Audi has finally built the three-row SUV it has needed for years. The Q9, revealed in New York on 28 July, is the brand's first full-size flagship, and it arrives with one market firmly in its sights: America.
At 5,310 mm long and 2,220 mm wide, the Q9 sits 250 mm longer and 200 mm wider than the Q7 it effectively supersedes at the top of Audi's range. The wheelbase stretches 3,140 mm, and the result is a vehicle big enough to seat seven adults, not just children, in the third row. Two layouts are offered: a seven-seat standard configuration and an optional six-seat arrangement with individual electric captain's chairs in the middle row.
Those electric doors are a Q9 first for Audi. They swing open to a full 90 degrees, with sensors that stop them before they connect with an adjacent car, wall or passerby. They can even be operated remotely through the myAudi app, a feature aimed squarely at chauffeur-driven markets.
Under the bonnet, US buyers get a 2.9-litre V6 producing 429 hp, good for a 4.9-second sprint to 60 mph. The SQ9 variant goes further with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 pushing 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, dropping the 0-60 time to 3.8 seconds. Adaptive air suspension is standard, while rear-wheel steering turns the back wheels by up to five degrees to tighten the turning circle.
The technology inside matches the scale. Audi's largest panoramic sunroof spans more than 1.5 square metres of glass, with an optional switchable transparency system that divides the roof into nine individually controllable sections. When parked, the glass turns opaque automatically. The 1,360-watt Bang and Olufsen 4D system uses 22 speakers and seat actuators that pulse with the bass, while headrest speakers handle calls and navigation privately. A ChatGPT-powered voice assistant and a hands-free driving mode round out the cabin tech.
The exterior is defined by an upright grille with vertical bars and a surround that spreads outward, and at the rear, the Q9 debuts curved digital OLED taillights. Their ultra-thin glass panels follow the bodywork in three dimensions, increasing side visibility while giving Audi's designers a new canvas for light signatures after dark.
Pricing starts at $89,095 for the Q9 and $119,395 for the SQ9. The vehicle arrives at a critical moment for Audi in the US, where sales fell 16 per cent in 2025 and another 17 per cent through the first half of 2026. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have fared better, partly because they manufacture vehicles in America while Audi imports everything. The Q9, designed explicitly for American tastes, is Audi's clearest signal yet that it intends to fight back.
