The Audi TT Roadster is turning 20 but has barely aged – when something is right, it’s right

IF Leonardo da Vinci was given the kiss of life and asked to have another stab at the Mona Lisa, do you think he would paint it any differently?

What about Paul McCartney, would he rewrite Hey Jude if given the chance?

No. When something is right, it’s right.

For that reason I completely forgive Audi for changing next to sod all about the looks of the Audi TT as it reaches a midlife facelift.

It is 20 years since we first saw the TT, and I would argue that in that time it has become one of the most recognisable cars still in dealerships, second only to the Porsche 911. It’s a design icon, and I don’t use those words lightly.

If you stare at it long enough with the 2018 model parked alongside, you might spot this new version has a slightly different grille.

The bumpers have been remoulded so minutely it looks as though someone took a hairdryer to the plastic until it shifted shape by a few millimetres, then let it cool down.

And that’s more or less it, unless you opt for the S Line trim, which will add even bigger bumpers.

Mucking about with the TT’s looks would be a very dangerous game, and Audi knows it.

But when it comes to the engines, there’s a bit more to talk about.

Gone is the diesel. Audi broke new ground when it launched the TT TDI in 2008, billing it as the first mass-produced diesel sports car. Grand claims for a 168bhp car but it was certainly more sprightly than your average dirty diesel.

Greenpeace has won, so now you’ll have to make do with one of four petrol engines.

The entry level only comes in front-wheel drive and knocks out 194bhp.

This “poverty spec” model is the one which attracts sneers from those who label the TT a hairdresser’s car. Next up — and the one I drove — is the same 2.0-litre engine but tuned to 242bhp.

I had it in Quattro but it’s an optional extra. The TTS (2.0-litre petrol) and TT RS (2.5-litre petrol) — both significantly faster — only come with Quattro.

The 242bhp is a sweet little engine but the permanent AWD often left me wanting something a bit more lairy. Even with traction control turned off, there’s very little that can trip this car up.

If you are looking for pure driving thrills and something you can get squirming on quiet roundabouts, cars such as the Renault Alpine are a better option.

That said, the TT is still a thrilling drive, and in this engine has the perfect amount of power for UK roads. Acceleration isn’t giddy but it’s crisp and purposeful.

And it finds much of its power in the lower rev bands thanks to a seamless turbo, which doesn’t hesitate to jump to attention once the pedal is poked.

Short but urgent sprints are its speciality, and the fact it refuses to lose grip on twistier roads will be a bonus to many.

The cabin has been altered even less than the exterior, yet it still feels cutting edge and high end, thanks to Audi’s virtual cockpit.

If clean lines and a fuss-free environment are your thing, this is the car to make you happy.

Already one of Audi’s biggest success stories, the TT is still at the very top of its game and I suspect will remain so for years to come.

There’s nothing to dislike about it. Just like Hey Jude.

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