2027 Audi Q9 First-Drive Review: Audi’s Biggest SUV Beats BMW and Mercedes on Family-Friendliness

Audi has officially entered the full-size three-row SUV market with the all-new 2027 Audi Q9 and SQ9, looking to steal sales from established rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. The Q9 starts at $89,095, including a $1,395 destination charge, while the SQ9 starts at $119,395.

The Q9 acts as a super-sized version sharing its underpinnings with the Q7, aiming to fix the Q7’s cramped third row and lack of cargo space.

Design-wise, it features split lighting up front with optional digital matrix LED headlights, massive rear doors, a tall D-pillar, and available OLED curved taillights.

Wheel options span from 21 inches up to 23 inches, with the SQ9 sporting wide 315/30R23 rear tires fitted with plastic fender guards.

Inside, the Q9 features a triple-screen layout under a single curved piece of glass—housing a digital gauge cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system, and a third screen dedicated to the front passenger.

Other interior highlights include a unique one-piece stalk combining the gear selector, turn signal, and wipers; open-pore wood trim; MagSafe-compatible cooled smartphone chargers; and an available Bang & Olufsen 4D surround sound system with 22 speakers, 24 channels, and two seat actuators.

Buyers can also opt for a 16-cubic-foot glass roof panel equipped with PDLC technology and 84 embedded LEDs.

Packaging is heavily praised for families, boasting doors opening a full 90 degrees, second-row seats that slide and tilt while keeping a car seat in place, and an adult-friendly third row where a passenger can sit comfortably behind a 6-foot-5 occupant.

Cargo capacity shines with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row—beating the GLS by 1.9 cubic feet and the X7 by 6.5 cubic feet—while folding the seats expands total cargo room up to 87.7 cubic feet behind the first row.

Under the hood, the standard Q9 packs a 2.9-liter turbocharged V6 pushing 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque (listed as 428 HP @ 5,550-6,800 rpm and 442 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,500 rpm in the specs block). The SQ9 deploys a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 generating 591 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque.

Both pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive, featuring a rear-wheel bias on the SQ9. Every model boasts a towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds.

Notably, neither model features any form of electrification or 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, leading to noticeable turbo lag compared to electrified rivals.

Both models ride on standard adaptive air suspension with steel brakes featuring six-piston fixed front calipers.

Audi’s new Level 2 hands-free driving system debuts on the Q9 in the U.S., operating on about 130,000 miles of divided highways at speeds up to 85 mph.

Trim levels include the base and Premium Plus—which adds $5,600 for digital matrix LED headlights, four-zone climate control, and heated second- and third-row seats—up to top-spec Prestige models that add all-wheel steering, ambient lighting, and the 4D sound system.

The Q9 earns an 8.5/10 score, standing out as a well-packaged, comfortable option that undercuts Mercedes pricing while out-muscling BMW on interior volume.