Audi Unveils the Q9: Its Biggest SUV Yet

Abu Dhabi: German luxury brand Audi has pulled the covers off the Q9, the largest SUV the brand has ever built and the first model to carry the 9 badge. It sits above the Q7 as Audi's second three-row SUV, aimed squarely at buyers considering either the BMW X7 or the Mercedes-Benz GLS, a rivalry that plays out just as hard in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as any other global market. 

Being the top-of-the-line SUV, the Audi Q9 comes loaded with digital matrix LED lighting, automatic soft-close doors, a three-screen cabin, and a choice of twin-turbo V6 petrol or diesel power, with a V8-powered SQ9 positioned above it. 

From what Audi said so far, the international deliveries are likely to start by November 2026, and while Audi has not confirmed a UAE launch date yet, the brand's established presence in the region through Al Nabooda Automobiles makes a local arrival a matter of when, not if.

New Elegant Face

The Q9 introduces a split-headlight design with slim LED daytime running lights sitting above digital matrix LED headlights. It has used micro-LED modules capable of projecting warning symbols onto the road, and the turn signals can project directional markers onto the ground at night, a first for the brand trying to improve visibility for pedestrians and other drivers, useful on the UAE's busier, less predictable night-time roads.

As you can see in the first glimpse, the front is dominated by a large illuminated grille with an illuminated 2D Audi logo, and the bumper carries a radar sensor for the driver assistance suite. Wheel sizes run from 20 to 23 inches, with the largest options fitted with acoustic foam to cut tyre noise, a detail that will matter on long summer highway stretches between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

At the rear, curved OLED taillights connect across the tailgate through a lit strip and logo, finished off with twin exhaust tips and sharp creases along the bodywork.

Dimension	Measurement
Length	5,309mm
Width	2,010mm
Height	1,794mm
Wheelbase	3,138mm

The SQ9 gets its own visual identity, with a sportier grille featuring silver L-shaped inserts, an S badge, a honeycomb mesh front bumper, unique wheels, and a silver-accented rear bumper with quad exhaust tips.

Luxury Cabin And Modern Tech

Inside, the Q9 has seven seats as standard, clearly targeted at family buyers. There is power adjustment across all three rows and an optional six-seat layout for buyers who prefer individual captain's chairs in the middle row. 

The front seats get ventilation and massage functions, and the third row folds electronically through the infotainment system or controls in the boot, useful for anyone regularly loading golf bags or luggage for a Hatta weekend.

Also, the wood trim runs across the dashboard and centre console. The highlight of the cockpit clearly is three screens: a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger display with its own privacy mode. A new four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of the driver, and the system runs on Android Automotive OS, giving access to built-in apps without needing a phone connected.

Other cabin highlights include:

• A panoramic sunroof, the largest Audi has fitted to any model, with an optional switchable-transparency version and ambient lighting sync.
• A 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with headrest-mounted speakers and actuators.
• Dual wireless phone chargers and USB-C charging points across all three rows.
• A Level 2 driver assistance suite with a 360-degree camera, automated parking, and Adaptive Driving Assistant Plus, which allows partial automated driving on approved roads at speeds up to 130km/h.

The SQ9 replaces the standard beige-and-black cabin for a black-and-white theme with carbon fibre trim, a three-spoke steering wheel, and S-embossed headrests.

Powertrain Choices

Audi is offering the Q9 with different engines depending on the market. In Germany, it comes with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel producing 299 hp and 630 Nm, paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox, quattro all-wheel drive, and a mild-hybrid system adding 24 hp for stronger starts. 

A detuned 245hp version of the same engine is offered in select European markets. In the US, the Q9 runs a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol, producing 429 hp and 599 Nm of torque.

The SQ9, sold in the US, steps up to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 591 hp and 800 Nm, taking it from 100 km/h in 4 seconds before hitting an electronically limited 250 km/h top speed.

Model	Engine	Power	Torque
Q9 (Germany)	3.0L V6 diesel	299 hp	630Nm
Q9 (Europe, detuned)	3.0L V6 diesel	245hp	500Nm
Q9 (US)	2.9L twin-turbo V6 petrol	429 hp	599Nm
SQ9 (US)	4.0L twin-turbo V8 petrol	591 hp	800Nm

The adaptive air suspension comes standard, adjustable by up to 90mm through the drive select menu, alongside all-wheel steering for easier low-speed manoeuvring and better high-speed stability. 

The braking duties fall to composite discs measuring 400mm at the front and 350mm at the rear. Given the diesel's limited relevance to Gulf buyers, the petrol V6 and the SQ9's V8 are the more likely get for any eventual UAE lineup.

The Final Word

With the reveal of the Q9, the German marque brand has taken a huge stride in its new-gen products. This underscores the clear ambition that the brand wants a real share of the full-size luxury SUV market, a segment where the X7 and GLS have had the focus largely to themselves. 

For UAE buyers, that matters because Audi's local lineup has lacked a pure three-row rival to sit above the Q7, and the Q9 fills that gap with more technology, more cabin theatre, and more outright size than anything the brand has sold here before. 

Whether it arrives with the diesel is unlikely to matter locally, but the petrol V6 and the SQ9's V8 both fit the UAE's appetite for big, powerful SUVs. 

And once local pricing and specifications are confirmed, the Q9 is shaping up to be one of the more interesting arrivals for Audi in the region in years.

Also Read: The Audi R8 Is Gone; Here Is Why It Still Matters