2016 Audi TT: First Drive

What is it: 2016 Audi TT two-seat sports coupe or convertible

Price: Starting at $43,850 for coupe, $47,350 for the ragtop; TTS will start around $52,850.

Competitors: BMW Z4, Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Bens SLK-Class

Alternatives: Cadillac ATS Coupe, Jaguar F-Type

Pros: A better chassis, with more potential for fun; a surprisingly advanced cockpit

Cons: Some new interior bits that are ergonomically challenged

Would I Buy It With My Own Money? I would, in roadster form — the better to show onlookers how awesome the virtual cockpit is.

As the saying goes, good things come in small packages. And in the case of the 2016 Audi TT, great things come in small packages. All-new from the ground up and brandishing a slew of pioneering technology, the third-generation Audi TT can finally be considered a true sports car, not just a style icon.

The TT hasn’t always been great, particularly as a driver’s car. In its previous two iterations, it felt less like a sports car than a Volkswagen Golf hiding under an upside-down bathtub. Having moved to the VW’s flexible MQB modular chassis, which Audi claims allows many types of cars to be built and tuned in more unique ways, the TT has come into its own for 2016, not only making a huge leap in “premiumness,” but also exhibiting a newfound eagerness to play. It’s as if the larger, faster Audi R8 supercar swooped in and gave its little brother pointers on how to dance, how to play sports, and how to get laid.