Be honest, if you’re thinking of buying an TT TDI, has it really got that much to do with a desire for extra mid-range punch, or is it that you want to limit the outflow of fuel funds from your wallet?

Reason for asking is that Audi has a perfectly good TT in the shape of the base 2.0T. It may not have 4wd (nor does it need it), but it’s faster, cheaper to the tune of £1140 and 75kg lighter. We think it’s rather good.

There are other factors at work here, of course. Being in road tax band C means the cleaner TDI will save you £50, plus the diesel does 53.3mpg, the petrol just 36.7mpg. Actually that’s rather misleading – we’ve usually got around 30mpg from the petrol, while this TDI hovered around the 40mpg mark. Quite why Audi has lumbered the diesel with the extra weight and drivetrain losses of the quattro is a moot point, too.

Leaving that aside, let’s see what Audi has created here – can the TT still call itself a sports car? It’s still detectably a diesel on start- up but doesn’t deliver the normal clatter – it’s more of a subtle thrum and isn’t unpleasant to listen to. Whatever Audi’s done to the compression and ignition of this common-rail unit to smooth it out has worked a treat.

Power delivery is good and there’s enough mid-range oomph to keep things moderately interesting. It reacts snappily to throttle applications – in fact the control weights and responses of all the pedals are spot on – and you can sense the weight of the diesel pressing the nose into corners. This manifests itself as a slight numbness through the steering, but there’s no doubting the grip on offer, so much in fact that the TT can almost be persuaded to bring the tail into play.  

It’s not a bad car this TT diesel, but nor is it as exciting and energetic as the petrol. It may be the right thing for Audi to be doing right now, but is it the right thing for you?