THE BREAKDOWN The first-ever Audi Q9 debuts later this year. It will be a six-seater with captain’s chairs. Dealers claim it'll be much larger than the Q7. Better late than never, Audi is about to enter the full-size luxury SUV segment. From the Range Rover and BMW X7 to the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, essentially all major competitors already have products in this class. Some 20 years after archrival Mercedes launched the GL-Class, the Q9 will break cover in 2026 as Ingolstadt’s belated flagship SUV. As you can imagine, dealers are eager to get their hands on the Q9, Audi’s first luxobarge with a proper third row. Speaking with Automotive News, Audi National Dealer Council chairman Tom McCollum is hyped about the upcoming product, calling it the “soccer mom vehicle that we’ve been unable to offer.” Rear-seat occupants will have far more space than in the Q7, as the upcoming range-topping SUV will be significantly larger. For reference, the outgoing Q7 measures 198.9 inches (5,052 millimeters) in length, while its replacement, also arriving this year, is expected to grow even bigger. Logic suggests the Q9 will be larger still than the next-generation Q7, although McCollum clarified it will be shorter than the Chevrolet Tahoe. The American family hauler stretches 210.7 inches (5,352 millimeters), roughly on par with a Rolls-Royce Cullinan or the long-wheelbase Bentley Bentayga. Audi remains tight-lipped about the first-ever Q9, but the dealers’ representative said it will feature captain’s chairs and a walk-through second row. McCollum added that the supersized SUV is expected to lure buyers who have so far opted for the Tahoe or Suburban due to their superior space compared to the Q7. “The Q9 is going to resolve that issue for us. Every Audi dealer will tell you: It cannot get here soon enough.” 2027 Audi Q9 rendering by Motor1.com Motor1's Take: Audi certainly needs fresh metal in the United States, given the company’s poor sales results in 2025. Deliveries fell by a worrying 16 percent to 164,942 units, partly due to demand for the aging Q7 dropping by 12 percent to 20,894 vehicles. Launching an all-new Q7 alongside a larger Q9 should help rejuvenate sales. However, while both models are set to break cover later this year, any positive impact on deliveries is unlikely to be felt until 2027. You might think the market for full-size luxury SUVs is already saturated, but Audi believes there’s still room for the Q9. Complaints about the Q7’s cramped third-row seating have been heard and are set to be addressed by the upcoming range-topping SUV. It remains to be seen whether the next Q7 will retain a third-row option or if Audi will try to push buyers toward the Q9 instead. It’s also too soon to say whether, beyond the individual third-row seats, the Q9 will offer a bench that can accommodate three passengers. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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