For the Audi TT Roadster, there are three distinct equipment lines – Sport, S Line, Black Edition, TTS and TTS Black Edition models. With the exception of the TTS derivatives, each trim level comes with a choice of engine, gearbox and drivetrain combinations.
There’s not much of a hierarchy when it comes to Audi TT Roadster models, but what there is starts with the Sport which is comprehensively equipped as standard. Outside it wears 18-inch alloy wheels, illuminates its path with Xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights. There’s an electrically retractable spoiler too, plus that fully automatic fabric roof.
Inside it might look a little stark, but that’s thanks to the standard Virtual Cockpit system and its 12.3-inch screen set in front of the driver. Be warned that sat-nav isn’t standard fitment though, so you’ll need to add that to truly take advantage of the screen and its capabilities.
Manual air conditioning, with the controls neatly integrated into the vents themselves clears the dashboard fascia further while the MMI touch interface allows owners to use their fingers to control functions and input information.
Audi Music Interface allows the connection of personal music devices, DAB radio is fitted as standard and Bluetooth connectivity allows hands free calling – from the seatbelt mounted microphone.
Sports seats, in Alcantara and leather mix, are fitted while a flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel and keyless start also feature across the range. Four mode Audi Drive Select allows you to swap between different driving modes, affecting the throttle and steering response (and gearshifts if fitted with an S tronic gearbox) as well as the air conditioning and while standard-fit stop/start keeps emissions down and economy high.
Upgrade to the S Line and those wheels grow an inch to 19-inches, while there’s an option to lower the suspension by an extra 10mm – our advice is to leave it as it is, as otherwise the TT is too firm for UK roads.
The headlights get upgraded to full LED units, and sit above slightly more angular bumpers. Inside there’s some extra metal trim and S badges are smattered around the exterior and interior, whose seats now get electric lumbar adjustment.
Black Edition makes more a minor step up the trim ladder, adding unique 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, black styling details, privacy glass and black door mirrors. A Bang & Olufsen sound system and wind deflector are the sum of the equipment additions.
If you need a bit more power then the performance-oriented TTS model is the one for you. This upgrades the wheels to a different design, and suspends them with Magnetic Ride adaptive damping, with springs that sit 10mm lower than the TT Roadster Sport’s. Black painted brake calipers, and even more aggressive bumpers help it stand out further.
Inside you’ll notice the subtle TTS badging, and a new layout option for the Virtual Cockpit display, while heated Super Sports seats in leather complete the cabin.
If you’ve got the cash then TTS Black Edition is as high-spec as it gets, adding the 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, black styling details, privacy glass, black door mirrors, wind deflector and Bang & Olufsen sound system to the regular TTS equipment list.
First thing you’ll need to do is add sat-nav to your Audi TT Roadster – otherwise the Virtual Cockpit’s capabilities are massively under-used. There’s a range of other options available for the car, should your pockets be deep enough from individual paint colours, through larger alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights (which are as cool as they sound), electric seats, park assist to the excellent Bang & Olufsen stereo upgrade.
It’s worth considering one of the special packages though; the Comfort and Sound Package includes an armrest, rear parking sensors, climate control and the aforementioned B&O stereo upgrade, while the Technology Package featuring Audi Connect allows you to connect with the Internet via your phone and includes the MMI navigation Plus.
Particular to the Roadster is the Open Top Driving Package which adds heated Super Sports seats with head-level heating and electric lumbar support plus a wind deflector.
Currently Audi TT Roadster safety has yet to be tested independently by Euro NCAP – but you can expect this to happen soon. The platform underneath the TT Roadster is shared with the VW golf, SEAT Leon, Skoda Octavia and of course the Audi A3, all of which have received five stars in testing. Expect the Audi TT Roadster to repeat that statistic.
Airbags, for both passenger and driver, take care of occupants should there be an accident, and the passenger airbag can be deactivated – if you need to use a childseat. On top of the Coupe’s safety specification, the TT Roadster gains a pair of rollover bars behind the headrests, ensuring occupants aren’t injured if the vehicle is inverted.
A three stage Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is fitted as standard, allowing drivers to toggle between full assistance, a Sport mode that allows some slip before intervention and a fully off function. Audi Lane assist is fitted as standard to petrol models, though the light and rain sensors for automatically controlling the lights and windscreen wipers only appear on the S Line or TTS models.
The Matrix LED headlights are a near £1,000 option, but they’re worth it, using a series of different LEDs to bend their beams around cars in front, and oncoming, to keep more of the road illuminated around you for longer. With the sat-nav they can even anticipate corners and react before you’ve entered the bend.
You can add plenty more safety kit to your TT Roadster too, if your pockets are deep enough. From Audi Hold Assist to keep the car in position when moving off from a hill, through High Beam Assist to switch between dipped and full beam depending on traffic to Side Assist which warns of vehicles in your blindspot. Cruise Control, and parking sensors (front or rear) disappointingly remain on the options list.
It’s a two-seat sportscar, but actually Audi TT practicality is surprisingly strong. For a start the boot space totals 280 litres, and best of all dropping the top – which folds into a ‘Z’ structure – requires no extra portion of room from the luggage compartment. In contrast many rivals require practicality compromises when taking advantage of the rare sunshine moments, though the BMW 2 Series Convertible benefits from an extra pair of seats and a through-load hatch for longer items.
All that said, while the interior is beautifully constructed, and boasts of the cleanest cabin design seen on a production car, it does lack properly useful oddiment storage. Prime culprits are the door bins, which are incredibly small and especially shallow – it’s easy for some items to simply fall out while driving. The centre console has a cup-holder, and there is a decent-sized cubby with retractable lid in front of the gearlever, plus an average sized glovebox, but that’s really about all that is on offer.
Like the Coupe the TT Roadster’s cabin feels plenty spacious enough, and even with the fabric roof closed it never feels particularly claustrophobic.
Check the table below to see how the Audi TT Roadster compares to other similar cars in terms of available boot space.