Audi has officially revealed the all-new Q9, and it’s now the biggest, most luxurious SUV the brand has ever built. Sitting above the Q7 and Q8, the Q9 becomes Audi’s new flagship SUV and is ready to take on rivals like the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Range Rover. It also marks a major shift for Audi, with the Q9 becoming the new face of the brand instead of the A8 luxury sedan.
The new Q9 focuses on one thing above everything else, that is giving buyers as much space, comfort and technology as possible. It also introduces several features that have never been seen on an Audi before.
Audi’s Biggest SUV Ever
The numbers alone tell you how massive the Q9 is.
At 5.31 metres long with a huge 3.14-metre wheelbase, it’s officially the largest production Audi ever made. The bold front grille, upright stance and clean body lines give it a strong road presence, while buyers can choose between the elegant Advanced trim or the sportier S Line version. Audi also offers alloy wheels ranging from 20 to 23 inches, making sure the Q9 looks every bit like a flagship SUV.
A Cabin That Feels Like Business Class
Step inside and it’s immediately clear that Audi has designed the Q9 for comfort.
It comes as a seven-seater as standard, but buyers can also choose a six-seat version with luxurious captain seats in the second row. Every seat is electrically adjustable, while the front Sport Seats Plus can be equipped with heating, ventilation and massage functions.
Another first for Audi is electrically operated doors. Instead of pulling the doors shut yourself, they can open and close automatically using the key, the touchscreen or even the myAudi app. Sensors also stop the doors if they detect a nearby obstacle.
The Biggest Sunroof Ever Fitted To An Audi
One of the standout features is the massive panoramic sunroof.
It’s the largest ever offered by Audi, measuring over 1.5 square metres. Higher variants even let you change the transparency of different sections of the glass roof, while built-in LED lighting can light it up in 30 different colours to match the cabin’s ambient lighting.
Triple Screens & Loads Of Tech
Like every modern flagship, the Q9 is packed with screens.
The dashboard features:
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.5-inch curved OLED infotainment screen
- 12.3-inch passenger display
The system runs Android Automotive OS and supports ChatGPT-powered voice commands, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, over-the-air updates and the Audi App Store.
There’s also wireless charging for two phones and plenty of fast USB-C charging ports across all three rows.
Music lovers can also opt for a Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system with 22 speakers. It even uses seat-mounted actuators to let you actually feel the bass while listening to music.
Audi’s Most Advanced Lights Yet
Lighting has always been one of Audi’s biggest strengths, and the Q9 takes things to another level.
The SUV is the world’s first production car to get curved third-generation Digital OLED tail-lights. Buyers can choose from eight different rear light signatures, while the Digital Matrix LED headlights also offer eight different daytime running light designs.
The headlights can even project lane guidance, icy road warnings and turn signals onto the road to improve safety at night.
V6 Diesel With New Hybrid Tech
Powering the Q9 at launch is a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine producing:
- 299 PS & 630 Nm
- 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox
- Quattro all-wheel drive
The engine is paired with Audi’s latest 48V MHEV Plus mild-hybrid system, which can add up to 24 PS of extra power during acceleration while also improving fuel efficiency.
An electric-powered compressor also helps reduce turbo lag, making the SUV feel more responsive from low speeds.
Built For Comfort
Despite its size, Audi says the Q9 is easy to drive.
Adaptive air suspension comes as standard and can automatically adjust the ride height depending on the road. Buyers can also opt for all-wheel steering, which turns the rear wheels to improve manoeuvrability in tight spaces and stability on the highway.
There are also seven different drive modes to suit everything from city driving to long highway trips.
Packed With Safety
Being Audi’s flagship, the Q9 gets almost every driver assistance feature the company currently offers.
Highlights include:
- Hands-free highway driving (where supported)
- Automatic emergency braking
- 360-degree camera
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Trailer Assist
- Automatic parking
- Exit warning for approaching cyclists and vehicles
- Emergency Assist that can safely stop the car if the driver becomes unresponsive
