Audi finally built the three-row SUV that makes you forget about Mercedes and BMW
The new flagship of the Audi portfolio has arrived. On July 28th, 2026, Audi unveiled the all-new Q9 and the high-performance SQ9, both three-row SUVs. As the largest SUV Audi has ever produced, the Q9 is poised to compete in the lucrative full-size luxury SUV segment, going up against established rivals like the BMW X7, Cadillac Escalade, and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
This launch represents a significant milestone for Audi, one that was perhaps long overdue.
The Audi Q9 will be positioned above the recently refreshed Q7 in the lineup, introducing an unprecedented level of space, comfort, and technology to Audi’s SUV range. For those seeking greater performance, Audi is also launching the SQ9, a 591-horsepower flagship capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds.
The Q9 finally gives Audi a true full-size SUV
Room for seven people and their luggage
The Q9 is 209 inches long and rides on a 123.5-inch wheelbase. It might seem at first glance to be a stretched Q7, but it is much more than that. The Q9 has been engineered specifically to compete in the premium full-size SUV segment, where interior space is every bit as important as horsepower. And this new Audi has plenty of both.
The third row of many three-row SUVs is best suited for smaller children rather than grown adults. However, the Q9 provides adult-friendly accommodations thanks to its long wheelbase and clever seating design. The second-row seats can slide and tilt forward electronically without removing an unoccupied forward-facing child seat, making third-row access easier. Buyers can choose between a standard seven-passenger layout or an optional six-seat configuration with power-adjustable captain’s chairs in the second row.
Behind the third row, the Q9 offers 19.3 cubic feet of storage. Fold the second and third rows flat, and capacity expands to 87.7 cubic feet (for comparison, a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offers 84.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space while the BMW X7 offers 90.4 cubic feet).
The most luxurious Audi SUV ever built
The high-tech cabin feels like a first-class lounge
Audi designed the Q9 to have a “lounge-like atmosphere” inside. That is achieved with generous space and front seats that offer optional ventilation and massage functions. Even heated armrests are available. New open-pore wood trim, Nappa leather, reduced piano-black plastic, cupholders for large insulated tumblers, and a clever aluminum cargo rail system all demonstrate that Audi spent time studying what customers actually want in their SUVs.
Overhead is Audi’s largest panoramic sunroof, with more than 16 square feet of glass. Buyers can option switchable transparency control and personalized ambient lighting for the sunroof as well.
The cabin is centered on Audi’s “Digital Stage,” combining the company’s Virtual Cockpit, a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, and an available 12.3-inch passenger display into a single continuous digital environment. Amazon Alexa integration, wireless smartphone charging pads, and multiple USB-C ports are also standard.
An available Bang & Olufsen 4D audio system provides music that you can feel. Instead of relying solely on speakers, Audi integrates seat-mounted actuators that allow occupants to physically feel bass frequencies, much as they would at a live concert. Combined with 22 speakers and Fraunhofer Symphoria sound processing, Audi says the goal is to create an immersive listening experience unlike anything currently offered in the segment.
If the Q9 is fast, the SQ9 is seriously fast
New rear-biased quattro system raises the performance bar
Even though the Q9 is roomy and luxurious inside, Audi hasn’t forgotten performance. The standard Q9 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 producing 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft. of torque. Paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive, the Q9 reaches 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, remarkably quick for a three-row SUV.
But for some buyers, even that won’t be enough, which is why Audi is offering the high-performance SQ9. Under its hood sits a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft. of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs.
Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system has always been one of the brand’s defining technologies, but the SQ9 introduces an entirely new approach. Instead of maintaining a traditional front-biased setup, the SQ9 uses a rear-biased quattro architecture that can direct nearly all available torque to the rear axle when driving conditions demand it. An electronically controlled rear differential, brake torque vectoring, and staggered-width performance tires work together to improve cornering precision and acceleration while preserving the confidence Audi owners expect in poor weather.
The Q9 is the missing piece in Audi’s SUV lineup
The Q9 represents much more than simply adding another SUV to Audi’s lineup. It fills one of the company’s biggest product gaps by giving loyal Audi customers a true full-size luxury SUV that no longer requires them to cross-shop BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, or Lexus.
One area where Audi has consistently led the industry is lighting technology, and the Q9 may represent its biggest leap yet. For the first time in the United States, Audi will offer Digital Matrix LED headlights with adaptive driving beam functionality. Rather than simply switching between low and high beams, thousands of micro-LED elements continuously reshape the light pattern in real time, maximizing roadway illumination while creating precise shadows around oncoming vehicles to reduce glare.
The 2027 Q9 starts at $87,700, while the high-performance SQ9 begins at $118,000 before destination charges. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026.
