Audi has launched the third-generation Q7, a diesel-powered seven-seat SUV priced from €87,900 in Germany. The model arrives with a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine in two outputs, seating configurations for five, six, or seven passengers, and a September delivery date for European buyers. U.S. availability has not been announced.
The Q7 has been a fixture of Audi’s lineup since 2005. The first generation sold 550,000 units globally; the second generation, on sale since December 2014 and now two facelifts deep, has moved approximately 780,000 units. In the U.S. market the aging Q7 has faced mounting pressure: BMW sold 33,588 X5s in the first half of 2025, outpacing the Q7 by more than 3-to-1 with just 9,975 units.
Power comes from a 3.0-liter V6 diesel with MHEV plus technology in two states of tune: 220 kW (299 PS) with 630 Nm of torque, or 180 kW (245 PS) with 500 Nm. The mild-hybrid architecture includes a powertrain generator that adds up to 18 kW (24 PS) of temporary boost and an electric-powered compressor for throttle response. The eight-speed tiptronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with a limited-slip center differential come standard. Audi has not disclosed 0-60 times, top speed, or fuel economy figures for the U.S. market. European combined fuel consumption runs 8.0 to 7.1 liters per 100 km.
The seating variants are the Q7’s most substantive departure from the outgoing model. Five seats come standard. A new six-seat configuration, available for the first time, adds individual second-row captain’s chairs with power fore-and-aft adjustment. The seven-seat layout remains optional, with a second-row bench that accommodates three child seats side by side and a third row accessible via a 65/35-split tilt-forward feature. All seats are electrically adjustable. Trunk capacity runs 806 liters in the five-seater, 722 liters in the seven-seater behind the second row, and up to 2,075 liters with the rear seats folded.
The optional panoramic sunroof with switchable transparency is the notable interior feature. An illuminated panel, it allows occupants to adjust opacity on demand. Audi has fitted an expansive center console with wireless Qi2.2 charging for two smartphones, oversized cup holders, and wraparound decorative trim in fine-grain ash, lime structure, or carbon fiber weave. New upholstery options include stone beige, tamarind brown, and a premium textile package that pairs alpaca fiber with leather in natural and stone beige.
Lighting hardware runs deeper than typical. The optional digital Matrix LED headlights use micro-LED modules to project high-resolution light patterns. At the rear, third-generation digital OLED panels with increased segmentation produce three-dimensional light signatures. Audi offers up to eight digital light signatures across the headlights and rear lights. A new projection light in the doors casts a white rhombus onto the ground when the doors open. Lane guidance lights project visual cues ahead of the vehicle; advanced turn signals cast a stylized arrow onto the pavement in sync with the directional indicators.
The adaptive driving assistant plus handles acceleration, braking, speed and distance maintenance, and lane keeping. A trained parking feature allows the driver to teach the Q7 individual parking maneuvers; reverse assist backs the vehicle out of dead-end streets along the path it drove in. Adaptive air suspension and adaptive air suspension sport with controlled damping are optional; steel springs come standard.
The Q7 is built in Bratislava, where both previous generations were assembled. German deliveries begin in September 2026. The 180 kW model starts at €87,900; the 220 kW variant at €90,500. Audi has not disclosed U.S. pricing, on-sale timing, or powertrain availability for the North American market.
The competitive set is straightforward. The 2027 BMW X5 and 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE do not offer a standard third-row seat. The Volvo XC90, which does, is also available as a plug-in hybrid. Audi’s decision to launch the third-generation Q7 with diesel-only power in Europe and no U.S. announcement suggests the brand is reading the U.S. premium SUV market as a place where a three-row diesel has limited appeal.
Whether the Q7 lands stateside with a different powertrain or skips the market entirely is a question Audi has not yet answered.
2026 Audi Q7 Photo Gallery
Source: Audi. Images courtesy of Audi.
