Audi Sets Sights on a Third-Generation Q7

Since its introduction of the first generation in 2005, the Q7 has been Audi’s flagship alongside the large executive A8.

Audi Q7: a Q3 on Steroids

This large SUV offering up to seven seats is a true behemoth on wheels—muscular, and over five meters long—which gave birth to the future long line of “Q” SUVs from the four‑ring brand. Audi refreshed it in a second generation ten years later, in 2015, so expectations centered on the Q7 3.0. Today, that moment has arrived, as it was unveiled in grand fashion on its home turf in Ingolstadt, Germany. It lands in a context where, in a few months, it won’t be the lineup’s flagship anymore: that role will belong to the forthcoming grand SUV Q9, which will be revealed in the United States this summer. But back to the Q7. It remains as imposing as ever, measuring more than five meters in length and able to accommodate 5, 6, or 7 passengers depending on configuration. Stylistically, it now closely echoes the design language of its smaller sibling, the recently refreshed Q3. Expect a bodybuilding silhouette, two‑part headlights surrounding a massive grille, stacked taillights, and a sporty diffuser. Nothing revolutionary here; Audi is progressively giving all these green models a cohesive, shared look.

V6 Diesel or Plug‑in Hybrid

Inside—and as with Audi’s latest offerings (Q3, A6, A5)—the cockpit is built around three screens (driver, infotainment, passenger) that span almost the entire width of the console. The material choices and overall design reinforce the model’s premium positioning: the cabin blends synthetic leather upholstery with wood panels and decorative aluminum trim. It feels soft and uncluttered despite the abundance of screens. Rear passengers will enjoy a regal amount of space and an electrically dimmable panoramic sunroof dotted with 78 decorative LEDs. Under the hood, the Q7 will debut with a single powertrain: a 399‑hp V6 TDI diesel paired with mild‑hybrid tech. This marks the return of the Q7 diesel to France. For plug‑in hybrid versions (PHEV), expect them to arrive a few months after market launch; they will develop 395 and 490 hp and, like the TDI version, will be offered with an 8‑speed Tiptronic automatic. That’s the minimum requirement for a vehicle that will weigh at least 2.3 tons. Don’t expect unusually low prices either, as this new Audi Q7 will start at €99,150 in S Line trim. It’s still assembled in Slovakia, at Volkswagen’s Bratislava plant; orders open this June for first deliveries due in October 2026.