Audi's Biggest SUV Ever Is Finally Here and It Means Business

A Long Time Coming for Audi

While Mercedes-Benz has offered a full-size three-row SUV for nearly two decades and BMW has had one in production for close to seven years, Audi had yet to lead its own charge into the top-end segment of the luxury SUV market. That wait is now over. The 2027 Audi Q9 is the largest SUV in Audi's history, featuring three rows of seating and advanced technology. It debuted on July 29 in New York, and it's already turning heads.

The Q9 will be Audi's new full-size SUV and spiritually succeeds the A8 as Audi's flagship vehicle, aimed to compete against the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. At 209 inches long, the Q9 is actually larger than both of those competitors. Despite being designed with American buyers specifically in mind, the Q9 will be assembled at VW Group's plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, alongside Porsche's upcoming K1 flagship SUV.

Two Models, Two Very Different Power Statements

These are Audi's first large three-row models, offering seating for six or seven passengers. Power comes from twin-turbocharged engines: a 429-hp, 2.9-liter V6 in the standard Q9, and a 591-hp, 4.0-liter V8 in the performance-oriented SQ9. Both variants come standard with Audi's legendary quattro all-wheel drive.

The SQ9's top speed is 130 mph with all-season tires and 155 mph with summer tires, and it can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Both SUVs are capable of towing up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped. That combination of blistering performance and serious utility is a rare pairing, even in this rarefied segment. The standard Q9 starts at $89,095, with options like the illuminated panoramic roof, advanced lighting tech, and second-row captain's chairs available to push that price higher — though even the base version includes a panoramic roof and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

A Cabin Packed With Genuinely Impressive Tech

The Q9 adopts Audi's current three-screen layout, with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.5-inch main infotainment touchscreen housed together, and a separate 12.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. The Q9 is also the first Audi to offer automatic doors — openable with the key fob, a light tug on the handle, or via the myAudi app, and closeable with a press of the brake pedal or by buckling your seatbelt. Sensors in the door detect obstacles, including pedestrians and cyclists.

A massive 1.5-square-meter panoramic glass roof uses liquid crystal technology to switch from transparent to completely opaque in an instant, and it features an integrated interior ambient lighting strip with 84 built-in LEDs. The Bang & Olufsen audio system delivers 22 speakers and over 1,300 watts of power as a base configuration. Step up to the 4D premium system, and you add transducers in the seats that complement the bassier sections of music — and the ambient lighting can even mimic the hues found in the cover art of whatever track is playing.

The Price of Admission — and What Comes Next

The 2027 Audi SQ9 starts at $119,395, with deliveries arriving on dealer lots in the fourth quarter of 2026. Audi may have waited quite a while to get its foot into the full-size market, but the Q9 and SQ9 should prove to be enticing options for those shopping in this segment. Notably, the Q9 will also be the first U.S.-market Audi model with fully adaptive matrix headlights.

And for those wondering if Audi will push things even further — there's already a hint on the horizon. When asked about a potential RSQ9, the response from Audi was simply: "No comment..." — which, in the automotive world, is practically a confirmation something is in the works. For now, the Q9 and SQ9 represent Audi's boldest, most ambitious SUV statement to date, and the luxury SUV landscape is better for it.