Audi has unveiled the Q9, its largest-ever three-row SUV, priced from $89,095, alongside the 591hp SQ9 performance version, as it targets a turnaround…
1/10New Flagship: Audi unveiled the Q9 on Tuesday — its first vehicle to carry the “9” name and the brand’s largest SUV yet. The three-row model starts at $89,095, while the performance SQ9 starts at $119,395 in the US market. Both vehicles replace the A8 and S8 sedans as Audi’s new flagship, sitting above the Q7 in the range. US deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
2/10US Focus: The Q9 joins the compact Q3 and mid-size Q7, launched in March and June, as Audi expands its range for American buyers. Filip Brabec, senior vice-president of product management at Audi of America, said the SUV was designed with US drivers in mind. “It really plays right into the centre of what’s happening in America,” he said, noting SUVs make up over 80% of premium car sales there.
3/10Sales Slide: The launch comes as Audi’s US sales fall. Sales dropped 16% in 2025 and a further 17% in the first half of 2026 versus the same period last year, with the first quarter down 30%. Audi blames tariffs and the end of federal electric vehicle incentives. Rivals fared better: Mercedes-Benz sales fell just 3.5%, while BMW sales rose 4.7% over the same period.
4/10Size Matters: The Q9 measures 209.1 inches long, 86.8 inches wide and 71.4 inches tall, with a 123.5-inch wheelbase — longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe’s. It is bigger than rivals the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. Designer Gary Telaak said the SUV uses smooth surfaces rather than sharp lines, adding, “We wanted to express sovereignty.”
5/10V6 Muscle: The Q9 uses a turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 with 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive. Audi says it can go from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph. All Q9 models can tow up to 7,700 pounds.
6/10SQ9 Punch: The performance SQ9 gets a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, matched with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, Quattro all-wheel drive, rear bias and a locking rear differential. Audi quotes a 3.8-second 0-60 mph time and a 155 mph top speed. The SQ9 weighs 5,556 pounds.
7/10Cabin Space: Both models seat seven as standard, with an optional six-seat layout featuring second-row captain’s chairs. Adults can sit comfortably in the third row too. The cabin includes an 11.9-inch driver display, a 14.5-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch passenger screen, along with a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant. Cargo space reaches up to 87.7 cubic feet behind the front seats.
8/10Luxury Extras: The Q9 comes with a panoramic sunroof — Audi’s largest to date — a 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, heated door and centre armrests, and power-opening doors. Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars, said, “This one’s going to have some real decadent features… like power-opening doors and crazy interior materials, even by Audi standards.”
9/10Smart Lights: The Q9 brings Digital Matrix LED headlights to the US for the first time. They use clusters of tiny LEDs that switch off individually to cut glare for oncoming drivers. Curved OLED tail lights can show patterns such as a triangle for hazard warnings, while turn signals project arrows onto the road — a first for Audi — to warn other road users and pedestrians at night.
10/10Tariff Trouble: Analysts say the new SUVs could help Audi, but tariffs remain a bigger challenge, as the brand imports all of its US vehicles, unlike BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which build locally. “I think that will still dominate their performance in the US,” said Tom Narayan, global autos analyst at RBC Capital Markets. Audi of America president Vito Paladino called the Q9 “Audi true and true.”