Mat Watson gives his honest verdict on the new Audi Q9: is it the ultimate SUV?
Car changing is a big deal
The Audi Q9 is a long-awaited alternative to the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7, but does it have what it takes to beat those cars? Mat Watson has been driving it to find out.
This is the new Audi Q9, and in a way you can think of it as a replacement for the A8 luxury saloon. Alright, so Audi hasn’t explicitly named it as a replacement, but with the A8 now dead the Q9 will become the brand’s biggest and most luxurious model.
But is it good enough to take on alternatives from BMW and Mercedes? To find out, I’ve spent a couple of days with the new Audi Q9 testing its tech, practicality and comfort.
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New Audi Q9 design
The Audi Q9 may look similar to the Q7 from a distance, but it’s quite a bit bigger. It’s the same length as a long-wheelbase Audi A8, and the wheelbase is about 13cm longer than the Q7.
You have a taller, more pronounced grille up front which lights up at night, and the SQ9 which I’m testing has massive 23-inch wheels. It also has four real exhaust pipes at the rear, while the standard Q9 gets twin tips.
This is the only Audi model to have curved OLED taillights, and they have a few clever party tricks. Not only can you change the pattern from the infotainment screen, they can also flash warnings if a car approaches from the rear too quickly, or if a cyclist goes past when you’re opening the door.
I reckon this is a really smart-looking car. I prefer the design to the Mercedes GLS or BMW X7.
New Audi Q9 interior and technology
The Q9’s interior is also suitably posh. Audi has stripped out most of the shiny black plastic you find in models lower down the range, and in its place you’ll find wood, leather and soft-touch plastic. The materials feel lovely, and it all feels pretty solid as well – although some areas do feel a tad hollow if you tap them.
I do think this interior is a bit over-screened though. In addition to the 14.5-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, there’s also a 12.3-inch passenger screen. I don’t think anyone actually uses these, and they make the dashboard look a bit cluttered.
The central screen is really easy to use and super-responsive. The graphics are sharp as well, although it is annoying that you have to control the direction of the air vents through it. I’m also not a huge fan of the massive bezel around the displays.
On the whole, this is a really nicely-made interior. I reckon it looks more modern than a BMW X7 inside, but it’s not quite as solidly built.
New Audi Q9 space and practicality
As nice as it is in the front of the Audi Q9, the rear seats are where you really want to be.
The car I’m testing has two separate captain’s chairs in the back, and they’re the same as the ones in the front of the car. That means they’re super-comfortable, and you can recline them as well. You don’t even have to lean out to close the door. Just tap a button, and it’ll shut automatically.
There is acres of space in the middle row, and loads of glass so it feels light and airy. It’s decent in the third row as well. Kneeroom is good, and there’s enough light so as to not feel claustrophobic.
When it comes to the boot, the Audi Q9 projects a little arrow onto the floor telling you where to waggle your foot for the hands-free tailgate. That’s clever, and once you’re in there’s a whopping 850 litres of space with the third row folded down. That’s 80 litres more than the X7 has to offer. You also get an impressive 280 litres of space with the third row in place, which is 70 litres more than you get in the Audi Q7.
New Audi Q9 engines and driving
The engine I’m most excited about is the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 in the SQ9. It has a whopping 590hp and 800Nm of torque, and 0-60mph takes just 3.6 seconds. That’s almost three quarters of a second quicker than a Range Rover SV, and about the same as the Audi RS3 hot hatchback.
However, there’s a problem. Thanks to some boring EU emissions rules, we won’t be getting this engine in Europe. Only the Americans will be able to enjoy it, and we’ll get the standard version with a 2.9-litre V6 diesel engine. Boo.
It has a more modest 299hp, and will do 0-60mph in around 8.0 seconds.
All versions of the Audi Q9 get adaptive air suspension as standard, and it makes the car feel really luxurious on the move. I took it over some really rough roads in rural Utah, and it soaked up all the bumps with ease.
It also stays flat through the corners, and it feels surprisingly agile for such a big car. You get rear-wheel steering as standard, which also makes the turning circle tighter. It’s pretty manoeuvrable, but the BMW X7 has a slightly tighter turning circle.
New Audi Q9 prices and verdict
The new Audi Q9 will go on sale later this year, with prices starting from £100,000. That makes it around £7,000 more expensive than a BMW X7, and it’s exactly the same price as a Mercedes GLS.
So what’s my final verdict on the Audi Q9? Well if you’re after a big, luxurious SUV which is lovely to drive, I think you should just go right ahead and buy it.
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