Audi is preparing to enter the full-size luxury SUV segment with the new Q9, a commanding three-row flagship developed with American tastes firmly in mind.
At 5.31 metres long, 2.21 metres wide including its mirrors, and 1.81 metres tall, the Q9 is the largest Audi yet. Its upright nose, substantial proportions, and 3.14-metre wheelbase give it the stature expected of a range-topping SUV without abandoning the restrained design language traditionally associated with the German marque.
The scale translates into a generously proportioned interior. Seven seats are fitted as standard, while buyers can specify a six-seat arrangement featuring two electrically adjustable individual seats in the second row. This creates a more exclusive, business-class environment, complemented by five-zone climate control and front seats offering ventilation and massage functions.
Every Q9 receives the largest panoramic sunroof yet installed in an Audi. Its glass surface measures more than 1.5 square metres and can be opened or tilted. An optional version introduces switchable transparency and illumination coordinated with the cabin’s ambient lighting.
Automatic doors, which can be operated from several control points or through the myAudi application, add another layer of convenience. Surrounding sensors are intended to reduce the risk of doors striking nearby objects.
Technology also plays a defining role. Audi’s adaptive cruise assist plus can control steering, acceleration, and braking while allowing drivers to remove their hands from the steering wheel at speeds of up to 130km/h. Its use will initially be restricted to approved roads in the United States, Canada, and Germany, and drivers will remain responsible for monitoring the journey.
The Q9 introduces curved digital OLED rear-light panels, while its turn signals can project directional graphics onto the road at night to improve visibility to other motorists.
European buyers will initially be offered a 220kW V6 turbodiesel engine with 630Nm, supported by mild-hybrid technology. The United States will receive a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6, while the performance-focused SQ9 uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 441kW. Audi claims the SQ9 can accelerate from 0–100km/h in four seconds.
Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, alongside adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering. Towing capacity is rated at up to 3 500kg.
European deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2026, with German pricing starting at €108 400 (R2 031 547 at the current exchange rate). At the launch of the new Q3 SUV and Sportback in June, Audi confirmed that the Q9 will be introduced in South Africa in the first half of 2027.
