It’s taken Audi a little while, but the full-size three-row Q9 SUV is finally here. Positioned as the marque’s flagship SUV, it shares its basic platform with the smaller Q7, but it is larger in every dimension and comes packed with a level of tech and luxury that has never been offered in its smaller stablemate. But does this make it a worthy flagship in Audi’s range? We decided to compare it to its closest rivals to find out.
The Audi Q9
Audi
Audi
Audi
| Spec | Audi Q9 | Audi SQ9 |
| Engine | 2.9-liter Twin-Turbo V6 | 4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8 |
| Power | 429 hp | 591 hp |
| Torque | 442 lb-ft | 590 lb-ft |
| 0 to 60 mph | 4.9 seconds | 3.8 seconds |
| Base MSRP | $87,700 | $118,000 |
Audi’s new flagship Q9 takes over from the Q7 as the most luxurious and spacious SUV in the model range. It has been designed to take on rivals like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS in the full-size three-row luxury market, and as such it represents a big step up from the Q7, which is also available as a seven-seater, albeit in a smaller mid-size package.
At launch, the Q9 is offered with a 429-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 or a 591-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in SQ9 trim. Both come standard with quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The usual Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trim options are available on the Q9, while the SQ9 comes in one ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ specification level. The pricing between the base Q7 and Q9 is a substantial $16,800, so what are you getting for the extra outlay?
Audi Q9 vs Audi Q7
Audi
Audi
| Make and Model | Audi Q7 | Audi Q9 |
| Front Row Headroom | 39.1 in | 39.1 in |
| Front Row Legroom | 41.5 in | 41.5 in |
| Second Row Headroom | 40.0 in | 40.0 in |
| Second Row Legroom | 38.8 in | 41.6 in |
| Third Row Headroom | 38.3 in | 39.8 in |
| Third Row Legroom | 29.1 in | 29.1 in |
| Cargo Space (Behind 1st Row) | 78.1 cu ft | 87.7 cu ft |
| Cargo Space (Behind 2nd Row) | 37.7 – 43.9 cu ft | 43.8 – 50.0 cu ft |
| Cargo Space (Behind 3rd Row) | 15.1 cu ft | 19.3 cu ft |
| Wheelbase | 117.9 inches | 123.5 inches |
| Length | 199.1 inches | 209.0 inches |
Both the latest generation Q7 and Q9 come with the same powertrain, have seven seats, are based on the same platform and can be specced in three different trim levels. So why would you pay almost $17,000 more for the Q9? The simple answer is space. In terms of passenger space, you get more headroom in the second row and more legroom in the third row, but the real difference is in the additional cargo you can haul around. However you configure the rear rows, the Q9 offers between 4.2 and 9.6 inches more cargo space over the Q7.
And while both the Q7 and Q9 are available in three trim levels, the specification levels at each tier are not the same. The base Q9 Premium trim has adaptive air suspension, a head-up display, and 21- inch wheels. These can be added to the Q7 as well, but there are also optional extras on the Q9 that either require a much higher trim level to get on the Q7 or are not available at all. For a deeper dive in to the Q9’s specs, read our article about it here.
However, if you don’t often use the third row, a Premium Plus trim Q7 with a few desirable options will come in at around $80,000 before taxes and is still a very premium driving experience. It’s also a tad lighter, which makes it 0.1 seconds quicker to 60mph. Claimed fuel economy figures are the same for both models.
The Audi Q9 vs Direct Rivals
BMW
Mercedes-Benz
| Make and Model | BMW X7 xDrive40i | Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 | Audi Q9 |
| Engine | 3.0L Turbo Inline-6 | 3.0L Turbo Inline-6 | 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 |
| Power | 375 hp | 375 hp | 429 hp |
| Torque | 398 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft | 442 lb-ft |
| 0 to 60 mph | 5.6 sec | 5.8 sec | 4.9 sec |
| Base MSRP | $87,500 | $90,250 | $87,700 |
| Combined Fuel Economy | 23 MPG | 21 MPG | 21 MPG (Est.) |
| Cargo Space (Behind 2nd Row) | 48.6 cu ft | 42.7 cu ft | 43.8 – 50.0 cu ft |
| Cargo Space (Behind 3rd Row) | 12.8 cu ft | 17.4 cu ft | 19.3 cu ft |
Audi isn’t the only manufacturer using a smaller sized SUV as a base for its three-row flagship, both BMW and Mercedes have been using this recipe for years. The BMW X7 shares a platform with the popular two-row X5, and is priced almost identically to the Q9.
However, while its twin-scroll single-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six motor may be impressive, it makes less power and has a slower claimed 0-60 mph time than the Audi. It does offer more cargo space with both rear rows flat, but the Audi has a lot more space for your bags when all three rows are in place, which is a more likely usage scenario.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is also a stretched GLE SUV, and while it is certainly plush and very upmarket inside, it can’t match the Audi in terms of overall performance or cargo space either. All three German brands have more powerful derivatives of these base models, but based on the bare power and performance figures, Audi once again comes out on top.
Audi
Only a proper road test will reveal whether the Q9 and SQ9 are indeed the class-leaders in this segment now, and certainly earn their place as the flagship SUVs in Audi’s range. Judging any comparison on stats alone is never a good idea, but unless the Q9 delivers a noticeably more upmarket experience on the road, its closest rival may well be the slightly smaller, but very impressive Q7.
About the author
John Tallodi
Senior Editor