Audi Q9 Interior: Electric Doors, 6- & 7-Seat Layouts and 4D Sound Revealed

The Audi Q9 interior is the centrepiece of the car's reveal. Audi's first full-size flagship SUV offers a choice of six- or seven-seat layouts (the six-seat version adding two electrically adjustable captain's chairs), electrically powered doors that open at the push of a button — a first for Audi — a roughly 1.5-square-metre panoramic sunroof with switchable PDLC glass and 84-LED illumination, and a Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system with actuators built into the front seats so occupants can physically feel the music. Below is a full walkthrough of the Q9's cabin, seating, technology and features.

Audi has pulled back the curtain on the interior of the Q9, the first full-size flagship SUV in the brand's history and its new range-topper above the Q7 and Q8. Ahead of the car's full world premiere on July 28, 2026, the reveal focuses entirely on the cabin, and the headline is space: the Q9 offers six- or seven-seat layouts, electrically powered doors that are a first for Audi, a 1.5-square-metre panoramic sunroof with switchable glass, and a Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system that lets occupants physically feel the music. It is a deliberate statement of intent in a segment Audi has never fielded a true rival in before.

For years Audi topped its SUV range with the Q7 and the more coupe-like Q8, both mid-to-large three-row options but neither a genuine full-size flagship. The Q9 changes that, slotting in above both to take on the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Range Rover in the luxury three-row space. Reports indicate the Q9 rides on an elongated version of Audi's Premium Platform Combustion architecture and will launch with combustion power, likely a V6 mainstay with plug-in hybrid variants expected to follow; Audi has not confirmed powertrain details at this interior-focused unveiling. The choice of a combustion flagship, rather than a pure EV, reflects a market where demand for very large electric SUVs has cooled and buyers still want the range and towing flexibility of an engine.

Seating is the Q9's calling card. Buyers can choose a standard seven-seater or an optional six-seat layout with two electrically adjustable captain's chairs in the middle row for business-class comfort. All three second-row seats can take child seats, and the outer second-row seat slides and tilts forward electrically for third-row access without needing to remove an unoccupied child seat. Every door can be opened electrically at the push of a button from inside, a first for Audi, with an available Smart Entrance system controlling the doors via the myAudi app, MMI, or key fob. Surround sensors can stop a door if there is not enough room or if a cyclist is approaching, and the doors swing up to 90 degrees for easy loading.

Overhead, the standard panoramic sunroof spans roughly 16 square feet and can open fully. An optional system uses nine individually controllable PDLC segments in the laminated glass to darken the cabin without a physical blind, turning opaque automatically when parked for privacy, while 84 LEDs can bathe the roof in one of 30 colours. Inside, contour and indirect lighting emphasise the cabin's width, and a full-width interaction light at the base of the windshield syncs with the music. That music comes from an updated Bang & Olufsen 4D system with headrest speakers and, for the first time, actuators built into the front seats so occupants can feel the beat. The redesigned centre console adds two Qi2.2 wireless charging pads and 100-watt USB-C ports, and a new aluminium trunk rail system secures cargo in three dimensions.

Audi Q9 Interior — Official Press Images

The Q9 is Audi's bid to finally give luxury buyers a reason to stay in the family rather than defect to a BMW X7 or Mercedes GLS when they need three genuine rows. By leading the reveal with interior comfort, seating flexibility, and sensory technology rather than horsepower, Audi is signalling where it thinks this segment is won: on the experience of being inside. The combustion-first strategy should broaden appeal among buyers wary of a large EV's range and charging demands, though it also means the Q9 arrives without the efficiency headline some rivals now offer. Pricing has not been announced, but industry reports point to a U.S. starting figure in the region of 90,000 dollars, which would place it squarely against the X7 and GLS. Final specifications, powertrains, and pricing remain preliminary until the July premiere.

Audi will show the complete Q9, including its exterior and powertrain lineup, at its world premiere on July 28, 2026, with U.S. deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter and other markets to follow. Until then, the specifications above are preliminary. Full details will be published on Audi's official channels at launch.