Families in the market for an SUV that offers top-tier comfort without sacrificing versatility have long had their preferences, but Audi is now making a strong move to claim that space. With the introduction of the 2027 Q9 and its high-strung SQ9 counterpart, the brand is putting its first true full-size SUVs on the map. These are vehicles that put upscale living and state-of-the-art tech front and center, with the SQ9 adding a dose of sports-car performance to the mix.
The Q9 is meant to sit at the top of the Audi hierarchy. It is for the buyer who might be tempted by the heft and room of a Range Rover or the likes of the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, but prefers the minimalist, tech-savvy sensibility that is so characteristic of Audi.
You get a sense of that as soon as you are in the driver’s seat; Audi has made it a point to ensure the Q9 has the ambience of a fine lounge. The cabin is open and airy, thanks in part to the most expansive panoramic glass roof the company has ever put on an SUV, not to mention the automatic power doors and five-zone climate control. There is no shortage of room in the third row for adults, and if one opts for the second-row captain’s chairs, the setup is quite executive in nature.
Then there is the matter of technology. A new Digital Stage dominates the dash, bringing together the instrument cluster, a sizable central screen and a display for the passenger in a single unit. Add in the Bang & Olufsen 4D audio system with headrest speakers, wireless charging and your USB-C ports, and the interior is as well connected as it is easy to spend time in.
On the road, the standard Q9 is more than adequate. Its 429-hp twin-turbo V6, along with adaptive air suspension and optional rear-wheel steering, keeps the large vehicle feeling composed in town. But for those with a taste for something more engaging, the SQ9 is where you will find it. The 591-horsepower twin-turbo V8 will put the three-rower from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds flat, all while still having the towing capacity for a boat or camper and seats for seven.
Audi has also done some interesting work with the lighting. For the first time in the U.S., the Q9 will come with Digital Matrix LED headlights that can modulate the high beams to see around oncoming cars without blinding them. At night, the curved OLED taillights at the back put on a show with customizable animations.
Visually, the design is elegant in an understated way. You will not find any overblown grilles or chrome for the sake of it; the clean lines and proportions give the Q9 a timeless quality that is as fitting in front of a luxury hotel as it is on a weekend run.
When they hit U.S. showrooms later in the year, the Q9 will carry a price tag of $87,700, with the SQ9 running $118,000. In these two models, Audi is not simply filling out the roster. They are presenting a flagship built for the modern luxury buyer, whether the day calls for covering highway miles in silence or chauffeuring the family about.