Will The New Large Audi Q9 Rival The Cadillac Escalade?

Audi finally has a true full-size flagship SUV, and it was developed with American buyers very much in mind. The all-new 2027 Audi Q9 will sit above the Q7 as the largest vehicle Audi has ever built, giving the brand its first entry in the full-size, three-row luxury SUV market. The Q9 measures 209 inches long and rides on a 123.5-inch wheelbase, dimensions intended to provide substantial passenger space throughout the cabin, including a third row designed to accommodate adults.

Photo: Audi.

Powertrain

Power comes from a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 429 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi estimates the Q9 will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, which is extremely quick for a full-size, three-row SUV. Standard adaptive air suspension automatically adjusts to vehicle speed, load and driving conditions, while also allowing the driver to change the ride height. When properly equipped with the available towing package, the Q9 can tow up to 7,700 pounds.

Cabin & Cargo Room

The cabin can be configured for either seven passengers with a second-row bench seat or six passengers with two individual second-row seats. In the seven-passenger version, all three second-row seating positions include child-seat mounting points. The power-adjustable second-row seats can slide and tilt forward to improve access to the third row, even when a child seat remains installed. Cargo capacity is 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 50 cubic feet with the third row folded and as much as 87.7 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

New Features

Audi is also using the Q9 to introduce several upscale convenience features. Available automatic doors can be opened and closed using multiple controls, including the key, the infotainment system and the myAudi app. Surround sensors are designed to stop a door when a person or object is detected in its path, while a soft-close system gently completes the closing process. A panoramic sunroof is standard and is the largest Audi has ever installed, covering more than 16 square feet. An available version divides the glass into nine individually controlled sections that can change from transparent to opaque.

Photo: Audi.

Technology & Audio

The dashboard continues Audi’s screen-heavy approach with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a 14.5-inch center touchscreen and a standard 12.3-inch front-passenger display. A privacy function prevents the driver from viewing distracting passenger-screen content while the vehicle is moving. Available five-zone climate control extends individual temperature adjustment into the third row, while an optional 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system produces 1,360 watts and uses headrest speakers and front-seat actuators to create what Audi calls a 4D audio experience.

Lighting

Lighting is another major part of the Q9’s technology story. Available Digital Matrix LED headlights can precisely shape the light beam to improve nighttime visibility while reducing glare for other drivers. Available curved digital OLED rear lights - the first of their kind on a production model - follow the shape of the body and can display different light signatures and warning symbols. Audi’s advanced turn signals can also project a directional indicator onto the pavement at night, making the vehicle’s intended movement more visible to pedestrians, cyclists and nearby drivers.

Safety

Audi will offer adaptive driving assistant plus with hands-free driving on approved highways. At speeds of up to 85 mph, the Level 2 system can control steering, acceleration and braking and can assist with lane changes after the driver activates the turn signal. The driver remains responsible for the vehicle and must stay attentive, with a camera monitoring eye position and head movement.

SQ9

For buyers wanting considerably more performance, Audi will also offer the SQ9 with a 591-horsepower, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Audi says the SQ9 can reach 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and will start at $118,000. Still, the regular Q9 is the model most likely to define Audi’s move into the full-size luxury SUV class: spacious enough for American families, powerful enough to move with authority and loaded with the technology expected from a new flagship. Production will take place at the Volkswagen Group plant in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Availability

U.S. deliveries are scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026, with Audi announcing a starting price of $87,700.

2027 AUDI Q9 AT A GLANCE

Starting price: $87,700
U.S. arrival: Fourth quarter of 2026
Engine: 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6
Horsepower: 429
Torque: 442 pound-feet
Transmission: Eight-speed Tiptronic automatic
Drive system: Quattro all-wheel drive
Zero to 60 mph: 4.9 seconds
Seating: Six or seven passengers
Length: 209 inches
Wheelbase: 123.5 inches
Maximum cargo capacity: 87.7 cubic feet
Maximum towing capacity: 7,700 pounds
Maximum hands-free driving speed: 85 mph on approved highways
Performance model: SQ9 with 591 horsepower
SQ9 starting price: $118,000

For more on this beauty, you can see the official release here.