2026 Audi Q9 Review: Better Late Than Never?

For the last decade, I have watched Audi sit on the sidelines while Mercedes-Benz printed money with the GLS and BMW flooded school drop-off zones with the X7. Audi owners who outgrew their Q7s had nowhere to go but to a competitor. Well, better late than never. The 2026 Audi Q9 has finally arrived, and it is exactly what you think it is: a massive, luxurious, three-row fortress designed to keep American families happy and wealthy executives isolated from the peasantry.

This vehicle is available for order now, with deliveries hitting dealerships later this year. To be clear: unlike the confusing naming conventions Audi has tortured us with lately, this is not an electric vehicle. The Q9 is built on the “Premium Platform Combustion” (PPC), meaning it drinks gasoline (and occasionally electricity if you opt for the hybrid). It is the final “hurrah” for the internal combustion flagship, and after driving it, I can tell you that Audi has definitely studied its rivals’ homework—even if they turned it in five years late.

Key Features & Specs

The Q9 is enormous. It stretches nearly 205 inches long, dwarfing the Q7 and finally offering a third row that isn’t a violation of the Geneva Convention. In the Q7, the third row was a “penalty box” for small children; in the Q9, I (a 6-foot-tall mechanic with bad knees) can actually sit back there for a 30-minute trip without needing a chiropractor.

Cargo space is where this beast earns its keep. With all seats up, you can fit more than just a single stroller—a major flaw of the smaller Q7. Fold the rows flat, and you have roughly 90 cubic feet of volume, turning this luxury liner into a carpeted cargo van. It features a split-tailgate design similar to the BMW X5/X7, which is a fantastic feature for tailgating or just keeping your groceries from rolling out when you open the hatch.

Powertrain & Performance

Audi knows its audience, so they hasn’t messed around with tiny engines here. The base powertrain is a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, but the one you actually want is the Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). It pairs that V6 with a robust electric motor, giving you about 40 miles of electric-only range. For a suburban parent, this means you can do the school run and grocery shopping on pure electrons, only waking the gas engine for weekend road trips.

However, the driving dynamics are a mixed bag. The air suspension is world-class; it erases potholes and speed bumps as if they don’t exist. You float down the highway in total silence. But the steering is typical Audi: feather-light and completely dead. There is zero feedback. You turn the wheel, and the car turns, but you have no idea what the tires are doing. If you opt for the eventual SQ9 with its twin-turbo V8, you get straight-line violence, but don’t expect this 6,000-pound building to dance in the corners like a Porsche Cayenne. It leans, it rolls, and it reminds you of its weight constantly.

Technology & Interior

Step inside, and it feels like you’ve walked into a Best Buy. The dashboard is dominated by the “Digital Stage,” a curved panoramic screen that houses the instruments and infotainment. It is beautiful, crisp, and runs on Android Automotive, meaning Google Maps is native and fast.

But Audi has made some infuriating choices. The physical buttons for climate control are gone, replaced by a haptic touch panel that requires you to look away from the road to adjust the temperature. The steering wheel buttons are also touch-sensitive, which means you will accidentally change the radio station while taking a sharp turn. The passenger screen (optional) is a neat gimmick for keeping your co-pilot distracted, but the privacy filter makes it look like a dead pixel from the driver’s seat.

Design & Grades

• Premium Plus: The “entry-level” trim, if you can call a $90k car entry-level. It comes standard with Matrix LED headlights and 21-inch wheels.
• Prestige: This is where the cool tech lives. It adds the augmented reality heads-up display (which projects navigation arrows onto the road) and soft-close doors.
• SQ9: The aggressive sibling. It swaps the chrome for black optic trim, adds massive 23-inch wheels, and quad exhaust tips. It looks menacing in the rearview mirror of a Prius.

Pricing (U.S. Examples)

Audi is pricing the Q9 aggressively to steal sales from the BMW X7.

• Q9 55 TFSI (Gas): Starts around $88,000.
• Q9 60 TFSI e (PHEV): Expect to pay $98,000+.
• SQ9: Will easily crest $125,000.

Be warned: Dealers are hungry. Since this is a brand-new flagship, expect “Market Adjustment” markups of $5,000 to $10,000 for the first six months. Do not pay it. Wait for the hype to die down.

Pros and Cons

The Good Stuff: This is the most comfortable Audi ever made. The sound insulation is astonishing; at 80 mph, the cabin is quieter than a library. The PHEV powertrain is a legitimate engineering marvel, offering usable electric range without the range anxiety of a full EV. And finally, having a usable third row means Audi loyalists stop defecting to BMW.

The Bad Stuff: It feels heavy. You never forget you are piloting a three-ton vessel. The touch-sensitive controls are a step backward in usability, prioritizing “wow factor” over ergonomics. And let’s be honest: the fuel economy on the non-hybrid V6 model is going to be abysmal—expect low teens in the city.

Is it Worth It?

If you need a luxury bus that can tow a boat and carry seven people in silence, buy the Q9 PHEV. It is a better daily driver than the BMW X7 thanks to that electric range and superior ride quality.

However, if you drive alone or just have one kid, stick with the Q7. The Q9 is overkill for anyone who doesn’t legitimately need the third row every single day. You are paying a $20,000 premium for 10 inches of metal.

Expert Guides/Opinion

Maintenance Tip: If you buy the V8 SQ9, be religious about oil changes. These hot-V engines cook their oil, and extending intervals to 10,000 miles is a recipe for disaster. Do it every 5,000. Must-Have Option: Four-Wheel Steering. This massive SUV has the turning radius of a school bus without it. With rear-wheel steering, it parks like a Honda Civic. Do not skip this option.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Audi Q9 is a spectacular, opulent, and slightly confused dinosaur. It’s the best gas-powered SUV Audi has ever built, arriving just as the world tries to move on from gas. But if you aren’t ready for a charging cable, this is the ultimate way to burn fuel in style.