Audi has never sold an SUV this big. The 2027 Q9, revealed July 28, is the brand's first full-size SUV and the first Audi to carry the number 9. It goes on sale at U.S. dealers in the fourth quarter of 2026 at $87,700 before destination, and a 591-hp SQ9 performance version follows the same schedule at $118,000. Both are built in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The target is the top of the luxury three-row market. When Audi claims best-in-class acceleration, it measures the Q9 against the 2027 BMW X7 xDrive40i, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC, the 2026 Range Rover SE LWB and the 2026 Lexus LX 600. Seven seats are standard; a six-seat layout swaps the bench for power-adjustable second-row captain's chairs.
A twin-turbo V6, or a 591-hp V8
The Q9 launches with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 429 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Audi quotes 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. An eight-speed Tiptronic automatic, quattro all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension are standard, and the suspension offers about 3.5 inches of height adjustment. Prestige models add all-wheel steering that can turn the rear wheels up to 5 degrees.
The SQ9 uses a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 591 hp and 590 lb-ft, good for a claimed 3.8-second run to 60 mph. Its quattro system is new and rear-biased, with an electronically controlled rear differential lock, staggered-width tires on 22-inch wheels (23s are optional) and standard rear-wheel steering. Either model can tow up to 7,700 pounds with the optional hitch.
2027 Audi Q9 vs. SQ9 (Audi figures)
| Metric | Q9 | SQ9 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.9L twin-turbo V6 | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 |
| Output | 429 hp / 442 lb-ft | 591 hp / 590 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 4.9 sec | 3.8 sec |
| Max towing | 7,700 lb | 7,700 lb |
| Wheels | 21 to 23 in | 22 in std, 23 in optional |
| Base MSRP | $87,700 | $118,000 |
Prices exclude destination. Performance and towing figures are Audi's; EPA fuel economy ratings have not been published.
Power doors and the biggest roof Audi has built
The Q9 measures 209.0 inches long on a 123.5-inch wheelbase. Cargo space is 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 50.0 behind the second and 87.7 with both rows folded. Audi offers powered doors for the first time; sensors can stop a door before it swings into traffic, a cyclist or a pedestrian, and the doors can be opened from the myAudi app. The standard panoramic roof has more than 16 square feet of glass, and an optional version can switch nine segments between clear and opaque.
Up front, an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch touchscreen sit under one curved panel, and a 12.3-inch passenger display is standard. The system runs Android Automotive OS with an in-car app store. With an Audi connect NAV subscription, the voice assistant hands general-knowledge questions to ChatGPT.
U.S. firsts in lighting and driver assistance
The Q9 family brings Audi's Digital Matrix LED headlights with adaptive driving beam to the U.S. for the first time. The system shapes the high beam around oncoming and leading vehicles, and Audi says it meets Department of Transportation glare rules. It is standard on the SQ9 and optional on the Q9. Prestige models also get curved digital OLED taillights, which Audi calls a first for a production car.
Adaptive cruise assist plus with hands-free highway driving is standard on the SQ9 and on Q9 Premium Plus and Prestige trims. It allows hands-off driving at up to 85 mph on approved highway segments, while a steering-column camera watches the driver's eyes and head position. If warnings go unanswered, emergency assist brings the SUV to a controlled stop.
“For many of our customers, they are becoming mobile living spaces. That is exactly what the Audi Q9 represents as the new flagship of our portfolio,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, describing how buyers now use their cars.
What buyers should know
The $87,700 and $118,000 figures are base prices before destination, and Audi has not published EPA fuel economy ratings. Hands-free highway driving is not on every Q9, so trim choice matters, and the ChatGPT feature depends on a connected-services subscription. Three years or 30,000 miles of scheduled maintenance is included. Audi's specifications are preliminary and subject to change before deliveries begin.