Is the Audi TT good for families?
There are Audis galore that will make excellent family vehicles, but the TT isn't one of them — unless it's just you and one blood relative, whichever size or age they may be. Let's investigate this peculiar option of a possible family car a little further.
Not the first car that springs to mind when you mention the word "family"...
The Audi TT is a little coupé (also available as a sportster) aimed at carefree, well-heeled people who probably already have another sensible car (or two) in the garage. Due to its size, the TT is not what we'd call a practical buy. No, you won't fit a baby stroller in the boot with the back seats up, and no, the two seats at the back don't have realistic legroom; it's more like a glamorous storage shelf for your designer handbag and coat. There is little room in the (305-litre) boot as well; really just enough for two overnight bags, laptop bags, and loose items or jackets. You can fold the rear seats down to create a cargo area of up to 712 litres, which will allow you to fit in a non-bulky baby stroller as well as a nappy bag and plenty of other baby paraphernalia inside — but only if there won't be anyone riding in the back, of course.
Related: Is the new Audi Q3 the modern family's dream-SUV?
There's room for a baby
The front passenger seat has ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, so fitting a rear-facing child seat for your baby (or a front-facing seat for your toddler) should be easy as pie, unless you have a bad back, since you'll have to bend over quite far to install the seat into the low-slung coupé. Taller people will definitely curse under their breath, especially when wearing high heels. Once the baby is in its seat (or at Grandma's), the TT (or TTS) does daily life rather well, as there is a sufficient amount of storage cubbies and bottle holders inside the cabin. Just remember to deactivate the front airbag so Baby stays out of harm's way.
Related: Audi TTS review (2019): Is the third-gen facelift a pretender or a real rival?
As safe as a low-slung sports car can be...
As for safety, six airbags are standard, as are traction and stability control, and the usual host of top-class premium safety features that cars of this ilk have as standard. Even the bare-bones entry-level Audi TTs are tremendously safe. But, there is always the issue of incompatibility with higher cars. If you collide with a high-riding Toyota Prado, I can assure you that the passengers in the Prado will be in better shape after the accident. The laws of physics dictate that people in higher, heavier cars, will be better off than those in lower, lighter cars if a collision should take place.
Only the Audi TTS can be had as a brand-new car
The sportier Audi TTS is available new, but AutoTrader has an array of used Audi TT models on site. The new Audi TTS coupé quattro (below) is priced from R813 500.
What are the alternatives?
If you're looking for a smallish, sexy Audi that's a bit more suited to families, why not investigate options such as the new Audi Q3? Or even the smaller, and much more affordable Q2? SUVs are considerably more user-friendly when you've got kids in tow.
If a slick coupé is what you've got your heart set on, the Audi A5 offers considerably more space. But let's be honest: Three-door cars are not the best choice for families. Better opt for a five-door Sportback derivative, then...
Or, why not forget about the whole coupé idea and just get a Volkswagen Golf GTI instead? Its boot is massive, and you'll be the coolest mom or dad in the creche or schoolyard parking lot.
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Buying used? Read this Audi TT review from 2015, here.
Buying a used Audi TT RS? Read our review from 2018, here.
