Audi TT 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi TT 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi Audi TT X Auto

Unknown 4:23:00 AM Add Comment

First launched at the end of the nineties, the Audi TT quickly became a top-selling coupe. It’s blend of stunning looks, a classy interior and reasonable running costs made it a car to be seen driving. Now, for 2015, there’s an all-new third-generation model, with sharper lines and a more aggressive nose. It’s dripping with high-tech German engineering, especially if you go for the S line trim we have here, with full-LED lights front and rear. It looks the part then, but TT’s have been criticized in the past for being all mouth and no trousers, so can this one drive as well as its looks suggest? Well, it’s certainly quick. This is the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol with 227bhp and Quattro four-wheel drive, and it’ll hit 62mph in 5.3 seconds with little fuss. 

With just front-wheel drive and the same engine it takes six seconds dead, while the diesel Ultra model takes 7.1. This petrol sounds pretty good too, with a throaty rasp at lower revs and a percussive crack when the S tronic gearbox fires in another ratio, with little pause in acceleration. A manual is also available in the diesel and with the front-drive 2.0-liter petrol, but this auto is standard in the Quattro car and suits the TT extremely well. Economy of 44mpg isn’t too bad, but if you cover lots of miles, the diesel Ultra is undoubtedly the one to go for. Despite its top speed of 150mph it can return 67 miles per gallon and emits 110g/km of CO2, less than many super-minis. Every version comes with a ‘Progressive Steering’ system, turning the front wheels more quickly the further you turn the wheel.

So, on the motorway it’s pretty relaxed, but turn into a corner and the nose dives towards the Apex, making the TT feel much more agile than before. It also remains almost completely flat through the tightest bends, with minimal body roll and huge amounts of grip. Most drivers will get the sense the TT can cope with whatever they can throw at it, especially when Quattro is fitted, but this can leave driving purists wishing they felt more involved in the process of going quickly. Drop down into the figure hugging seats and TT could stand for totally techtastic instead of Tourist Trophy. In place of a traditional instrument cluster, there’s a full-bleed 12.1-inch screen with serious wow factor. There’s so much space, you can switch between a classic view, with full-size gauges, to infotainment view, where the dials shrink to the sides, bringing information to the fore. 

The innovation doesn’t stop there, the climate controls have been moved into the air vents themselves, for an ultra-minimalist look. Even the few buttons Audi deems fit to keep on the dash will please gadget lovers, allowing you to deploy or retract the spoiler and choose a driving mode to suit your mood. Think of the TT as a two-seater and it’s quite practical, with a large space for your phone, a cup holder and decent glovebox, while the large hatchback opens to reveal a 305-litre boot.

But, the rear seats are really only suitable for children and bags of shopping. Fold them down and the boot grows to 712 litres. The Audi TT has always sold thanks to its stylish looks, and this latest version still makes you feel special. We love its high-tech interior, which isn’t just gimmicky, it actually works brilliantly well. It might not rival the best sports cars for gritty driving feel, but it’s still the best TT yet to drive. It’s also a car you can use every day of the year with few compromises, and regardless of the weather if Quattro is fitted. Could you see yourself in an Audi TT?

Audi A6 Allroad Quattro 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi A6 Allroad Quattro 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi Audi A6 Allroad X Auto

Unknown 4:07:00 AM Add Comment

If you want lots of space, a luxurious cabin and some off-roading ability, buying a large 4x4 like a Discovery may seem the obvious choice. But what if you don’t like the image of SUVs, or the way they drive? Well you could choose this Audi A6 Allroad instead. Boasting a raised ride-height and Quattro four-wheel drive, it can tackle fields and muddy tracks, but back on the road it’s far more ground hugging and fun to drive than your average 4x4. Starting from £45k the Allroad is a premium alternative to the Insignia Country Tourer and Volvo XC70. And while an estate car’s headroom might not be quite as generous, the Allroad certainly isn’t lacking in any other department. This is a superb interior, with every visible surface covered in top-notch materials. 

If you don’t like these optional inlays, don’t worry, more than ten other types of aluminium and wood are available, although the makeover will set you back between £385 and £1,550. In fact, this test car is loaded with options and boasts a head-up display, massaging and ventilated front seats and even a £6,300 Bang & Olufsen sound system. In all, they take its cost from £50,000 to over £80,000, but most of these options are luxury rather than essential items. This is definitely first-class travel, with bags of adjustment for both the steering wheel and seats making it easy to get comfortable in the front. Taller passengers shouldn’t struggle in the back either, I’m 5ft 11 and have lots of knee and headroom behind my own driving position. 

Beneath the hatchback there’s a generous 565-litre boot, which is not only large but also a usefully square shape, with no wheel arch intrusions for things to get snagged on. The rear seats fold flat, offering 1,680 litres up to the roof, 80 litres more than a Volvo XC70. Because this is the Allroad, it’s fitted with an air suspension system normally found in 4x4s. There are four settings for raising and lowering the car, improving handling on its bottom setting and providing extra ground clearance when it’s lifted up. In normal driving around 40 per cent of power goes to the front wheels and 60 per cent to the rear and the Allroad feels very stable in corners, with a surplus of grip and little body roll. Like most Audi’s though, we wish the steering had a bit more feel. 

Every engine has a 3.0-litre capacity, with diesel options ranging from 215bhp to a mid-range 268bhp version. This range-topping BiTurbo TDI has 316bhp, sprints from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds and emits a surprising and rather pleasing burble thanks to some clever exhaust trickery. Luckily, being a diesel it should still return around 42mpg. While many see 4x4s as a status symbol, there are those who prefer the image and drive of a subtle estate. For them, the A6 Allroad should offer an almost unique package. It has brisk performance, the off-road potential to tackle most sticky situations and enough boot space for all your sports gear. 

The only potential problem is the price, with the Volvo XC70 offering similar versatility and boot space from £34k, while the Allroad starts at £45k. Still, the rugged A6 estate just manages to feel special enough to justify its premium, with a stunning interior and the latest in driving and infotainment technology. 

Audi A3 e-tron 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi A3 e-tron 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi Audi A3 e-tron X Auto

Unknown 3:16:00 PM Add Comment

At first glance this might look like a well-specced Audi A3, but hidden behind the front badge is a plug socket, because this is in fact an E-Tron plug-in hybrid. With a full charge its electric motor can cover a range of 31 miles, after which its 1.4-liter petrol engine takes over, giving it an overall range of more than 550 miles. All this technology doesn’t come cheap – its £34,950 to be precise – but a £5,000 government grant, 5% company car tax and low running costs will redress the balance for some. Unlike the Vauxhall Ampere and BMW i3, the A3 E-Tron’s interior is very conventional, so it’s less quirky, but it’s also lovely place to spend time. The minimalist wing-shaped dashboard is minimalist and stylish, there’s an MMI controller down here for the sat-nav and infotainment system and these air-vents can even diffuse the airflow or direct it into an eye-watering jet. 

The main differences are this button marked EV, the silence when you press the start button and the unconventional gauges. Here, instead of revs, you see the percentage of power you are using, whether it be just the electric or petrol motor, or both working together. Passengers in the front and back have plenty of space, particularly as the E-Tron is only available as a five-door Sportback, with decent rear legroom and headroom and lots of standard equipment. There’s a trade-off in the boot, though, where luggage space shrinks by 100 litres to 280, the same as you’ll find in a VW Polo, to make way for the battery pack. If you plan on charging out and about, you’ll also need this large cable carrier. 

So it looks conventional, and apart from the lack of noise, the e-tron’s driving experience is fairly normal too. It takes four hours to charge the battery pack from a normal plug, or around half the time if you use a charging point. In EV mode it’s brisk enough, with plenty of acceleration from a standstill, and the petrol engine won’t cut in at speeds below 80mph. You can also choose to drive in an automatic mode, where the car juggles both power sources depending on your driving style. Here the petrol motor can also provide support when you need more performance, and with both motors working together, the E-Tron can reach 62mph in 7.6 seconds. I also particularly like the setting where you can save the battery power. 

So, at the start of my commute, for example, I can use the petrol engine, but as I get closer to the CarKeys office in Liverpool I can switch to full EV mode to save fuel in city traffic. Audi claims an economy figure of 176mpg, but this will vary depending on how much of your journey is taken care of by electric power. CO2 emissions of just 37g/km of CO2 make it free to tax and place it in the lowest 5% company car tax band. We think Audi’s first plug-in hybrid will appeal to drivers who want a green car, without necessarily shouting about it, or driving something out of the ordinary. You can simply plug it in at night, make use of the cheap electric power, and know the petrol engine is there to provide extra performance or range. It’s expensive to buy privately, but will make most sense to business drivers, for whom the A3 e-tron will cost less each month than an equivalent diesel. Could you see yourself with an e-tron on the driveway? 

Audi A1 Sport-back 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi A1 Sport-back 2015 Car Auto Review

Audi Audi A1 Sport-back X Auto

Unknown 3:03:00 PM Add Comment

For 2015 the ultra-fashionable Audi A1 super-mini has been refreshed, with equipment upgrades and even the option of Audi’s first three-cylinder petrol engine. I know, you’re thinking it does look very similar, and while its design hasn’t drastically changed, it didn’t really need to. Instead, Audi has improved kit levels to keep its demanding customers happy, and improved the engine line-up for lower running costs. The main visual change is the large single-frame grille that’s become an Audi trademark. The A1 boasts an interior the likes of which hadn’t been seen in a super-mini just a decade ago, with the same level of quality you’ll find in Audi’s larger models.

Changes are minimal, but there’s now more chrome detailing and gloss black plastic, along with new upholstery options. This being the five-door Sport-back, access to the rear seats is more than adequate, and for more information on the boot check out our 2014 review. There are three trim levels: SE, Sport and S line, and alloy wheels, air-con and a 6.5-inch display are all fitted as standard. Sport models now get Audi Drive Select bringing different driving modes as well as preparation for sat-nav via the SD card slot. Go for an S line like this one and Xenon headlamps are now standard, along with LED surrounds and rear lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sports body kit and stiffer suspension. 

Across the range a Tech Pack is also offered bringing in-car internet, a music interface and MMI-controlled sat-nav, as well as a Comfort pack, which now adds an enhanced trip computer and auto main beam to the cruise control, auto lights and wipers and rear parking sensors included previously. Take to the road and the biggest difference is the steering, which is now an electric set-up instead of hydraulic, saving fuel. Its weighting changes depending on your speed, so it’s very light for parking and heavier on the motorway. It’s still a little lacking in feel though, so it won’t reward you quite like a hot hatch or even its rival, the MINI hatch. There’s plenty of grip, but it sadly just lacks the grin factor. The seven-speed s tronic automatic gearbox is impressive though, with fast changes and it’s available across the range. 

Audi has made the suspension a touch more supple, but we’d still recommend deselecting the S line setup and going for the softer option instead, it’s much more comfortable. Under the bonnet, there’s the option of Audi’s first 3-cylinder petrol, a turbocharged 1.0-liter with 94bhp capable of returning 67.3mpg. This replaces the 1.2. Stick with petrol and there’s also a 1.4-litre TFSI with power up to 123bhp and the 147bhp version we’re driving now. This engine boasts cylinder on demand tech, shutting down two cylinders when you don’t need them. 

Tax costs just £30 annually and 58.9mpg is possible. The 1.6-litre diesel now gets 114bhp with economy up to 80mpg and no road tax thanks to CO2 emissions of 92g/km. Audi didn’t need to change the A1’s design, so it has concentrated on bringing it even more in line with its large models by updating its technology instead. You now get more equipment for your money and the A1 should cost less to run, which is a win win in our books. It might not be quite as exciting to drive as it looks, but the A1 is still a great city car which is equally at home on longer trips and out in the countryside. Tempted by the Audi A1? 

Audi A3 2013 Car Auto Review

Audi A3 2013 Car Auto Review

Audi X Auto

Unknown 4:57:00 PM Add Comment

If you know Audi then you will know what it is like when it comes to refreshing models...well you will know that when it does refresh a model you can never really tell the difference – and that goes for the new Audi A3 hatchback as well. Now that’s not to say it isn’t a great looking car, in fact it is one of the best looking family hatch’s out there, it just looks very similar to the previous model – but that’s just Audi for you. If you do look really closely or you are an avid Audi fan then you will probably notice a few of the aesthetic changes, but the real changes are a bit more technical – in fact, this iteration of the A3 is actually built on a whole new chassis than the previous model and has shed 80kg in weight. What I love about the Audi A3 is that even though you know it is a hatchback it still feels like an Audi inside, it has that distinct German quality about it with a well built dashboard and luxury feel materials. 

There is also a surprising amount of space and plenty of storage compartments. One of the main features of the Audi A3’s dash is its pop-up LCD infotainment system, which rises from the dash by the push of a button. Another cool feature is the voice control system which acts a bit like Ford’s SYNC technology. You basically give the car common a demand like and it does it for you. This voice activation and infotainment system is standard as well, along with air con, steering wheel mounted controls and MP3 connectivity. In the back there is as much space you could possibly need for a hatchback. However, the head room can be a bit awkward, especially for someone as tall as me. 

The Sportback version of the A3 fixes this. The Sportback also adds two more doors to make it a bit more practical when getting in and out. Thanks to the new chassis, the Audi A3’s boot is bigger than ever, with a nice wide opening as well as a handy removable boot base. The seats also fold down to allow an almost completely flat loading area. The Audi A3 offers a great range of engines, many of which have been revamped since the previous range. A 2.0-litre diesel unit is one of these reworked engines and the changes are definitely noticeable as it delivers quite a hefty power output of 141bhp and can return up to around 70mpg. Audi has re-jigged the suspension on the new A3 and it is now less firm than the previous model, which actually makes it a bit more fun to drive. It also delivers great grip and allows the car to have a bit more of a sportier feel.

As with many Audi’s there is a sports suspension available, but to be honest I think the sports suspension is a step back compared to the standard – so I suggest you go with the standard instead. In terms of fun factor, the Audi is a joy to drive – but, like always, the reputation and downright ability of the BMW range dawns on it – and I think the BMW 1 Series comes out on top if I am honest. Audi is a desired brand, and the A3 is a particularly nice car, so resale should be on your side. 

Now, you are looking at around £20,000, which is around 3 or 4 grand more expensive than the VW Golf. However, the A3 is cheap to run and quite fun to drive. We give the Audi A3 four out of 5 stars. Audi’s famed style is of course one of the selling points of the A3 – and when coupled with its luxury interior, it makes for a very desirable car. We give its appeal 4 out of five stars. Loads of room for rear passengers and plenty of space in the boot. The Audi A3’s practicality far surpasses it hatchback label. We give its practicality 4 out of five stars. 

The A3 offers a great choice of engines, some with economy in mind and others with performance. This can be hard to find in some hatchbacks. We give its performance 4 out of five stars. A new suspension means the A3 is as agile and reliable as ever on the road, so much in fact that a sports suspension isn’t even necessary to really enjoy yourself out on the road. We give its ride and handling 4 out of five stars. With economical engine options on offer and the prestigious badge of the Audi brand, the A3 is both relatively cheap to run and will retain its residual value very well. We give its ownership 4 out of five stars. So, with all of its luxurious credentials it’s hard to believe that the Audi A3 is actually a hatchback. But when it does come to being a hatchback, the A3 pulls it off with flying colours. We give the Audi A3 an overall rating of 4 out of five stars.