Here\u2019s everything I learned about Audi\u2019s new flagship.<\/p>\n
Nothing says \u201cmade for the American market\u201d like a V8 option<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_225427892-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLike many European manufacturers, Audi has come to the conclusion that the American market is very much its own thing. There are driving demands and customer tastes that don\u2019t apply to the rest of the world, and some adaptations have to be made for a vehicle to do well over here.<\/p>\n
Overall, the Q9 feels very much \u201cAmerica first\u201d in many ways. The German company is releasing it in the US first,<\/a> has made the vehicle bigger than it was before, bumped the luxury elements up to the next level, and given customers the option of a hefty V8 under the hood.<\/p>\nWhile a far-from-insubstantial 2.9-liter V6 powers the standard Q9, providing 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, the premium option packs a 4-liter V8 with a healthy 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.<\/p>\n
Yes, the V8 was technically invented by the French, but it\u2019s the most American engine configuration. And it feels right at home under the hood of this German SUV.<\/p>\n
The Audi Q9 and SQ9 make you a more considerate driver<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_205104223-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all been there. We\u2019re driving along, minding our own business, then a four-letter word in a truck or something starts tailgating us with their high beams on.<\/p>\n
The Audi Q9 isn\u2019t a particularly small vehicle, so it does offer a little protection from this. It also reduces your chances of being \u201cthat guy\u201d to zero. So you can benefit from a well-lit road safely, knowing a good number of other road users don\u2019t think you should be subjected to treatment I\u2019ve been told I\u2019m not allowed to detail on this website.<\/p>\n
This all comes courtesy of Audi\u2019s \u201cDigital Matrix LED\u201d system, which crafts your vehicle\u2019s beams using a combination of 25,600 micro LEDs that Audi claims are \u201cthinner than a human hair.\u201d The camera providing the data also sits pretty high on the vehicle, which means it has a better view than the driver.<\/p>\n
Audi\u2019s smart high beam system lights as much of the road as possible while cutting off the beam at the license plate of the vehicle in front of you. It also shuts off when it spots a vehicle coming the other way.<\/p>\n
So the road is well illuminated for you and other road users, without burning out anyone’s retinas. It\u2019s one of those weird vehicle features where everyone benefits from your presence on the road.<\/p>\n
The infotainment system makes customization easy<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_173036577-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAudi has put plenty of effort into its new infotainment system, with more apparently on its way via over-the-air updates. A passenger screen keeps those riding shotgun amused, but the stunning driver\u2019s display stands out. Audi\u2019s own system is easy to navigate, and its maps system in particular is superb.<\/p>\n
The vehicle supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and both phone-based systems can run alongside Audi\u2019s in-car infotainment software. So you can use Audi\u2019s maps while playing music and handling calls from CarPlay.<\/p>\n
The display, along with the vehicle interior, is also highly customizable. You can pick a pre-set display package, or create your own with custom photos. It even adjusts the cabin lighting to match your pick.<\/p>\n
Audi has also put a lot of effort into the Q9\u2019s sound system. The \u201c4D\u201d audio moves around the cabin and can make your head feel a bit weird as it shifts around you. Bang and Olufsen have done a great job, and audiophiles have a lot to work with here.<\/p>\n
The styling is pretty unique, and may prove divisive<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_022014207-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAudi has been bold with its styling choices for the Q9 and SQ9. On the outside, it\u2019s further evidence we\u2019re leaving the \u201coverly rounded blob\u201d era of vehicles behind. It\u2019s aggressive, its lighting adds a lot to the appearance, and it retains a sense of sportiness despite its size.<\/p>\n
Personally, I prefer the classic-looking \u201cstriped\u201d grille on the standard Q9 to the more abstract cube-filled one on the SQ9, and I wish it were an option on the more expensive vehicle. But this is a personal preference, and others may feel differently.<\/p>\n
Inside, the vehicle abandons classic luxury and instead provides a futuristic take on the high-end SUV. The seats seem ergonomic and are beautifully shaped. Lighting is well placed around the cabin. I feel like the carbon-fiber-like trim offered on the SQ9 fits this aesthetic more than the wood on the standard Q9.<\/p>\n
The styling, particularly that of the interior, may prove divisive. There are many that prefer classic wood and leather interiors, and will shy away from this. Though both Mercedes and BMW have also long since abandoned the classic luxury vibe and attempted to carve out a more modern cabin. It\u2019s a brave choice, and something I\u2019m glad Audi had the confidence to do.<\/p>\n
In practical terms, the Audi Q9 is larger than ever and beats its direct peers out in third-row comfort. The second-row captain\u2019s chairs were incredibly comfortable when I sat in them, and now feature heated seats. The back row has enough room for an adult to ride in fair comfort and boasts a few more inches of legroom than both Mercedes and BMW\u2019s equivalent efforts, though it lags behind some US options like the extended Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Grand Wagoneer.<\/p>\n
With both back rows down, the Q9 boasts 87.7 cu. ft. of storage, with between 43.8 and 50 cubic feet available behind Row 2 and 19.3cubic feet available behind Row 3.<\/p>\n
The SQ9 is very thirsty, and the Q9 isn\u2019t a lot better<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_170007700-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFuel economy is a consideration for many these days, though there\u2019s an argument that if you\u2019re dropping six figures on a vehicle, a few extra bucks at the pump won\u2019t concern you much. You can also argue that poor fuel economy is the price you pay for performance, and you know what you\u2019re getting into when you pick a vehicle packing a 4-liter V8.<\/p>\n
Audi hasn\u2019t released the official EPA-estimated fuel economy figures yet. But I can give you a ballpark figure based on the drive experience. In an urban and suburban environment, the dash display suggests that the SQ9 was operating in the single-digit MPG range, with the Q9 not looking much better.<\/p>\n
Both were claiming to be sub-10 MPG, with the SQ9 claiming as little as 6 MPG a lot of the time. On the highway, things weren\u2019t a lot better, with the MPG rating for both getting into the mid-teens.<\/p>\n
It is worth noting that I\u2019m going off what the on-board computer was estimating here. And I was driving at altitude in a variety of conditions. The EPA figures may be vastly different from this. But either way, it\u2019s not going to be the most economical thing on the road and may be closer to a pickup truck than it is to a regular crossover with a hybrid powertrain.<\/p>\n
The SQ9\u2019s Performance is a sleeping giant<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_190002185-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI heard some big claims about the 2027 Q9\u2019s performance before getting behind the wheel, specifically the SQ9. I\u2019m pleased to say it lived up to those in the end.<\/p>\n
In terms of raw grunt, the standard Q9 is far from sluggish. In fact, I\u2019d say it\u2019s more than enough for most people. Hit the gas, and it will push hard from pretty much any speed, which is great when you\u2019re overtaking or merging. It\u2019s also pretty comfortable sitting at 60 to 80 mph if you\u2019re heading along a highway.<\/p>\n
The SQ9 very much scratches the performance itch if you need something with a little more punch, though. At first, I was a little disappointed in it. It obviously had power, but the responsiveness was off. In Audi\u2019s standard drive mode, there\u2019s a two or so second delay between you hitting the gas and the vehicle actually moving.<\/p>\n
Dynamic mode, Audi\u2019s version of \u201csport mode,\u201d fixes all of this. As it often does.<\/p>\n
Tell the vehicle you want performance, and the SQ9 delivers it on tap. Pressing the accelerator is met with a healthy amount of aggression. The vehicle does have a lot of weight, and its center of gravity is a little higher than you want when tearing into corners. But Audi\u2019s driver assistance system and the always-excellent Quattro AWD mitigate this pretty well.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_191544528-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhile it wasn\u2019t the first AWD system to crop up in a production vehicle, Quattro arguably made the biggest impact. Audi used it to dominate the World Rally Championship for years (until Lancia borderline cheated them out of a Group B title in what became one of history\u2019s greatest racing sagas). It\u2019s been a mainstay in the company\u2019s better vehicles since then.<\/p>\n
There is a strong argument that Audi has the best AWD system on earth. The Q9 and SQ9 do a fantastic job in upholding this idea. While the Q9 is a large and heavy vehicle, I didn\u2019t struggle for grip at any point. This included some time on winding desert roads, and oddly enough it involved a stretch on a snowy mountain pass.<\/p>\n
On paper, the latter was pretty hazardous. Losing grip and understeering could send you off a literal cliff edge. While it may have been sensible to slow down to a crawl, the SQ9 I was driving absolutely did not need to.<\/p>\n
I did turn my music off and concentrate on what the car was doing, ready to pull back if there was any sign of the vehicle struggling. But it ate up those snowy roads just as well as it handled the dry, hot desert highways. At the risk of sounding dramatic, in a lesser vehicle I may have ended up in serious trouble.<\/p>\n
All-wheel steering is also present, which drastically boosts stability when changing lanes on a motorway. It also reduces the vehicle\u2019s turning circle, allowing very tight maneuvers despite the Q9\u2019s overall size.<\/p>\n
Audi\u2019s flagship SUV makes a strong case for itself<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.autonocion.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PXL_20261014_185416051-scaled.jpg\")
Dave McQuilling\/Autonotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Audi Q9 starts at $87,800, while the SQ9 starts at $118,000, putting both vehicles in the luxury SUV bracket. This is where you get a lot of German luxury. BMW and Mercedes\u2019 higher-end stuff, along with their performance departments, live here.<\/p>\n
On the American side, you\u2019re dipping into Cadillac Escalade territory with the SQ9, though the Escalade offers a vastly different driving experience.<\/p>\n
Like many European manufacturers, Audi has come to the conclusion that the American market is very much its own thing. There are driving demands and customer tastes that don\u2019t apply to the rest of the world, and some adaptations have to be made for a vehicle to do well over here.<\/p>\n
Overall, the Q9 feels very much \u201cAmerica first\u201d in many ways. The German company is releasing it in the US first,<\/a> has made the vehicle bigger than it was before, bumped the luxury elements up to the next level, and given customers the option of a hefty V8 under the hood.<\/p>\n While a far-from-insubstantial 2.9-liter V6 powers the standard Q9, providing 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, the premium option packs a 4-liter V8 with a healthy 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.<\/p>\n Yes, the V8 was technically invented by the French, but it\u2019s the most American engine configuration. And it feels right at home under the hood of this German SUV.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all been there. We\u2019re driving along, minding our own business, then a four-letter word in a truck or something starts tailgating us with their high beams on.<\/p>\n The Audi Q9 isn\u2019t a particularly small vehicle, so it does offer a little protection from this. It also reduces your chances of being \u201cthat guy\u201d to zero. So you can benefit from a well-lit road safely, knowing a good number of other road users don\u2019t think you should be subjected to treatment I\u2019ve been told I\u2019m not allowed to detail on this website.<\/p>\n This all comes courtesy of Audi\u2019s \u201cDigital Matrix LED\u201d system, which crafts your vehicle\u2019s beams using a combination of 25,600 micro LEDs that Audi claims are \u201cthinner than a human hair.\u201d The camera providing the data also sits pretty high on the vehicle, which means it has a better view than the driver.<\/p>\n Audi\u2019s smart high beam system lights as much of the road as possible while cutting off the beam at the license plate of the vehicle in front of you. It also shuts off when it spots a vehicle coming the other way.<\/p>\n So the road is well illuminated for you and other road users, without burning out anyone’s retinas. It\u2019s one of those weird vehicle features where everyone benefits from your presence on the road.<\/p>\n Audi has put plenty of effort into its new infotainment system, with more apparently on its way via over-the-air updates. A passenger screen keeps those riding shotgun amused, but the stunning driver\u2019s display stands out. Audi\u2019s own system is easy to navigate, and its maps system in particular is superb.<\/p>\n The vehicle supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and both phone-based systems can run alongside Audi\u2019s in-car infotainment software. So you can use Audi\u2019s maps while playing music and handling calls from CarPlay.<\/p>\n The display, along with the vehicle interior, is also highly customizable. You can pick a pre-set display package, or create your own with custom photos. It even adjusts the cabin lighting to match your pick.<\/p>\n Audi has also put a lot of effort into the Q9\u2019s sound system. The \u201c4D\u201d audio moves around the cabin and can make your head feel a bit weird as it shifts around you. Bang and Olufsen have done a great job, and audiophiles have a lot to work with here.<\/p>\n Audi has been bold with its styling choices for the Q9 and SQ9. On the outside, it\u2019s further evidence we\u2019re leaving the \u201coverly rounded blob\u201d era of vehicles behind. It\u2019s aggressive, its lighting adds a lot to the appearance, and it retains a sense of sportiness despite its size.<\/p>\n Personally, I prefer the classic-looking \u201cstriped\u201d grille on the standard Q9 to the more abstract cube-filled one on the SQ9, and I wish it were an option on the more expensive vehicle. But this is a personal preference, and others may feel differently.<\/p>\n Inside, the vehicle abandons classic luxury and instead provides a futuristic take on the high-end SUV. The seats seem ergonomic and are beautifully shaped. Lighting is well placed around the cabin. I feel like the carbon-fiber-like trim offered on the SQ9 fits this aesthetic more than the wood on the standard Q9.<\/p>\n The styling, particularly that of the interior, may prove divisive. There are many that prefer classic wood and leather interiors, and will shy away from this. Though both Mercedes and BMW have also long since abandoned the classic luxury vibe and attempted to carve out a more modern cabin. It\u2019s a brave choice, and something I\u2019m glad Audi had the confidence to do.<\/p>\n In practical terms, the Audi Q9 is larger than ever and beats its direct peers out in third-row comfort. The second-row captain\u2019s chairs were incredibly comfortable when I sat in them, and now feature heated seats. The back row has enough room for an adult to ride in fair comfort and boasts a few more inches of legroom than both Mercedes and BMW\u2019s equivalent efforts, though it lags behind some US options like the extended Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Grand Wagoneer.<\/p>\n With both back rows down, the Q9 boasts 87.7 cu. ft. of storage, with between 43.8 and 50 cubic feet available behind Row 2 and 19.3cubic feet available behind Row 3.<\/p>\n Fuel economy is a consideration for many these days, though there\u2019s an argument that if you\u2019re dropping six figures on a vehicle, a few extra bucks at the pump won\u2019t concern you much. You can also argue that poor fuel economy is the price you pay for performance, and you know what you\u2019re getting into when you pick a vehicle packing a 4-liter V8.<\/p>\n Audi hasn\u2019t released the official EPA-estimated fuel economy figures yet. But I can give you a ballpark figure based on the drive experience. In an urban and suburban environment, the dash display suggests that the SQ9 was operating in the single-digit MPG range, with the Q9 not looking much better.<\/p>\n Both were claiming to be sub-10 MPG, with the SQ9 claiming as little as 6 MPG a lot of the time. On the highway, things weren\u2019t a lot better, with the MPG rating for both getting into the mid-teens.<\/p>\n It is worth noting that I\u2019m going off what the on-board computer was estimating here. And I was driving at altitude in a variety of conditions. The EPA figures may be vastly different from this. But either way, it\u2019s not going to be the most economical thing on the road and may be closer to a pickup truck than it is to a regular crossover with a hybrid powertrain.<\/p>\n I heard some big claims about the 2027 Q9\u2019s performance before getting behind the wheel, specifically the SQ9. I\u2019m pleased to say it lived up to those in the end.<\/p>\n In terms of raw grunt, the standard Q9 is far from sluggish. In fact, I\u2019d say it\u2019s more than enough for most people. Hit the gas, and it will push hard from pretty much any speed, which is great when you\u2019re overtaking or merging. It\u2019s also pretty comfortable sitting at 60 to 80 mph if you\u2019re heading along a highway.<\/p>\n The SQ9 very much scratches the performance itch if you need something with a little more punch, though. At first, I was a little disappointed in it. It obviously had power, but the responsiveness was off. In Audi\u2019s standard drive mode, there\u2019s a two or so second delay between you hitting the gas and the vehicle actually moving.<\/p>\n Dynamic mode, Audi\u2019s version of \u201csport mode,\u201d fixes all of this. As it often does.<\/p>\n Tell the vehicle you want performance, and the SQ9 delivers it on tap. Pressing the accelerator is met with a healthy amount of aggression. The vehicle does have a lot of weight, and its center of gravity is a little higher than you want when tearing into corners. But Audi\u2019s driver assistance system and the always-excellent Quattro AWD mitigate this pretty well.<\/p>\n While it wasn\u2019t the first AWD system to crop up in a production vehicle, Quattro arguably made the biggest impact. Audi used it to dominate the World Rally Championship for years (until Lancia borderline cheated them out of a Group B title in what became one of history\u2019s greatest racing sagas). It\u2019s been a mainstay in the company\u2019s better vehicles since then.<\/p>\n There is a strong argument that Audi has the best AWD system on earth. The Q9 and SQ9 do a fantastic job in upholding this idea. While the Q9 is a large and heavy vehicle, I didn\u2019t struggle for grip at any point. This included some time on winding desert roads, and oddly enough it involved a stretch on a snowy mountain pass.<\/p>\n On paper, the latter was pretty hazardous. Losing grip and understeering could send you off a literal cliff edge. While it may have been sensible to slow down to a crawl, the SQ9 I was driving absolutely did not need to.<\/p>\n I did turn my music off and concentrate on what the car was doing, ready to pull back if there was any sign of the vehicle struggling. But it ate up those snowy roads just as well as it handled the dry, hot desert highways. At the risk of sounding dramatic, in a lesser vehicle I may have ended up in serious trouble.<\/p>\n All-wheel steering is also present, which drastically boosts stability when changing lanes on a motorway. It also reduces the vehicle\u2019s turning circle, allowing very tight maneuvers despite the Q9\u2019s overall size.<\/p>\n The Audi Q9 starts at $87,800, while the SQ9 starts at $118,000, putting both vehicles in the luxury SUV bracket. This is where you get a lot of German luxury. BMW and Mercedes\u2019 higher-end stuff, along with their performance departments, live here.<\/p>\n On the American side, you\u2019re dipping into Cadillac Escalade territory with the SQ9, though the Escalade offers a vastly different driving experience.<\/p>\nThe Audi Q9 and SQ9 make you a more considerate driver<\/h2>\n
The infotainment system makes customization easy<\/h2>\n
The styling is pretty unique, and may prove divisive<\/h2>\n
The SQ9 is very thirsty, and the Q9 isn\u2019t a lot better<\/h2>\n
The SQ9\u2019s Performance is a sleeping giant<\/h2>\n
Audi\u2019s flagship SUV makes a strong case for itself<\/h2>\n