2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7 First Look: 591 HP Hiding Under Quiet Sheet Metal

The third-generation 2027 Audi Q7 broke cover this year with a quieter visual update than its decade-long absence suggested, but the bigger change sits under the sheet metal. Audi swapped the previous Q7’s base four-cylinder for a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 making 429 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, and the new SQ7 adds a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 591 hp. Both models are built in Bratislava, Slovakia, and are slated for US showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The two models share chassis hardware and split sharply at the engine bay. Here is how the headline figures stack up, all sourced from Audi’s US configurator pages:

Why the Q7 Looks Like a Quieter Update Than It Is

The new Q7 and SQ7 carry the same large-SUV silhouette Audi has used since the 2017 model year, and the design choices are deliberately measured. The grille, lighting signatures, and wheel options stay within the brand’s existing visual language.

That choice is a deliberate bet on broader market reach, a luxury three-row that aims for mass appeal in the family-SUV segment. Black-optic packages and alu-optic S-model details give buyers a louder version if they want one, and the Q7 can be ordered with up to 22-inch wheels while the SQ7 stretches to 23 inches, per 2027 Q7 wheel and feature details.

The styling restraint has a practical effect on where the new Q7 sits in the market. It shares showroom space with a Honda Pilot or a Toyota Grand Highlander, and the design language keeps it visually adjacent to those family haulers. That positioning is what makes the powertrain overhaul land with more force. The conservative bodywork is selling understatement while the engines under the hood are doing something else entirely.

The Interior Finally Catches Up to the Q9

The cabin is the most visible upgrade. The new Q7 shares its interior architecture with the larger Q9, bringing a standard 12.3-inch passenger display, a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen, and an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit to the dashboard. A six-seat configuration swaps the second-row bench for captain’s chairs, and an optional panoramic roof uses a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal layer segmented into nine zones that switch between clear and opaque.

• Optional 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system with seat beat (10 speakers standard, 16-speaker B&O as the middle option)
• Power opening and closing doors, activated by a button or the myAudi app
• Digital Matrix LED headlights with approximately 25,600 individually controllable micro-LEDs per unit
• 4K dashcam, 100-watt USB-C ports, and twin 25-watt wireless charging pads (the latter standard)
• Available head-up display and an AI voice assistant

The seat beat hardware, which 2027 SQ7 sound and seat beat details describes as transmitting tactile signals synced to the music, adds a vibration element to the front-seat bottoms. SlashGear pegs the top-end B&O system at 1,360 watts. Cargo space climbs to 78.1 cubic feet with both rear rows folded, a meaningful step up from the previous-generation Q7’s 68.1 cubic feet in the same configuration.

A Powertrain Overhaul Hiding in Plain Sight

The base Q7 gets a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 where the previous generation used a four-cylinder. The new engine makes 429 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic and standard Quattro all-wheel drive.

Audi’s US configurator labels the 2027 Q7’s 429 hp, 442 lb-ft, and 4.8-second 0-60 time as ‘best-in-class.’ Readers should treat that phrase as Audi’s marketing claim. The Q7 sits in a segment that includes the Lexus TX and Volvo XC90 as direct rivals.

The SQ7 sits at the top of the lineup. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, figures that match the official Audi USA configurator. Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds for the SQ7. The previous SQ7 made 500 hp and reached 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, so the new car is the quicker version by a margin the outgoing model couldn’t match.

SlashGear notes the SQ7’s claimed 0-60 sprint matches the Ford Mustang GT, a comparison the brand’s ‘S’ badge has earned in the past on the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Performance, both of which use the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 architecture tuned up to 621 hp. The Q7’s base V6 puts the family hauler closer to a sports-sedan acceleration profile, and the SQ7’s V8 closes the gap to a sports car. The V6 and V8 are the first engine swap the Q7 has seen since the 2017 model year.

This Is Still a 7,700-Pound-Tow SUV

Both the Q7 and the SQ7 are rated to pull 7,700 pounds with the available tow package, a figure that puts the family hauler in the same conversation as dedicated tow vehicles. Car and Driver notes the Q7’s rating ‘exceeds that of rivals such as the Lexus TX and the Volvo XC90.’ The SQ7 ships with a standard adaptive air suspension that adjusts damping and ride height, while the Q7 uses steel springs and offers the air setup as an option. The mechanical package behind the towing number is conventional: a Tiptronic eight-speed automatic, which is a torque-converter transmission; Quattro all-wheel drive with a rear-bias default; and an available rear-differential lock.

The Q7 is sold strictly as an internal-combustion vehicle for the US market, with no hybrid variant announced for American buyers as of the reveal. Both the Q7 and the SQ7 continue to be built at Audi’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia. Audi’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles, and Audi Signature Care covers scheduled maintenance for three years or 30,000 miles.

The Three-Row Caveat Audi Hasn’t Fully Solved

The third row is where the new Q7’s family credentials are weakest. MotorTrend’s first look put it bluntly: ‘We’ve long complained about the current Q7’s third-row seat, and the new one, sadly, isn’t much better. It sits nearly flat on the floor and offers very little legroom.’

The seating flexibility has improved elsewhere in the cabin. All seats fold electrically, the second-row chairs in the six-seat configuration are power-adjustable, and Audi’s official configurator lists up to 78.1 cubic feet of cargo space with both rear rows folded. Available technology reads like a flagship: a 4K dashcam, 100-watt USB-C ports, twin 25-watt wireless charging pads, a head-up display, and available Digital Matrix LED headlights that use approximately 25,600 micro-LEDs per unit, plus 78 LEDs embedded in the panoramic glass roof. The 78.1 cubic feet is a step up from the previous Q7’s 68.1 cubic feet in the same configuration, a comparison SlashGear flagged as one of the practical wins of the redesign.

For the first time, the Q7 is offered with second-row captain’s chairs as an alternative to the three-way split-folding bench, a real upgrade in second-row comfort. The cabin is now closer to the Q9’s than the previous Q7’s, with a control layout and material quality that significantly outpace the outgoing model. Adult passengers in the third row will still find the seating uncomfortable on long trips, per MotorTrend’s first look.

Where the 2027 Q7 Lands on the Calendar

The 2027 Q7 and SQ7 are scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2026, with production continuing at Audi’s Bratislava, Slovakia plant. SlashGear framed the redesign as a ‘long-overdue revamp’ given that the previous-generation Q7 has been on sale ‘largely unchanged since the 2017 model year.’ For European buyers who have been watching the larger Q9 launch first, the Q7 follows as a slightly smaller, more urban alternative in the same showroom. The Q7 is sold strictly as an internal-combustion vehicle for the US market, with no hybrid variant announced for American buyers as of the reveal. Several pieces of the launch story remain up in the air, including these:

• US pricing: Audi has not yet announced the 2027 Q7 or SQ7 sticker for the US market
• EPA fuel economy: Car and Driver’s spec page lists fuel economy under ‘more information to come’
• Hybrid availability: MotorTrend notes no hybrid variant has been announced for the US
• Independent 0-60 testing: Car and Driver has not yet instrument-tested the claimed 3.7-second SQ7 sprint
• Real-world third-row comfort: MotorTrend’s first look notes the new third row ‘isn’t much better’ than the outgoing one

The competition is the usual German super-SUV cohort. SlashGear names the BMW M-line of SUVs and ‘whatever Mercedes-AMG is cooking up’ as the most direct rivals, with the new Q9 also competing internally for buyers who want a longer wheelbase and more third-row space. For a sense of where the high-performance luxury segment is heading this year, see five high-performance luxury cars arriving in 2026. Buyers cross-shopping Audi’s smaller SUV options can also look at the redesigned 2026 Q3 that just hit dealers for a sense of where the brand is positioning its three-row versus compact SUV lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2027 Audi Q7 go on sale in the US?

SlashGear reports the Q7 and SQ7 launch in the US ‘towards the end of this year,’ and Car and Driver pegs the on-sale date to the fourth quarter of 2026. Production continues at Audi’s Bratislava, Slovakia plant.

What engine does the 2027 Q7 use?

The base 2027 Q7 runs a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 429 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. It replaces the previous-generation Q7’s base four-cylinder engine.

How much horsepower does the 2027 SQ7 have?

The 2027 SQ7 uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, with Audi claiming a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds.

How much can the 2027 Q7 and SQ7 tow?

Both models are rated to tow up to 7,700 pounds with the available tow package. Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic are standard across the lineup.

How big is the cargo area on the 2027 Q7?

Audi’s official configurator lists up to 78.1 cubic feet of cargo space with both rear rows folded, a step up from the previous Q7’s 68.1 cubic feet in the same configuration.