Audi SQ9 Revealed: Faster and Cheaper Than GLS 63 Arrives

Picture a full-size SUV that lurches off the line like a muscle car and still hauls the boat on the weekend. Audi’s new SQ9 wants to rewrite expectations for three-row performance SUVs. It arrives with a deliberate swagger: aggressive looks, V8 bark, and numbers that force rivals to take notice.

The heart of the SQ9 is a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 tuned to 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Translation: a 3.8-second sprint to 60 mph. That makes Audi’s claim—that the SQ9 is the quickest accelerating three-row SUV to 60 mph in its class—hard to dismiss. Short bursts of speed, then composed midcorner balance. It’s a rare combination.

Why the drivetrain matters

Power flows through an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox to Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system with an electronically controlled locking rear differential. The setup favors the rear, which helps the SQ9 behave more like a driver-focused SUV than a lumbering family hauler. Rear-wheel steering, progressive steering, standard 22-inch wheels (23s optional), and air suspension with roughly 3.5 inches of travel further sharpen the manners while keeping everyday comfort intact.

Towing capacity remains serious: 7,700 pounds (about 3,493 kilograms). So yes, this is performance—without sacrificing utility.

On the safety and assistance front, the SQ9 arrives with Level+ partial automated driving for U.S. customers, capable of hands-on cruising up to 85 mph. Standard active safety tech includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, park assist plus, trailer stability assist, and a 360-degree camera. Trailer maneuvering assist is optional for those who actually use the towing capability.

Inside, Audi keeps the cabin familiar but dialed up. A 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen dominates the center stack while a head-up display is standard and a 12.3-inch passenger display is optional. Expect front sports seats, carbon-fiber trim elements, S badging, and Nappa leather available in red, black, silver, or blue. Ambient lighting, five-zone climate control, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system are part of the premium package.

On the outside the Singleframe grille feels meaner, headlights wear a blacked mask for a sportier stare, and the rear features curved digital OLED taillights with a continuous light strip and illuminated Audi rings. Quad exhaust tips finish the picture—because looks still matter.

How it stacks up against the AMG GLS 63

The most obvious rival is the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63. Mercedes’ 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 puts out slightly more peak power at 603 hp and greater torque at 627 lb-ft, but Audi has turned that on its head where it counts: straight-line punch. The SQ9’s 3.8-second run to 60 mph beats the GLS 63’s quoted 4.1 seconds. Real-world launches often favor traction and gearing over headline horsepower, and here the SQ9 has clearly been engineered to be quicker off the line.

Pricing underlines Audi’s strategy. The Q9 starts from around €81,561, with the SQ9 beginning at about €109,740. By contrast, the AMG GLS 63 lists from approximately €140,472. So buyers get near-GLS performance for a noticeable step down in price—without giving up three-row practicality.

Order books for both the Q9 and SQ9 opened in July 2026 in the United States, and first deliveries are slated for the fourth quarter. Audi has positioned the SQ9 as a calculated move: the fastest three-row sprinter in its arena and a tempting alternative to more expensive rivals.

Whether you buy it for overtaking on the highway, towing the trailer, or simply because you want a big SUV that behaves like it hates traffic, the SQ9 stakes a claim. It doesn’t feel like a compromise. It feels like a statement.