Audi has officially pulled the covers off the interior of the Q9, the German carmaker’s upcoming flagship three-row SUV. While Audi already sells a three-row luxury SUV in the form of the Q7, the Q9 will slot above it as a larger option, better enabling it to take the fight to the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.
Audi Q9 interior and features
Starting off with the doors, the Q9 is the first Audi that offers electrical operability for every single door. They can be opened or closed via the key fob, infotainment touchscreen, seatbelt buckle, myAudi app, and even the brake pedal. Moreover, the Q9’s doors are equipped with a bevy of sensors that can stop them from opening should the SUV be in a tight parking space or if there’s an incoming motorist from behind on the road.
Step into the Q9 and the most prominent element on the dashboard is a triple-screen setup, which comes fitted as standard and comprises a curved central touchscreen and driver’s display, along with a flat passenger screen. Consequently, there’s little in the way of physical controls on the dashboard, but the three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel thankfully houses a bevy of buttons and scroll wheels.
Like the new-gen Audi Q3, the Q9 shifts the gear selector to the right stalk behind the steering wheel, while the left stalk is a larger unit that combines the light, wiper, and indicator controls. This frees up more storage space on the centre console, which features dual wireless charging pads (these support the latest Qi2.2 standard), two 100W USB-C charging ports, an electronic parking brake, the engine start/stop button, and some physical controls for the hazard lights, media volume, drive mode selection, 360-degree camera, and more.
Also of note is the Q9’s huge laminated panoramic sunroof, which is split into nine segments that can be toggled transparent or opaque. The top-spec Q9 trim’s panoramic sunroof even includes 84 LEDs that sync up with the ambient lighting. Speaking of which, there’s a lot of ambient lighting in the Q9’s cabin, covering the top of the dashboard, the door liners, and even the base of the seat headrests.
As for seating configuration, the Q9 can be had either as a 7-seater or a 6-seater with second-row captain’s chairs – these are electrically adjustable and ventilated. The front seats are powered and ventilated as well, and additionally offer a massage function, while the third-row seatbacks can be folded down electrically.
