Audi has revealed its new flagship SUV, and the Q9 is comfortably the biggest and most luxurious model the brand has ever built. Stretching 5.31 metres long and riding on a 3.14-metre wheelbase, it sits proudly at the top of the Audi range, offering three rows of seats, a beautifully appointed cabin and the kind of presence that turns heads wherever it goes.
It is aimed squarely at the full-size luxury SUV set, going head to head with the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, and on first impressions it has the space, technology and refinement to take the fight to both.
Audi Q9 design
The Q9 wears its size with real confidence. A bold Singleframe grille dominates the front, flanked by slender pixel-LED daytime running lights and digital Matrix LED headlights, while S line models add a sportier, more purposeful look. At the rear, a full-width light bar, an illuminated four-ring badge and Audi's first curved digital OLED tail lights give it a genuinely striking signature after dark. Wheels run up to 23 inches, and there is even a ground-projected indicator to help other road users read the car's intentions at night.
Audi Q9 space and interior
Audi calls the Q9 a "mobile living space", and inside it feels every bit the flagship. Buyers can choose six or seven seats, with electrically adjustable second-row chairs on higher trims, and every seat slides, reclines and folds at the touch of a button. The dashboard pairs a 12.3-inch driver's display with a 14.5-inch central touchscreen and a dedicated 12.3-inch passenger screen, all wrapped in materials such as Nappa leather, Dinamica microfibre and open-pore wood. Overhead sits the largest panoramic glass roof Audi has ever fitted, with switchable transparency to flood the cabin with light or dial it back at will.
There is proper practicality baked in, too. The automatic doors can be opened from a smartphone, adaptive air suspension smooths out the ride, and four-wheel steering helps this substantial SUV feel far more manageable than its dimensions suggest, tightening the turning circle and making tighter spaces easier to negotiate. That said, there is no getting away from the Q9's footprint. At 2.21 metres wide it is a lot of car for narrow British streets and tight multi-storey car parks, so it rewards a little extra care in town. It is a compromise that comes with almost any full-size luxury SUV, and the clever four-wheel steering does a good job of taking the edge off.
Audi Q9 engine and performance
In the UK, the Q9 launches with a smooth 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel producing 295bhp and a muscular 465lb ft of torque, paired with quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system adds up to 24bhp of assistance and helps keep things efficient, while an electrically powered compressor builds boost in just 1.2 seconds for crisp, immediate response. The result is a big car that gathers pace effortlessly and cruises with real serenity, which is exactly what a luxury flagship should do.
Audi Q9 verdict
The Q9 is a statement of intent from Audi, a genuine flagship that blends limousine space, first-class technology and effortless performance in one imposing package. Its size means it feels most at home on open roads, motorways and longer journeys, where its comfort and refinement really shine. For buyers who want the space of a luxury SUV with the badge and cabin quality to match, the Q9 makes a very compelling case, and it signals real ambition from Audi at the top of the market.