercedes-Benz SLC is another option if you specifically want a folding metal roof, while the Porsche 718 Boxster is the more focused choice if outright driver appeal matters more than usability.

The TT Roadster’s strength is that it still feels like one of the easiest convertibles to recommend as an all-rounder. It may not be the most dramatic option, but it's one of the most complete.

The TT Roadster is less practical than the TT Coupe, but by convertible standards it still makes a decent fist of everyday usability. Up front there's enough room for two adults to sit comfortably, and the cabin feels less cramped than some open-top rivals.

The boot is the main compromise. At 280 litres it's useful enough for weekend bags, a small shop or a couple of soft holdalls, but it's not especially deep and the opening is not the most accommodating for bulkier items.

Even so, the boot space doesn’t change with the roof up or down, which is genuinely useful and makes the car easier to live with than some rivals that make you choose between luggage and fresh air.

The TT Roadster still feels practical enough for the sort of car it is. You wouldn’t choose it to carry lots of people or luggage, but it's less restrictive than some more overtly sports-focused alternatives.

The Audi TT Roadster measures 4,191mm long, 1,832mm wide and 1,353mm high. That makes it a compact roadster by modern standards but in practice, that size is a real advantage. It helps make the car easy to park, easy to thread through traffic and far less intimidating to use every day than larger alternatives.

The TT Roadster uses the same distinctive Virtual Cockpit digital driver display layout as the Coupe, which means the dashboard stays remarkably clean and all of the key information sits directly in front of the driver.

That approach still looks good now and gives the cabin a more focused feel than many rivals. The drawback is that navigation was tied to option packs on many versions, so plenty of used examples won’t have it.

Even so, the TT Roadster still feels more thoughtfully designed than many cars that followed it, because everything is focused so clearly around the driver.

Material quality is exceptional for a car of this size and price point. The dashboard, vents, switchgear and trim all feel dense and expensive, and the whole cabin has the sort of precision that Audi does better than most.

That matters even more in a convertible, because the interior is so often part of the visual appeal. The TT Roadster still feels like a special place to sit years on.

You’re most likely to choose between the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI in later cars, though earlier examples broaden the picture with a 2.0 TDI diesel and different outputs of the 2.0 TFSI along the way.

The 40 TFSI is the key engine in the range for most buyers. It has enough performance to make the TT Roadster feel properly brisk, while keeping running costs within more sensible bounds than the quicker versions.

The 45 TFSI is the stronger option if you want more punch, while the TTS Roadster sits separately as the faster, more focused step up. The old diesel made sense on economy, but the TT Roadster is much more convincing as a petrol convertible.

The TT Roadster feels compact, tidy and easy to manoeuvre on the road. Around town it's more approachable than many sports cars, and the light controls help make it an easy car to live with every day.

On a flowing road, the Audi feels accurate and secure. Grip is strong, body control is well judged and the whole car inspires confidence quickly.

What it doesn’t really give you is the rear-drive playfulness that you’d get from alternatives such as the Z4 or MX-5. The TT Roadster majors more on composure and all-weather reassurance.

Its refinement is another strength. With the roof up, the cabin is impressively well insulated for this type of car, and even with the roof down the wind management is respectable enough for relaxed touring.

The TT Roadster was not separately tested by independent safety organisation Euro NCAP, but the closely related Coupe scored four stars out of five in 2014. That was the time when a new, tougher testing regime was introduced that put more emphasis on active safety systems such as autonomous emergency braking, which the TT did not offer.

The Roadster still came with the core safety kit you would expect, plus rollover protection and a strengthened windscreen frame. As always, it's worth checking the exact specification of any used example because some assistance features were optional.

Fuel economy is one of the TT Roadster’s stronger points relative to more traditional sports cars. The 40 TFSI is the sensible all-round choice, while the quattro 45 TFSI and TTS are noticeably thirstier. That said, you’re unlikely to get 40mpg out of any of them.

Older diesel versions were more impressively efficient, but the Roadster is much more convincing as a petrol sports car.

Any remaining manufacturer warranty will depend on the age of the car, but Audi Approved Used examples remain the most reassuring place to start.

Audi Approved Used currently includes a minimum of a one-year Audi Warranty, one year of roadside assistance and a 30-day exchange plan, which adds useful reassurance on a used premium convertible.

Audi servicing is generally straightforward, but on used examples it's still worth checking the history carefully, especially on higher-performance versions and cars fitted with the S tronic gearbox.

Insurance varies across the range, but even the more mainstream versions sit firmly in premium-convertible territory with high insurance groups across the line-up.

The 40 TFSI is the easiest point of entry, while the stronger 45 TFSI and TTS climb more quickly. As always, it's worth checking quotes before you buy.

For most Audi TT Roadsters registered on or after 1 April 2017, the standard annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED or road tax) rate is £200, or £17.50 a month by Direct Debit.

Some higher-spec cars originally crossed the £40,000 list-price threshold, which means they may also have been subject to the Expensive Car Supplement for five years from the second licence. That's more relevant on later, richer trims than on earlier mainstream versions, and they’ll cost you £640 a year.

Cars registered before April 2017 are subject to different tax criteria. Depending on the model you go for, you’ll pay between £170 and £325 a year.