Audi’s New SUV Is Bigger Than Mercedes and BMW Rivals, but It’s Not as Big as Cadillac’s Escalade

We already know that Audi’s new Q9 SUV is big, but how big is it, exactly? As Audi enters the full-size luxury SUV segment for the first time, we’re comparing this new model with its closest competitors, the BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class, in terms of size, price, and powertrains.

The Q9’s size was a “non-negotiable” according to Filip Brabec, Audi of America senior
vice president of product management. When asked what differentiates the Q9 from the mid-size Q7, Brabec said, “It's like, I want it all, and I want the space. That's why we went in this generous direction.” And indeed, the Q9 is generously sized when compared with its rivals, both in terms of its dimensions and available powertrains, which offer competitive power figures in the standard V-6 Q9 and the V-8-powered SQ9.

Dimensions and Size

The 2027 Audi Q9 measures 209 inches long, which is 5.4 inches longer than the BMW X7 and 4.0 inches longer than the Mercedes GLS. It’s approaching the length of the Cadillac Escalade, even, which measures 211.9 inches. The Audi’s wheelbase is the longest of all these models, though, and it’s taller than the BMW as well, at 79.2 inches versus the X7’s 78.7 inches.

Audi is particularly proud of the 19 cubic feet of cargo space available behind the third row of seats, one cube more than the GLS and six more than the X7. We look forward to seeing how many carry-on suitcases we can fit behind the Q9’s third row once we get it in for testing. The Q9 doesn’t beat the BMW or Mercedes in terms of third-row legroom, though, so it seems Audi prioritized cargo space over passenger space with all the seats up.

V-6 and V-8 Powertrains

The Audi Q9 has the most horsepower of the three German SUVs, as its twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 has 429 horsepower. The X7 and GLS both come standard with turbocharged inline-six engines, with the BMW’s producing 375 horsepower in the xDrive40i and the Mercedes’ producing the same 375 hp in the GLS450.

Comparing the V-8 upgrade engines in the higher trim levels, the Audi SQ9 also comes out on top with its 591-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. That outmuscles the BMW X7 M60i’s 523-hp V-8 and the Mercedes GLS580’s 530-hp V-8; the Mercedes does offer the AMG GLS63, however, which edges the Audi with its 603-hp V-8.

Towing Capacity

The Audi Q9 matches the Mercedes-Benz GLS with its 7700-pound towing capacity, while the BMW is rated to tow 7500 pounds. If you want to haul a bit more, the Escalade is the best bet, as it’s rated to tow up to 8100 pounds if you opt for the base rear-wheel-drive configuration.

Starting Price

Audi is offering a decent amount of car for the money, as the Q9 is not the most expensive member of this trio despite being the largest in terms of size. The V-6 version starts at $89,095, undercutting the Mercedes-Benz GLS450’s starting price by $2505 (we don’t yet have pricing for the updated 2027 GLS-class lineup, but we expect it to be higher). The 2027 BMW X7, meanwhile, starts at $89,050 for the xDrive40i, lining up with the Q9.

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Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Hearst Autos team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.