Audi has a habit of using round numbers to signal ambition, and assigning the Q9 badge to its new flagship SUV is no accident. This is the largest vehicle the brand has ever built, and it arrives with a specification list designed to justify a starting price of €108,400 in Germany.
Orders open at the end of July 2026, with deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of the year.
Size and Stance
The Q9 measures 5.31 metres long, 2.21 metres wide, and 1.81 metres tall, with a 3.14-metre wheelbase. Those are substantial figures (longer than most full-size luxury SUVs) and Audi leans into that presence with an upright front end and alloy wheels of up to 23 inches.
Two exterior lines are offered: the standard advanced trim and the optional S line, which takes a sportier approach. Both share the same fundamental proportions; the distinction is largely visual.
A world-first lighting development features at the rear. The third-generation digital OLED panels are curved in three dimensions using ultra-thin glass, allowing them to follow the vehicle’s body contour and improve visibility from wider angles. At night, a secondary system projects a stylised turn signal onto the ground in sync with the indicators front and rear.
Interior and Seating
Seven seats are standard, with an optional six-seat layout that replaces the second-row bench with two individual electrically adjustable chairs. All three seats in the second row include child-seat mounting points in the seven-seat configuration, a practical detail for families.
The third row folds individually at the push of a button, and the outer second-row seat slides and tilts forward electrically to ease access without requiring child seats to be removed. Seat functions in the rear can also be controlled from the boot.
The panoramic sunroof is the largest ever fitted to an Audi, covering more than 1.5 square metres of glass. It opens fully or tilts, and an optional switchable transparency function replaces the conventional blind. A top-specification version adds illumination across 84 LEDs, with colour matched to the ambient lighting.
Automatic doors appear on an Audi for the first time. Obstacle detection stops the door if something is in its path, and an electric soft-close mechanism handles the final shut. The doors can be operated remotely via the myAudi app.
Powertrain and Technology
At launch, the Q9 is offered with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel producing 220 kW (299 PS) and 630 Nm of torque. An MHEV Plus system adds up to 18 kW of supplementary power and includes an electrically driven compressor for sharper throttle response. A lower-output 180 kW variant will be available in selected European markets.
Drive goes through an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox and Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive as standard. Combined fuel consumption is quoted at 7.4–8.0 litres per 100 km, with CO₂ emissions of 194–209 g/km.
Driver assistance includes an adaptive driving assistant plus system capable of hands-free driving. The infotainment setup features a large MMI panoramic display, and an optional Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system with 22 speakers and 1,360 watts of total output adds seat actuators that generate physical vibrations in time with music.
What It Means for Audi
The Q9 sits above the Q8 and represents Audi’s clearest statement yet that it intends to compete at the top of the full-size luxury SUV segment. The €108,400 entry price places it firmly in premium territory, and the breadth of optional equipment suggests the average transaction price will climb considerably higher.
Whether buyers respond to the Q9’s combination of scale, technology, and interior ambition will say a great deal about where Audi’s flagship positioning stands in a competitive market.
