Audi has a lot on its plate right now. The German brand is busy with its new Formula 1 team, launching high-performance family cars like the RS 5, and finding time to surprise the entire automotive world with the $1 million Nuvolari supercar. But Audi didn’t forget what most of its customers here in Canada actually buy: SUVs. Behind the scenes, the engineers in Ingolstadt have been hard at work revamping the brand’s entire SUV lineup, starting with the Q3 and Q5. But now it’s time for the big ones, the flagships.
Audi is thinking big with two all-new SUVs. First, there’s the third-generation Q7, which was recently unveiled with a fresh design and oodles of interior tech. Second, there’s the Q9, and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen from Audi before.
What’s New on the 2027 Audi Q7?
The three-row Q7 has been Audi’s luxurious, family workhorse SUV for more than two decades now. In that time it won over many fans, not just for its useful tech, quattro drive and understated design, but also because it simply works. It’s practical and right-sized for cottage weekends, long commutes and extended road trips. But the competition has caught up, and Audi needed to respond.
The result is the all-new 2027 Q7, now in its third generation. It’s much taller than the outgoing model, with a boxier-looking design, but inside is where the new look pays dividends. There’s seating for up to seven people — with enough space for three child seats across the second row — or a more luxurious six-seat setup. Either way, passengers in the rearmost rows will find significantly more headroom thanks to the taller, boxier design.
Up front, it’s clear there’s been a focus on higher quality materials. Drivers will notice as soon as they grab the new steering wheel, now with a leather centre and colour-matched stitching. There’s a huge list of new trim and colour options. The big curved screens are better integrated into a dashboard that flows through into the door panels. And that new panoramic roof? Beautiful.
Power is not in short supply, of course. With 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque from a 2.9-litre turbo V6 engine, the Q7 can get to 100 km/h in a brisk 5.2 seconds. And that’s not even the sporty one; the SQ7 gets a twin-turbo V8 pushing out 591 horsepower. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard (natch) while all-wheel steering and air suspension are options we’d certainly select, along with the B&O 4D stereo.
There’s a lot more to the Q7 than that, of course, but it’s not the only big new SUV Audi has on deck.
What is the 2027 Audi Q9?
Audi is not letting the SUV race get away from it. Other brands have gone bigger, and Audi is responding with this: the all-new Q9. The brand says it was conceived as “a sanctuary for family, business, and long journeys.” There’s never been one of these before, it’s new territory for Audi.
“Cars have long been much more than just a means of transportation; they are mobile living spaces for our customers. Premium materials, variable seating with individual electric seats in the second row, and automatic doors underscore the commitment to quality in our new, large full-size SUV,” explains Audi CEO Gernot Döllner.
The Q9 is noticeably more luxurious than the Q7, even from just a quick glance inside the cabin. (Audi hasn’t released exterior photos or pricing info for the upcoming Q9 yet.) Check out those new thrones in the first two rows. They’re endlessly adjustable, and available with heating and ventilation and massage functions. They look great.
For the first time on an Audi, the brand is offering automatic doors that close at the push of a button. You can even open them from the keyfob or Audi app as you’re walking up to the Q9, for a seamless getaway.
Audi’s designers (finally!) made a point of eschewing glossy black plastic, which tends to highlight dust and fingerprints. As with the Q7, the materials used in the cabin are a step up compared to what Audi customers are used to. In place of the glossy plastic is your choice of “inlays and finishes such as fine-grain ash natural, silk beige, lime structure natural, or carbon fiber weave with basalt gray accents.”
If you’re not into all the extra luxuries though, the other big reason to opt for the Q9 is the third row. It’ll be more spacious and easier to access than on the Q7. Of course, we’ll have more details (and proper photos) of the Q9 when it’s launched sometime later this year. But, for now, just know that Audi is back and serious about winning in the SUV race again.
