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2018 Audi TT RS

Starting at $65,875

9/10 C/D RATING
Specs
2018 Audi TT RS
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
9/10 C/D RATING

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  • Highs Unusual and alluring powertrain, innovative infotainment solution, speed, speed, and more speed.
  • Lows Missing coveted premium features, not as communicative as some competitors.
  • Verdict Big power and awesome speed make it an alternative to the greats in this class, but it's still not the all-around champ.
By Eric Stafford

Overview

The Audi TT RS brings raw power and some likable rough edges to the otherwise somewhat dispassionate TT model lineup. Although the RS version accelerates like a Roman candle and sticks to the road as if its tires were dipped in Gorilla Glue, other cars in this class—such as the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and the Porsche 718 Cayman S—are more communicative, have sharper handling, or both. Still, the Audi has a hyperactive turbocharged five-cylinder engine, a lightning-fast automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive that together deliver brain-scrambling off-the-line acceleration and similarly gratifying passing runs. Plus, its hatchback body means that there's plenty of room for cargo, especially when the tiny rear seats are folded flat for maximum efficiency. An updated 2019 TT RS is on its way to showrooms soon.

What's New for 2018?

The RS is new to the TT lineup for 2018, injecting a dose of raucous power into the otherwise rather docile family. The RS distinguishes itself from lesser TTs with a honeycomb grille, beefy air intakes, a fixed rear wing, and large oval exhaust pipes, not to mention a crackling five-beat exhaust note from its five-cylinder engine.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The TT RS comes in just one version, and standard features include: adaptive dampers, a virtual cockpit in-dash infotainment display, and heated leather front seats with diamond-pattern stitching. We'd add the Black Optic package's 20-inch wheels and summer tires, exclusive black exterior accents, and sport exhaust system. The Technology package is pricey but brings blind-spot monitoring, Audi's navigation system (with integrated Google Maps view), and a 4G LTE mobile hotspot.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Blazing acceleration, supremely stable when carving up corners.
Dislikes: Feels a little bloodless even during hard driving.

The TT RS's 400-hp 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine is unusual and alluring, and it makes a happy triumvirate with the standard Quattro all-wheel drive and snappy seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Passing power is astonishing: The seven-speed is more than willing to downshift as soon as you demand extra power, and the TT RS surges forward with such immediacy and force that you may think you've been sucked into a wormhole. Careful modulation of the throttle pedal transforms this athlete into a comfortable cruiser.

When equipped with its standard adaptive dampers, the TT RS feels stable and planted on the road—even when that road turns wickedly twisty—so even relatively inexperienced drivers can feel confident tossing it through corners at supralegal speeds. The version we tested felt rock solid all the way up to its limit, but that limit is significantly lower than those of the Corvette or Cayman. While an edgier suspension—sans adaptive dampers— is available, the setup makes it noticeably more difficult to feel when the TT RS is about to reach its cornering limits. Unless you plan on spending lots of time on a racetrack, we suggest passing on the Dynamic Plus package.

2018 Audi TT RS frontView Photos
Michael Simari

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Don't let the uncompromising performance fool you; the TT RS's turbo five-cylinder is quite efficient. Our test car hit 31 mpg on the highway during our real-world testing, beating its EPA highway rating of 29 mpg.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Comfortable and well-designed cabin, slick infotainment integration, excellent outward visibility.
Dislikes: Lilliputian rear seats, relatively high driving position, desirable options are missing or cost extra.

Inside, leather seats with diamond stitching are standard, as is the eye-catching, well-integrated aluminum trim of the cabin's design. However, absent from the car's hefty price tag were ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and a memory function for the driver and front-passenger seats. In our experience, the TT's rear seats are all but unusable—except as a place to throw gym bags or a briefcase.

Working with limited space, the TT RS's infotainment screen is not in the center of the dashboard but in the space traditionally occupied by the gauge cluster. This arrangement is attractive and easy to use, and, as in other Audis, is controlled by a rotary knob mounted on the center console. MMI functionality can be expanded with the optional navigation, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

With the back row folded (as it should always rightly be—no kind person would subject a friend to the RS's back seat), we stuffed nine carry-on cases behind the front seats, making the TT RS by far the most useful vehicle in this class. As with many cars of this sort, unwieldy cargo will find no quarter—the cargo compartment is relatively large but not very tall, and the liftback rear opening is long but narrow.

2018 Audi TT RS interiorView Photos
Michael Simari

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The TT RS hasn't been crash-tested by either U.S. ratings agency—not an unusual omission for cars in this class. There's not much in the way of available driver-assistance tech for the TT RS, either. Still, this is a car designed with driving, not mindless cruising, in mind. The omissions don't bother us, but some shoppers may disagree. Key safety features include:

  • Standard front and rear parking sensors
  • Available blind-spot monitoring

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Audi's warranty coverage is roughly in line with most competitors, but the Corvette and the Jaguar F-type both offer more complimentary scheduled maintenance.

  • Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
  • Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles

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