The new flagship of the Audi portfolio has arrived. On July 28, 2026, Audi introduced the new Q9 and high-performance SQ9, both three-row SUVs. As the largest SUV Audi has ever produced, the Q9 is set to compete in the lucrative full-size luxury SUV segment, taking on established rivals like the bmw x7, Cadillac Escaladeand Mercedes-Benz GLS.
This launch represents an important milestone for Audi, one that perhaps was long overdue.
The Audi Q9 will be positioned above the recently Q7 renewed in the lineupintroducing an unprecedented level of space, comfort and technology to Audi’s SUV range. For those looking for greater performance, Audi also launches the SQ9a 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 has a 123.5-inch wheelbase. At first glance it might look like an elongated Q7, but it is much more than that. The Q9 has been specifically designed to compete in the premium full-size SUV segment, where interior space is as important as power. And this new Audi has a lot of both.
The third row of many three-row SUVs is better suited for younger children than adults. However, the Q9 offers adult accommodation thanks to its long wheelbase and clever seating design. The second-row seats can electronically slide and tilt forward without removing an unoccupied forward-facing child seat, making access to the third row 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 down the second and third rows 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 looks like a first-class lounge.
Audi designed the Q9 to have a “lounge atmosphere” inside. This 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, stripped-down piano black plastic, insulated large cup holders, and a clever aluminum cargo rail system demonstrate that Audi spent time studying what customers really want in their SUVs.
Above is Audi’s largest panoramic sunroof, with more than 16 square feet of glass. Buyers can also opt for a switchable transparency control and custom ambient lighting for the sunroof.
The cockpit focuses on Audi’s “Digital Stage,” which combines 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 delivers music you can feel. Instead of relying solely on speakers, Audi integrates seat-mounted actuators that allow occupants to physically feel the low frequencies, 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 really fast
New rear-biased quattro system raises the bar for performance
Although the Q9 is spacious and luxurious inside, Audi hasn’t forgotten about performance. The standard Q9 is powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft. of torque. Paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive, the Q9 hits 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 offers the high-performance SQ9. Under its hood is a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft. of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs.
Audi quattro all-wheel drive system It has always been one of the brand’s defining technologies, but the SQ9 introduces a completely new approach. Instead of maintaining a traditional front-biased setup, the SQ9 uses a rear-biased quattro architecture that can direct nearly all of the available torque to the rear axle when driving conditions demand it. An electronically controlled rear differential, braking torque vectoring and staggered-width high-performance tires work together to improve cornering precision and acceleration, while preserving the confidence Audi owners expect in adverse weather conditions.
The Q9 is the missing piece in Audi’s SUV range
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 buy BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac or Lexus.
One area where Audi has consistently led the industry is lighting technology, and the Q9 can represent their biggest leap yet. For the first time in the United States, Audi will offer Digital Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam functionality. Instead of simply switching between low and high beams, thousands of micro-LED elements continually reshape the light pattern in real time, maximizing road illumination and creating precise shadows around oncoming vehicles to reduce glare.
The 2027 Q9 starts at $87,700, while the high-performance SQ9 starts at $118,000 before destination charges. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026.
