Audi Q9 Flagship SUV Priced From £103,900 With Seven Seats as Standard
Audi has confirmed UK pricing for the Q9, its new flagship SUV, with the range starting at £103,900 on the road for Edition 1 and rising to £113,250 for the range-topping Vorsprung. The Q9 is now the largest model Audi has ever built, and the first deliveries are expected from November.
At 5,310mm long, 2,210mm wide, and 1,810mm tall on a 3,140mm wheelbase, the Q9 is a properly big SUV, built to compete with the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Range Rover in the full-size luxury segment. Every Q9 seats seven as standard, with electrically adjustable and heated seats in all three rows.
One Engine, for Now
UK buyers get a single powertrain at launch: a 3.0-litre V6 diesel producing 299PS and 630Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive as standard. Audi has added MHEV plus mild-hybrid technology with an electrically powered compressor, which the automaker says sharpens throttle response by spinning up boost before the turbocharger can react on its own.
Buyers who want more space still can pay £5,000 for the optional Lounge Pack on the Vorsprung trim, which swaps the seven-seat layout for six seats across three rows, adding ventilated and massage seats in the second row along with a heated leather centre armrest.
What Separates Edition 1 From Vorsprung
Edition 1, the opening specification, comes with 22-inch alloy wheels, S line styling, Matrix LED headlights with selectable light signatures, adaptive air suspension, and all-wheel steering. Inside, Fine Nappa leather sport seats with ventilation and massage functions cover the front row, while all three rows get heated seats. A panoramic roof with switchable transparency and a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system round out the standard equipment.
Vorsprung trim pushes further, with 23-inch wheels, Digital Matrix LED headlights, and what Audi calls the world’s first curved digital OLED rear lights, offering up to eight selectable light signatures. Automatic doors open and close without the driver touching a handle, and the cabin gains a Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system with 22 speakers, including units built into the front headrests. Park Assist Pro adds trained parking memory for repeat manoeuvres like a tight home driveway, while 3D and 360-degree surround view cameras help place the nearly 5.3-metre car in tight spaces.
A New Ceiling for the Audi SUV Range
Audi UK director José Miguel Aparicio called the Q9 “a compelling new proof point of Audi’s leadership in the premium automotive market” and said it “completes the Audi SUV portfolio,” language that reflects how the Q9 slots in above the existing Q8 and Q7 as a genuine range-topper rather than a mild refresh.
Standard driver assistance across both trims includes adaptive cruise assist, lane departure warning with emergency assist, front cross-traffic assist, and a driver attention and fatigue monitor. Every Q9 also gets a digital key, letting owners unlock and start the car from a compatible smartphone without the physical fob.
The diesel-only launch lineup is notable given how much of Audi’s newer SUV range has shifted toward electrification, and it points to the Q9 targeting buyers who cover long distances and want a full-size seven-seater without range anxiety on a family road trip. Audi has not ruled out additional powertrains for the Q9 later in its life cycle, but for now, the V6 TDI with mild-hybrid assistance is the only way into Audi’s new flagship.
With pricing confirmed and orders open now, the Q9 gives Audi a direct answer to the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS in a segment where British buyers have increasingly gravitated toward Range Rover. Whether the badge and the curved OLED lighting are enough to pull buyers away from those established rivals will become clearer once deliveries begin in November.