Audi’s New Q9 Is Here to Dethrone the BMW X7. It Might Actually Pull It Off.

Audi just dropped its biggest SUV ever, and it’s swinging straight at the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS with brass knuckles. The 2027 Audi Q9 is a full-size, three-row luxury hauler that rides on the same platform as the refreshed Q7 but stretches longer, sits taller, and brings serious firepower to a segment that’s been owned by German heavyweights for years. This isn’t Audi dipping a toe in—it’s a full cannonball into the deep end.

The Engine and Performance Story

Under the hood lives a 429-horsepower turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 mated to an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. Audi claims a 4.9-second 0-60 time, which sounds impressive until you remember that Car and Driver tested the BMW X7 xDrive40i and clocked a 4.6-second sprint. So yeah, the Bimmer’s still quicker—but we haven’t actually tested the Q9 yet, so Audi’s numbers could surprise us when rubber meets road.

If you want to go full nuclear, there’s an SQ9 variant packing a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that cranks out 591 horsepower. That’s the real conversation starter, though pricing on that beast hasn’t been announced yet.

The Q9’s suspension game is solid too—air springs with adaptive damping come standard, and Prestige trims get a rear-wheel-steering system capable of turning the rear wheels up to five degrees. It’s the kind of tech that makes an enormous SUV feel smaller in tight parking spots. That matters when you’re piloting something this size.

Towing and Practicality: Where Audi Flexes

Here’s where the Q9 lands a punch: it can tow 7,700 pounds, which beats the BMW X7’s 7,500-pound capacity and comes within 400 pounds of the Cadillac Escalade’s 8,100-pound max. If you’re shopping this segment and actually need to tow, that’s real leverage.

Interior-wise, the Q9 fits up to seven people across three rows, though Audi’s offering optional captain’s chairs in the second row if you want to drop down to six. The third row isn’t exactly a penthouse suite—with second-row seats pushed all the way back, legroom looks tight—but scoot the middle row forward and adults can actually sit back there. The cargo bay looks deep even with all seats occupied, though serious haulers will probably need to fold the third row flat.

The Tech and Luxury Setup

This is where Audi shows its strength. The Q9’s dashboard is basically an iPad farm: a 14.5-inch centerpiece touchscreen, an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 12.3-inch passenger display sit front and center. It’s digital maximalism, and it either thrills you or makes you long for physical buttons. The infotainment system handles wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and onboard Wi-Fi as standard kit.

The interior wraps you in premium materials—wood trim, alpaca wool textiles, ambient interior lighting that can be dialed in to match your mood. A massive panoramic sunroof tops it all off and can be dimmed in sections or turned fully opaque to keep the cabin cool when parked. Two smartphone charging pads and oversize cupholders live in the center console.

Audio? Base models get a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen setup, with an optional 22-speaker system available. You’re paying for quality here, not quantity.

Safety, Warranty, and the Fine Print

Audi equipped the Q9 with standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. There’s an optional trailer maneuvering assist that helps when reversing with a trailer attached—a thoughtful add-on given the towing capacity. For detailed crash-test data, NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will have the numbers once testing wraps up.

Warranty protection matches the rest of Audi’s lineup: four years/50,000 miles on both the general warranty and powertrain, plus three years/30,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. That’s middle-of-the-road in the luxury segment—nothing to write home about, nothing embarrassing.

The Real Take

Audi needed a full-size three-row SUV to compete at the top of the market, and the Q9 is a genuinely competent answer. It’s not going to revolutionize anything—the luxury SUV formula was perfected years ago—but it brings enough tech, comfort, and practicality to make shopping the segment feel like an actual choice instead of a forgone conclusion. The towing numbers are solid, the interior is lavish, and if the 4.9-second time proves accurate, it’ll be quick enough for most people who actually buy vehicles this size. The fact that Audi’s using proven platform DNA (hello, Q7) instead of reinventing the wheel is actually smart.

Pricing starts at an estimated $100,000, which slots it right where it needs to be. The SQ9 will demand more, but we’re waiting on those numbers. Until Car and Driver gets one on the dyno, we can’t say whether Audi’s performance claims hold up or if that 4.9-second number is optimistic. Either way, the Q9 isn’t a gamble—it’s Audi playing it safe and competent, which is exactly what this segment demands.

Sources: Car and Driver