The Audi Q9 is the first full-size three-row SUV Audi has built, and it reaches U.S. dealers this quarter priced within a few hundred dollars of the BMW X7.
Audi showed the Q9 and the V8-powered SQ9 on July 28, 2026, and builds the Q9 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The X7 comes from BMW‘s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and BMW sells it for 2027 as an xDrive40i or an M60i.
Key Takeaways
- The 2027 Audi Q9 starts at $87,700 and the 2027 BMW X7 xDrive40i at $87,500. With destination, $1,395 for Audi and $1,550 for BMW, the two land $45 apart.
- The Q9’s 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 makes 429 hp and 442 lb-ft, against 375 hp and 398 lb-ft from the X7’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six.
- The X7 is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined and the Q9 at 18, which the EPA puts at $3,400 and $4,200 a year in fuel.
- The Q9 is 5.4 inches longer on a wheelbase 1.3 inches longer, and tows 7,700 pounds to the X7’s 7,500.
- The X7 holds more with its seats folded, 90.4 cubic feet to the Q9’s 87.7. Behind the second row, Audi lists up to 50.0 and BMW 48.6.
- The V8 versions are the SQ9 at $118,000 with 591 hp and the X7 M60i at $115,000 with 523 hp.
- Power-operated doors, a first for Audi, are available on the Q9 and SQ9, along with a standard panoramic roof of more than 16 square feet.
The 2027 Audi Q9 and BMW X7 Side by Side
| 2027 Audi Q9 Premium | 2027 BMW X7 xDrive40i | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $87,700 | $87,500 |
| Destination | $1,395 | $1,550 |
| Engine | 2.9L twin-turbo V6 | 3.0L turbo inline six, 48-volt mild hybrid |
| Horsepower | 429 hp @ 5,500-6,800 rpm | 375 hp @ 5,200-6,250 rpm |
| Torque | 442 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,500 rpm | 398 lb-ft @ 1,850-5,000 rpm |
| Transmission / drive | 8-speed automatic, quattro AWD | 8-speed automatic, xDrive AWD |
| 0-60 mph (maker) | 4.9 seconds | 5.6 seconds |
| Top speed | 130 mph | 130 mph |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 15 / 22 / 18 mpg | 21 / 25 / 22 mpg |
| Fuel | Premium | Premium |
| Length | 209.0 in | 203.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 123.5 in | 122.2 in |
| Height | 71.4 in | 72.2 in |
| Curb weight | 5,302 lb | 5,452 lb |
| Cargo behind 2nd row / max | Up to 50.0 / 87.7 cu ft | 48.6 / 90.4 cu ft |
| Cargo behind 3rd row | 19.3 cu ft | Not listed by BMW USA |
| Max towing | 7,700 lb | 7,500 lb |
| Seats | 7 (6 optional) | 7 (6 optional) |
| Assembly | Bratislava, Slovakia | Spartanburg, South Carolina |
The Q9 and X7 Start $200 Apart
The Q9 comes in three trims, Premium at $87,700, Premium Plus at $93,300 and Prestige at $102,400, and Audi includes three years or 30,000 miles of scheduled maintenance. The X7 xDrive40i starts at $87,500.
Audi’s $1,395 destination charge is $155 below BMW’s $1,550, so a base Q9 delivers at $89,095 and a base X7 at $89,050.
On a Premium Plus, Audi’s configurator prices the second-row captain’s chairs at $450, the trailer hitch at $850 and the Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system at $950.
The Q9’s V6 Makes 54 More Horsepower
Audi’s 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 makes 429 hp and 442 lb-ft, and Audi claims 4.9 seconds to 60 mph.
BMW rates the X7 xDrive40i’s turbocharged inline six at 375 hp and 398 lb-ft, and quotes 5.6 seconds. Both companies list a top speed of 130 mph.
Audi calls the Q9’s 4.9 seconds the quickest in its class, measured against the 2027 X7 xDrive40i, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC, the 2026 Range Rover SE LWB and the 2026 Lexus LX600.
The EPA rates the Q9 at 15 mpg city, 22 highway and 18 combined, and the X7 xDrive40i at 21, 25 and 22, both on premium. In the EPA’s annual estimate, the Q9 burns $4,200 of fuel and the X7 $3,400.
The Q9 weighs 5,302 pounds at the curb, 150 less than the X7 xDrive40i’s 5,452.
The Q9 Is Longer and the X7 Carries More
At 209.0 inches the Q9 runs 5.4 inches longer than the X7, on a wheelbase 1.3 inches longer. The X7 stands 0.8 inch taller.
Audi drew the Q9 with an upright tail and a long rear overhang. Behind the third row, the seven-seat Q9 holds 19.3 cubic feet, and behind the second row Audi lists up to 50.0, against 48.6 for the X7. With both rear rows folded, the X7’s 90.4 cubic feet beats the Q9’s 87.7.
Both seat seven as standard and offer two second-row captain’s chairs.
In the Q9, every seat is power-adjustable in either layout, and the outboard second-row seat slides and tilts forward for third-row access with an empty forward-facing child seat still installed. The third-row seatbacks fold one at a time at the push of a button.
Audi rates the Q9 to tow 7,700 pounds with its optional hitch. BMW lists 7,500 for the X7 xDrive40i with its factory hitch.
Doors That Open Themselves and a 16-Square-Foot Roof
The Q9 is Audi’s first car with power-operated doors. They swing open as far as 90 degrees, pull shut with an electric soft-close mechanism, work from the myAudi app, and stop if a sensor finds a person or object in the way. They are available on both the Q9 and SQ9.
Every Q9 has a panoramic glass roof of more than 16 square feet, the largest Audi has fitted, and a version with nine segments that switch from clear to opaque is optional. The dash pairs an 11.9-inch instrument display and a 14.5-inch touchscreen on one curved OLED panel, plus a 12.3-inch passenger screen.
Air suspension is standard. The Prestige adds all-wheel steering, and the Premium Plus and Prestige come with Audi’s hands-free highway driving system. Audi of America calls the Prestige’s curved digital OLED taillights a world first in a production vehicle.
SQ9 vs X7 M60i
The V8 versions sit $3,000 apart. The SQ9 starts at $118,000 with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 591 hp and 590 lb-ft, and Audi quotes 3.8 seconds to 60 mph. The X7 M60i starts at $115,000 with a 523 hp V8. The SQ9 comes with rear-wheel steering, as the Q9 Prestige does, plus 22-inch wheels with wider rear tires and an electronically controlled rear differential lock.
The EPA rates the SQ9 at 14 mpg city, 20 highway and 16 combined. The 631 hp Alpina XB7, the X7’s former top version, ended with a 120-car 2026 edition, and my XB7 and X7 M60i comparison sets it against the M60i.
Choosing Between the Q9 and the X7
At $89,095 and $89,050 delivered, the base Q9 and X7 come home within $45 of each other. The Q9 brings 54 more horsepower, 7,700 pounds of towing and a longer body with more room behind the second row, and it uses about $800 more fuel a year by the EPA’s estimate. The X7 holds 2.7 more cubic feet with its seats folded and has 22 mpg combined to the Q9’s 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the 2027 Audi Q9?
The 2027 Q9 starts at $87,700 for the Premium, $93,300 for the Premium Plus and $102,400 for the Prestige, plus a $1,395 destination charge. The V8 SQ9 starts at $118,000.
When does the Audi Q9 go on sale?
Audi opened orders in July 2026 and says the Q9 arrives at U.S. dealers in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Is the Audi Q9 bigger than the BMW X7?
The Q9 is 209.0 inches long, 5.4 inches longer than the X7, with a 123.5-inch wheelbase to the X7’s 122.2. The X7 is 0.8 inch taller and holds 90.4 cubic feet with its rear seats folded to the Q9’s 87.7.
Which is faster, the Audi Q9 or the BMW X7?
Audi claims 4.9 seconds to 60 mph for the 429 hp Q9, and BMW quotes 5.6 seconds for the 375 hp X7 xDrive40i. In V8 form, Audi claims 3.8 seconds for the 591 hp SQ9.
What is the Audi Q9’s gas mileage?
The EPA rates the 2027 Q9 at 15 mpg city, 22 highway and 18 combined on premium fuel. The X7 xDrive40i is rated at 21, 25 and 22.
How much can the Audi Q9 tow?
The Q9 and SQ9 are rated to tow 7,700 pounds with Audi’s optional trailer hitch, priced at $850 on the Premium Plus. The X7 xDrive40i tows 7,500 pounds.
Where is the Audi Q9 built?
Audi builds the Q9 in Bratislava, Slovakia. BMW builds the X7 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Does the Audi Q9 have captain’s chairs?
Yes. Seven seats are standard, and a six-seat layout with two power-adjustable second-row captain’s chairs is a $450 option on the Premium Plus.
What engine does the Audi Q9 have?
A 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 making 429 hp at 5,500 to 6,800 rpm and 442 lb-ft from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm, with an eight-speed automatic and quattro all-wheel drive. The SQ9 uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 591 hp.
Does the Audi Q9 have automatic doors?
Yes, as an option on both the Q9 and SQ9. The power-operated doors open up to 90 degrees, close with an electric soft-close mechanism and stop if they detect a person or object in their path.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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