2016 Audi TTS Review

When it comes to performance coupes, it's not all about size and power. Consider the 2016 Audi TTS, a compact two-door with a four-cylinder engine that will astound you with its speed and maneuverability. Standard all-wheel drive, a high-tech interior design and a unique exterior are just a few more of the reasons why we think you'll find a lot to like in this German coupe. Ready to explore it a little further?

The fully redesigned Audi TT is such an impressive car that its higher-performance sibling, the all-new 2016 Audi TTS, almost seems superfluous. After all, the last TT coupe we tested hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, pulled 0.99g on the skid pad and stopped from 60 mph in a sports-car short 103 feet. It's not like Audi skimps on creature comforts in the regular TT either; on the contrary, it's chock full of cool stuff, including an industry-first adaptive gauge cluster that seamlessly combines driver information with infotainment functions. With an entry-level model like that, who needs an upgrade?

The 2016 Audi TTS has been redesigned, but its new styling is still instantly familiar.

Well, a shopper who wants more power and better handling. That's who. Undeniably, the 2016 TTS makes significant progress on both fronts. Like the regular TT, it utilizes a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but the TTS's version makes 292 horsepower, a whopping 72-hp improvement. Then there's the TTS's trick suspension, which lowers the ride height by 10 millimeters for sharper responses. It also features adaptive magnetic dampers with four selectable ride settings. For good measure, Audi throws in the usual "S" styling touches, including silver mirror covers and quad exhaust tips, as well as standard sport seats with power-adjustable side bolsters.

Given the TTS's unique "mini-R8" looks and feature set, its most direct rival may in fact be the base TT. But there's a thriving community of high-performance vehicles in this price range, and each entrant has a sterling résumé. The Chevrolet Corvette delivers American attitude with unprecedented refinement, and its V8 engine makes every run through the gears an aural treat. The Porsche Cayman S is perhaps the closest thing to the TTS outside of Audi's stable, offering similar dimensions and styling plus textbook sports-car dynamics. The BMW M235i coupe may look a bit frumpy in this company, yet its velvety turbocharged inline-6 and athletic character prove it belongs. You're going to have a great time in any of these cars, but arguably none quite matches the 2016 Audi TTS's blend of technology, style and sophistication.

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With its excellent outward visibility and maneuverability, you can forego the optional $3,250 Tech package with its parking sensors, rearview camera and blind spot monitor. That is, unless integrated navigation is a must-have.

The 2016 Audi TTS is sold solely as a 2+2 coupe. It's offered in a single trim level with a few available options.

Standard equipment includes Audi's familiar "S" exterior trim flourishes (sport front and rear fascias and side sills, silver mirror housings, quad exhaust tips), 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires, a lowered sport-tuned adaptive suspension with magnetorheological dampers, Audi Drive Select adjustable drive settings, automatic LED headlights, LED taillights, automatic wipers, an adaptive rear spoiler, rear parking sensors, heated mirrors and keyless entry and ignition.

Inside, the TTS provides the knob-based MMI infotainment system with touchpad capability, cruise control, automatic climate control, LED ambient lighting, a tilt-and-telescoping sport steering wheel with shift paddles, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather and synthetic-suede upholstery, heated 10-way power front seats (with four-way power lumbar and power side bolsters), folding rear seatbacks (coupe only), matte aluminum interior inlays, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, voice controls and a nine-speaker sound system with a CD/DVD player, an SD-card reader, satellite radio, two USB ports and an auxiliary audio jack.

The optional Technology package adds auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, front parking sensors, a rearview camera, a navigation system and "Audi connect" telematics with 4G WiFi hotspot capability and online services.

Additional options include 20-inch wheels, red-painted brake calipers, upgraded Napa leather and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system that has more than four times the wattage of the standard setup.

The exclusive Launch Edition is limited to just 75 units and includes unique metallic black paint, special 19-inch wheels, red-painted brake calipers, a premium red Napa leather interior, piano black interior inlays, the Bang & Olufsen stereo and the Technology package.

Every 2016 Audi TTS packs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 292 hp and 280 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a six-speed automated manual with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. All-wheel drive is also standard.

Audi says the TTS coupe will sprint to 60 mph in a fleet 4.6 seconds, which would be 0.9 second quicker than the regular TT coupe's recorded time in Edmunds testing.

According to the EPA, the 2016 TTS should return 25 mpg in combined driving (23 city/27 highway). That's an oddly low highway figure for a four-cylinder engine these days, but the combined figure is still quite respectable given the high level of performance.

Standard safety features on the 2016 Audi TTS include traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front knee airbags, side curtain airbags and front side airbags that provide additional protection for occupants' heads and abdomens.

Rear parking sensors are standard on every TTS, while the optional Technology package brings front parking sensors, a rearview camera and a blind-spot monitor.

The 2016 TTS picks up where the base TT leaves off, cranking up the boost in a big way to threaten high-performance machines like the Cayman S and BMW M235i. It's not just about acceleration, though; with its exclusive lowered sport suspension and adaptive magnetic dampers, the TTS is also equipped to keep the pace in tight corners. Prodigious grip from the standard summer tires bolsters the TTS's impressive performance credentials. Nonetheless, the TTS promises to be one of the more civilized sporting cars in its price range, thanks to its ultra-refined engine, reasonably compliant ride and modest noise levels at cruising speeds.

The 2016 TTS's cabin is a triumph of contemporary style and technology, lacking only an obvious place to put your contemporary smartphone. As per Audi's norm, materials quality is exemplary, but that only begins to tell the story. The LED ambient lighting evokes a trendy cocktail lounge, while the optional Bang & Olufsen audio system (very much worth the extra cost) pumps vividly clear sound until your ears cry uncle. Delightful details are everywhere, such as the rotary bezel that controls each vent's airflow direction, rotating around the vent itself with what feels like machine-grade precision.

Note the lack of a center display screen for the 2016 Audi TTS. The configurable gauge cluster display takes its place.

On the electronics front, the standard 12.3-inch "virtual cockpit" digital gauge cluster doubles as the infotainment screen. This obviates the need for a separate central screen on the dashboard, though it also effectively takes the passenger out of the equation. When you're accessing infotainment functions, the middle area of the display dynamically expands, while the speedometer and tachometer shrink to the margins (though they never disappear). If you're worried about obsolescence down the road, don't be; the graphics are video-game crisp, and for that matter, the processing times and frame rates are video-game quick. There's a learning curve, to be sure, even though Audi still includes the familiar MMI control knob (and puts it on the center console this time, trumping the previous generation's annoying dash-mounted knob). But we got the hang of it before too long, and in case you suddenly need to bring the speedometer and tachometer back to full size, there's a handy "VIEW" button on the steering wheel that does just that. One downside, however, is that the driver is now responsible for everything regarding infotainment. If you have a passenger along with you, he or she can do little more than fiddle with the volume.

In terms of comfort, the TTS's cabin feels surprisingly airy and spacious, with plenty of room in all dimensions for taller folks. Well, in the front row, at least; the coupe's backseat is strictly for personal items, or perhaps very small children in a very tight pinch. If it were our TTS, we'd likely leave the rear seatbacks folded flat, which opens up significantly more cargo space than the standard 12.0 cubic feet.