In the U.S., full-size three-row SUVs such as the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7 remain in steady demand. The X7 recorded 31,575 sales in 2025, its highest annual total since its 2019 market launch.
Audi has so far offered three-row seating in the Audi Q7, but it is preparing a dedicated flagship SUV, the Audi Q9, to compete directly with those larger German rivals, starting later this year.
Here is what we expect from the new three-row Audi SUV:
Design
The most recent spy shots of test prototypes suggest the Q9 will retain Audi’s familiar European luxury SUV identity. It will have proportions similar to the Q7, rather than adopting the rugged, truck-like character observed in American full-size SUVs.
A massive Singleframe featuring large honeycomb-shaped openings is noticeable in spy photos. A similar pattern would be seen on a wide lower air intake, which may have active flaps that close when not needed, reducing drag.
Another highlight would be split headlamps, consisting of LED daytime running lights with a customizable pattern and micro-LED main lights discreetly integrated lower into the bumper.
On the sides, Q9 prototypes feature large windows and quarter glass panels, pronounced wheel arches finished in body color, 23-inch wheels, and raised roof rails. The D-pillar looks tapered, but only slightly, maximizing possible cargo space. A motorized side step should make entering and exiting the SUV convenient and elegant.
At the rear, horizontally laid digital OLED combination lamps would be connected via a slim LED light strip. Like the LED daytime running lights at the front, they should feature customizable signatures.
Interior
We expect the Q9 to offer three rows of seats in a 2+2+3 layout as well as an optional 2+2+2 layout.
A touchscreen infotainment system with built-in and downloadable native apps for popular services like Spotify and Amazon Music, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android compatibility, satellite navigation, and over-the-air software updates should be among the highlights of this system.
Specifications
Platform
The Q9 is set to ride on the largest version of the PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) used by the new Q5. Rather than outright performance or uncompromising luxury, Audi is expected to concentrate on aspects like space and value.
Dimensions
Audi’s gas-powered Q9, with the U.S. market in mind, should be discernibly longer than the Q7 and measure around 205 inches in length. In addition to adult-sized third-row seats, the Q9 should offer a cavernous cargo area when folding down all the seats behind the first row.
Performance
Audi is expected to offer a 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with mild-hybrid as an option. A plug-in hybrid variant could be expected later in its lifecycle.
Release Date
Audi has formally confirmed plans to unveil the Q9 in 2026, and we expect the U.S. to be among the first global markets where it launches the new flagship. The company will likely price it in the USD 90,000-95,000 range.
Further attractive models will follow in 2026, For instance, with unveiling of a new electric entry-level model below the Q4, and we will have the world premiere of the Q7, and for the first time, the Q9 model that is dedicated to the U.S. market.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner at the Volkswagen Group Product & Tech Update on September 9, 2025
According to a report from Automotive News, dealers expect the Audi Q9 to attract U.S. buyers cross-shopping the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. Although the Q9 will not match those models in overall size, Audi dealers view its added space and cargo capacity as a selling point.
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TopElectricSUV says
The Audi Q9 is on its way to become the four-ringed brand’s largest and most feature-packed SUV, designed specifically for American families. From the volumes and margins perspectives, this is a big driver, and is likely to find interest from China and the Middle East as well.
Featured Image: Our rendering of the Audi Q9
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
