2027 Audi Q7 Upgrades Engine, Cabinaudi (audi)Audi's biggest SUV news lately (literally and figuratively) has been about its upcoming Q9 flagship, but the automaker is also prepping a closely related new version of the Q7 and SQ7. Let's hope the Sevens don't get lost amid the Q9 hoopla, because there are several meaningful improvements here, including better tech, new seating choices, nifty lighting, and a lot more power. Unfortunately, one of the current Audi Q7's biggest drawbacks hasn't been addressed.You Look Different Yet So FamiliarIf you notice a resemblance to the camouflaged Q9 Audi revealed in May, you're correct. The two SUVs are closely related, sharing many of their mechanical components and much of the front sheetmetal, including the hood, fenders, and front doors, though most of the styling aft of the rear wheels is unique. The Q7's interior is largely shared with the Q9, including the lovely high-class materials and neato sunroof. We'll talk more about its interior in a moment, but if you've already read our First Look detailing the new Q9's cabin, you can skip that section.One of our complaints about the current Q7 was the paucity of power from its base four-cylinder powertrain; we recommended opting for the V-6. The 2027 Q7 eliminates that concern entirely, as its sole engine option is now a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 good for a healthy 429 hp and 442 lb-ft. For those keeping score, that's a 94 hp/73 lb-ft boost over the current Q7's V-6 and 168 hp/169 lb-ft over the miserly old four. Audi's claiming a 4.8 second 0–60 run, 0.7 second better than it estimated for the current Q7's V-6. Is there a fuel economy penalty? We don't know yet, as neither Audi nor the EPA have published fuel economy figures.audi (audi)The rest of the powertrain is what you'd expect; a Tiptronic eight-speed—that's the torque-converter transmission, not the dual-clutch—and Quattro all-wheel drive are standard. (Electrification? Nope. This is strictly a conventional internal combustion powertrain, with no hybrid variant announced, at least not for the U.S. market.) Steel springs are standard, and an adaptive air suspension is optional. Equipped with the optional towing package, the Q7 can pull trailers up to 7,700 pounds.Automatic Entrance to a Lovely New InteriorAs mentioned, the interior of the 2027 Q7 is all new, and as also mentioned, it's largely shared with the Q9. That includes one of our favorite features—the Q9's (optional) power doors. Tug the door handle (or tap a button on the Audi app), then stand back as the doors swing open. Stepping on the brake pedal closes the driver's door, and there are door-close buttons on the roof as well as the door itself. Parents, you might want to encourage your kids to use this feature while getting out, as the doors will stop before they encounter an object, animate or inanimate. That should reduce the chances of dinging the vehicle next to you.AdvertisementAdvertisementThree screens span the dashboard, including a standard screen for the passenger. Audi has simplified the control layout, decluttered the center console, and significantly upped the quality of materials. Options include 100-watt USB-C ports (with twin 25-watt wireless charging pads standard), massaging front seats, a 4K dashcam, and a "4D" Bang & Olufsen stereo with speakers that vibrate the front seat bottoms. Also notable (and optional, and openable) is the panoramic sunroof. It uses a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) layer instead of a traditional blind, segmented into nine areas that can switch between clear and opaque. After dark, there are 78 LEDs embedded in the glass that provide lighting.audi (audi)As with the Q9, the Q7 will be offered in both six- and seven-seat versions, marking the first time that the Q7 will be offered with bucket seats in the second row as an alternative to the three-way split-fold bench. The Q7 has a shorter wheelbase and overall length than the Q9, and most of that space comes out of the second row, though it's still generously sized and comfortable.We've long complained about the current Q7's third-row seat, and the new one, sadly, isn't much better. It sits nearly flat on the floor and offers very little legroom. Smaller kids might not complain, but don't put your adult friends back there unless you're looking to shed their friendship.All seats fold electrically, but they operate at a snail's pace. A manual override would be welcome; by the time the second-row seats slide forward for your kids to access the third row, they'll have grown too tall to fit back there. The third-row seats are just as painfully slow to fold, and we suspect most owners will fold them down and leave them. Cargo space is 15.1 cubic feet when the third row is in place and 43.9 cubes when the seats are folded down.audi (audi)Fancy High-Beams and Dancing TaillightsTogether with the Q9, the Q7 will be one of the first Audis to offer digital matrix headlights. That means you can run the Q7 with your high-beams on, and they will automatically carve out a darker spot for oncoming traffic so as not to dazzle the drivers. (Europe has had these headlights for some time; a recent NHTSA rule change has only recently made them legal in the U.S.)AdvertisementAdvertisementOut back, the Q7 features OLED taillights that light up in user-selectable patterns. They display triangles when the hazards are on and go solid red to warn approaching pedestrians and cyclists of their presence. Technically, they're marker lights; the actual stop and turn lights are lower down. The Q7's amber LED-strip turn signals don't meet U.S. requirements for minimum lighting area, so for our models, the brake light doubles as the turn signal. (NHTSA, while you're updating your lighting regulations, it's time to take a look at that one, too.) Another nifty (optional) lighting feature is turn signal repeaters that are projected on the ground at the corners of the car, warning other motorists, as well as cyclists and pedestrians, that you're changing directions.More Power, More Fun: The 2027 SQ7If the Q7 isn't unique or fast enough for you, then it's the SQ7 you'll want—and the good news is you won't have to wait, as it'll appear in dealerships at the same time as the Q7. The new SQ7 will once again use a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, and power jumps to 591 hp and 590 lb-ft, an increase of 91 hp and 22 lb-ft over the current SQ7. Audi predicts a 0–60 time of 3.7 seconds; we clocked the current version at 3.6 and expect the new SQ7 to be even quicker.audi (audi)The SQ7's all-wheel-drive system is programmed for a rearward power bias that can send nearly all of the engine's torque to the rear axle, which itself gets an electronic locking differential. SQ7s come standard with the Q7's optional air suspension, and an optional sport version lowers the SQ7's ride height by 1.2 inches. The SQ7 gets larger rear brakes and a selection of 22- and 23-inch wheels (as opposed to 20s, 21s, and 22s on the Q7) with either all-season or summer tires. A unique grille and silver window surrounds and mirror caps visually differentiate the SQ7, and you can get those bits murdered out in black if you prefer.When and How Much?Pricing has yet to be announced, but we expect a significant jump over the current four-cylinder Q7's base price of $63,295 and likely over the 2025 Q7 V-6's $68,895 sticker. The existing SQ7 stickers for $95,095, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the new car hit six figures. All will be revealed closer to the fourth quarter of 2026, when the 2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7 start to arrive in dealerships.Photo credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audiAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: audiPhoto credit: audi