Audi Unveils Its Biggest-Ever SUV, the All-New Q9 TSPAudi's latest SUV is so big they had to go up two numbers to 9, a digit so high it had never been assigned from Ingolstadt, sort of like Spinal Tap's amp going to 11. The 2027 Audi Q9 is so big that Audi CEO Gernot Döllner calls it "a mobile living space."Yet when you compare it to the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Cadillac Escalade, it's within inches or less in almost every measurement. So the class is well-established, Audi's just new to it.It's still somewhat niche, though. The Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and GMC Yukon account for roughly two-thirds of large SUV sales in America, and have for decades. Those big bruisers are body-on-frame trucks that share GM's T1 platform.TSPThe Q9 rides on Audi's PPC, or Premium Platform Combustion shared with the Q5 and Q7. Porsche is likewise planning a PPC variant of its own, positioned above the Cayenne. But that's still off in the future.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Q9 will compete in a class that is more refined than the biggest SUV sellers in the US, with cross shoppers, if there are any, looking at the X7, GLS, and, if domestically inclined, maybe the Escalade.Audi says it will distinguish itself from those competitors with, among other things, quattro drive, really cool digital matrix LED headlights, a premium interior with individual power-adjustable seats in the second row, automatic doors, and a standard 16 sq-ft panoramic sunroof, the biggest ever offered outside the solarium at the Grand Hotel Ingolstadt."When combined with the latest driver assist systems and a holistic user experience, it becomes clear where we are taking the Audi brand," the carmaker said.AudiFor instance, another handy feature on the Audi is the latest adaptive cruise assist that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel while the system handles steering, acceleration, and braking. It operates at speeds of up to 85 mph. Activating the turn signal prompts the Q9 to assist with a lane change in the desired direction. A long-range radar mounted in the front bumper, side radar sensors, and a front camera in the windshield can detect and monitor road conditions, Audi says. Using navigation geodata, the system identifies approved road segments and offers to activate hands-free driving, with a notification appearing in the Audi virtual cockpit.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother notification and escalating prompts—through audible and visual warnings—are issued when the driver needs to resume full control of all driving functions. The system is classified as "partial automated driving" under SAE Level 2: the driver remains responsible and must stay alert at all times. A driver monitoring camera on the steering column tracks eye position and head movement to monitor the driver's attention.The Q9 and sportier SQ9 both offer your choice of seven seats or six seats in three rows, with the second-row seats power-adjustable and the first row getting ventilation and massage functions. There's even an automatic feature that prevents you from opening a door into oncoming traffic.At launch, the base Q9 will be available with one engine option: a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 making 429 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, capable of accelerating the new flagship to 60 mph in only 4.9 seconds, which Audi lists as best-in-class. But BMW might have beaten it. Both the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS have base models with 375-hp six-cylinder engines, the X7 getting to 60 in 4.6 seconds and the GLS in 5.4, while the Escalade gets there in 5.7 seconds, according to our testing friends at Car and Driver.That's with the base engine in the coming Q9. That engine is mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic with the famous quattro all-wheel drive as standard.audiThe SQ9, meanwhile, gets a 4.0 twin-turbo V8 making 591 hp and 590 lb-ft, good for a 0-60 of 3.8 seconds. It also comes with the option of bigger brakes, 420 mm front vs. 400 mm, with fixed six-piston calipers. Standard tires are 284/40 front and 305/35 rear runflats rolling on double-dubs (22s), but you can upgrade to 285/35R-22s front and 315/30R-23s rear with a summer tread compound. Just don't take any of those off road.AdvertisementAdvertisementAudi says the SQ9 offers impressive handling thanks to rear-biased quattro with electronically controlled rear-axle differential lock and staggered tire setup, Audi says. The SQ9's electronically controlled differential lock on the rear axle, along with brake torque vectoring and standard rear-axle steering, results in optimal driving dynamics and traction in a variety of situations, combined with improved high speed stability and low speed maneuverability. This configuration focuses on enhancing vehicle dynamics, Audi says, providing the vehicle with rear-wheel drive focused driving characteristics combined with the traction of all-wheel drive."Thanks to its new rear-biased architecture, the SQ9 delivers a very dynamic driving experience," Audi promises.So all things considered, the SQ9 is the one you want, if you can afford it. Prices before destination start at $87,700 while the SQ9 is $118,000 when both models arrive in Q4 of 2026.