Audi will introduce the third-generation Q7 this summer, the brand’s first full redesign of its midsize premium SUV since 2015. The announcement positions the Q7 as the foundation of a two-model SUV strategy that pairs it with the new Q9 flagship, which debuts in the second half of 2026.
The Q7 has been on sale since 2005 without missing a model year, which makes this the first time in more than two decades that Audi has redrawn the model from the ground up. The press release frames the redesign around sporty design language, interior versatility, and a range of driving characteristics from comfort to dynamic. Audi has not disclosed powertrains, dimensions, seating configurations, or pricing.
The competitive context is straightforward. The Q7 competes in the midsize premium SUV segment against the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Acura MDX currently starts at $51,200, which sets the value end of the segment. Audi has not confirmed a starting price for the new Q7, though the current model positions several thousand dollars above the MDX.
The new Q7 will ride on Audi’s PPC platform, a step evolution of MLB evo that supports mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Whether Audi will offer both electrification strategies at launch or phase them in over the model cycle is not yet clear. The press release mentions a wide spectrum of driving characteristics without naming specific chassis hardware, adaptive dampers, or air suspension variants.
Interior materials and user-centric technologies appear in the announcement as selling points, but Audi has not detailed the infotainment architecture, screen sizes, or driver-assistance package structure. The brand describes the cabin as highly versatile, which suggests configurable seating or cargo options that have not yet been shown.
The Q9 will top the Audi SUV lineup when it debuts later this year, which repositions the Q7 as the midsize offering in a three-tier structure that includes the Q5 compact and the Q9 flagship. Audi has not disclosed Q9 pricing, dimensions, or seating capacity, which makes it difficult to know how much separation exists between the two models.
The third-generation Q7 arrives at a moment when the BMW X5 is entering its own redesign cycle for the 2027 model year, and Mercedes-Benz is refreshing the GLE for 2027. The timing puts all three German midsize SUVs on the lot in new or updated form at the same time, which has not happened since the last product cycle aligned in the mid-2010s.
A summer debut typically means U.S. dealerships will see the Q7 in the third or fourth quarter of 2026 as a 2027 model. Buyers cross-shopping the segment now have three months to decide whether to wait for the new generation or close on the outgoing model before inventory clears.
Source: Audi. Images courtesy of Audi.
