The 2027 Audi Q9 lists at $28,900 more than the Q7 on audi.ca’s MSRPs, and what that money buys is mostly space and standard equipment, not speed. Both run a 429-hp V6, both seat seven, and audi.ca rates the Q7 a tenth of a second quicker to 100 km/h. For most Canadian buyers the Q7 is the better value, and the Q9 makes sense for a narrower group of families.
This comparison covers the Q7 against the Q9, with a shorter look at the SQ7 against the SQ9, using Canadian prices from audi.ca. If you’re weighing either one against BMW or Mercedes, we’ve compared the Q7 with the X5 and GLE and the Q9 with the X7 and GLS.
Why the 2027 Audi Q7 and Q9 compete
The Q7 is redesigned for 2027, and the Q9 is a new flagship above it. The Q9 doesn’t replace the Q7. audi.ca says it sits above the Q7 as the flagship of the SUV lineup, and with the same V6 and seven seats in both, the question is whether the Q9’s extra size is worth the money.
Availability is uneven. Audi of America said on Nov. 9 that the Q7 and SQ7 are on sale at U.S. dealers. In Canada, audi.ca lists all four models with build tool and new inventory links, but Audi Canada hasn’t announced when showrooms will have them.
Q7 vs Q9 price in Canada
audi.ca’s compare boxes list the 2027 Q7 at $94,400 and the Q9 at $123,300. Those are MSRPs, and audi.ca’s pricing notice says they exclude freight and PDI, levies and other fees, dealer charges, options and taxes. Its offers page shows higher “Starting at” figures: $98,060 for the Q7 and $132,352 for the Q9 Progressiv.
audi.ca’s build tool itemizes the difference. It adds $3,060 in freight and PDI, a dealer administration fee of up to $500 and a $100 federal air conditioner tax, then federal luxury tax once the total passes $100,000.
| Item (CAD, audi.ca) | Q7 (entry trim) | Q9 Progressiv |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $94,400 | $123,300 |
| Freight and PDI | $3,060 | $3,060 |
| Dealer administration fee (maximum) | $500 | $500 |
| Federal air conditioner tax | $100 | $100 |
| Federal luxury tax | None | $5,392 |
| audi.ca “Starting at” total | $98,060 | $132,352 |
Prices from audi.ca on Nov. 11, 2026. Per audi.ca’s build tool, totals exclude sales taxes, license, insurance, registration, provincial fees such as tire levies, and dealer-offered equipment and services.
After the MSRP, luxury tax is the biggest single line on the Q9. Under the CRA’s rule, it’s the lesser of 10% of the taxable amount and 20% of the amount above $100,000. On the Q9, the $123,300 MSRP plus $3,660 in freight and fees comes to $126,960, and 20% of the $26,960 above the threshold is the $5,392 audi.ca shows. The Q7 starts at $98,060, so it stays under the line. That’s why the gap between them widens from $28,900 at MSRP to $34,292 on audi.ca’s totals. Our Q9 Canada price guide goes deeper on the Q9’s numbers.
Options change the math, because they count toward the taxable amount. Once a Q7 passes $100,000, each added dollar draws about 20 cents of tax on top of its price. audi.ca’s build tool lists the Q7 from $98,060 to $116,332 across its trims and the Q9 from $132,352 to $144,712, before options, so even the top Q7 sits $16,020 below the entry Q9.
Both S models are over the line before fees. The SQ7 lists at $129,850 MSRP and the SQ9 at $152,850, a $23,000 gap, with freight, fees and luxury tax added on top of each.
In the U.S., Audi of America’s launch releases list starting MSRPs of $70,900 for the Q7 and $87,700 for the Q9, in U.S. dollars, so they aren’t comparable to the Canadian figures above. Our look at the Q9 and SQ9 flagships covers the bigger pair in more depth.
Size, seats and cargo: what the Q9 adds
The Q9 is the bigger vehicle, and audi.ca says so in its FAQ. Both seat seven as standard, and both offer a six-seat layout with captain’s chairs in the second row. The clearest Canadian number is maximum cargo with the rear seats folded: 2,483 L in the Q9 against 2,211 L in the Q7, a difference of 272 L.
Audi of America’s U.S. figures show where the extra room sits. Behind the third row, Audi quotes 19.3 cu ft for the Q9 against 15.1 cu ft for the Q7. Converted, that’s about 547 L against 428 L, or roughly 28% more space for luggage with all seven seats in use. With the third row folded, the Q9 holds up to 50.0 cu ft behind the second row (about 1,416 L converted) against 43.9 cu ft (about 1,243 L) in the Q7.
Third row room matters most in this comparison, and neither audi.ca’s model pages nor Audi of America’s releases list third row legroom for the Q7 or Q9, so we can’t say which is roomier back there. Audi of America says the Q9’s long wheelbase gives the third row “ample space for adults,” but that’s Audi’s description, not a measurement. The cargo figures above are the measured difference.
If the third row is mostly for children and the occasional carpool, the Q9’s extra size is hard to justify at $28,900 more on MSRP. If you regularly fill all seven seats and still need luggage space, the Q9’s extra cargo room is where the money goes.
Engines and performance: the same V6
The Q7 and Q9 share a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 429 hp. Audi lists 442 lb-ft for both, with the Q9’s figure coming from Audi of America. audi.ca rates the Q7 at 5.1 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and the Q9 at 5.2, and a tenth of a second won’t decide anything on a school run. Both tow up to 7,700 lb when properly equipped, and both come with quattro all-wheel drive.
The larger Q9 is also the thirstier one. NRCan rates the Q7 at 12.9 L/100 km combined (14.7 city, 10.6 highway) and the Q9 at 13.3 (15.3 city, 10.8 highway), a difference of 0.4 L/100 km.
Standard equipment: air suspension and roof
Part of the Q9’s premium shows up in its standard list. audi.ca lists standard adaptive air suspension and a standard panoramic sunroof on the Q9. Audi of America says the Q7’s standard suspension uses steel springs, with adaptive air suspension as an option, and audi.ca’s Q7 page lists a glass roof with available variable light control. The Q7 page doesn’t mention the suspension, so check it on the build tool before you assume a Canadian car has air springs.
SQ7 vs SQ9: same V8, different bodies
Both S models use a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 591 hp and 590 lb-ft. audi.ca rates the SQ7 at 3.9 seconds to 100 km/h and the SQ9 at 4.0. audi.ca lists standard S-tuned adaptive air suspension on the SQ7, and on the SQ9 it describes an S-specific quattro system that is rear-biased for cornering. The SQ9 lists a standard panoramic sunroof and front passenger display, and up to 2,483 L of cargo. audi.ca doesn’t publish an SQ7 cargo figure. NRCan rates the SQ7 at 14.3 L/100 km combined and the SQ9 at 14.7.
With the engine shared, the extra $23,000 at MSRP for the SQ9 buys the larger body, not performance. If you want the V8 and don’t need the room, the SQ7 is the sharper purchase.
Safety: what has been rated
Euro NCAP gave the European-spec Q7 five stars in a result published Oct. 12, 2026, with 72% in Safe Driving, 77% in Crash Avoidance, 88% in Crash Protection and 100% in Post Crash Safety. It tested a Q7 TDI quattro diesel sold in Europe, and its covered variants are European engines, so the result doesn’t directly cover the V6 or V8 sold in Canada. Audi’s release calls the Q7 the first production model to earn 100 percent in Euro NCAP’s Post-Crash Safety category.
NHTSA lists both the 2027 Q7 and Q9 as not rated, and IIHS had published no 2027 rating for either as of Nov. 11, so no U.S. crash result separates the two yet. Euro NCAP has no result for the Q9 that we could find.
2027 Audi Q7, SQ7, Q9 and SQ9 specs at a glance
| Spec | Q7 | SQ7 | Q9 | SQ9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP (CAD, audi.ca) | $94,400 | $129,850 | $123,300 | $152,850 |
| Engine | 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 | 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 | 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 | 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 |
| Power | 429 hp | 591 hp | 429 hp | 591 hp |
| Torque (Q9 per Audi of America) | 442 lb-ft | 590 lb-ft | 442 lb-ft | 590 lb-ft |
| 0-100 km/h (audi.ca) | 5.1 s | 3.9 s | 5.2 s | 4.0 s |
| Drive | quattro AWD | quattro AWD | quattro AWD | quattro AWD |
| Max towing, when properly equipped | 7,700 lb | 7,700 lb | 7,700 lb | 7,700 lb |
| Seating | 7, or 6 with captain’s chairs | 7, or 6 with captain’s chairs | 7, or 6 with captain’s chairs | 7, or 6 with captain’s chairs |
| Max cargo, rear seats folded | 2,211 L | Not listed | 2,483 L | 2,483 L |
| Cargo behind third row (U.S. spec) | 15.1 cu ft | Not listed | 19.3 cu ft | 19.3 cu ft |
| Cargo behind second row (U.S. spec) | 43.9 cu ft | Not listed | 50.0 cu ft | Not listed |
| Fuel use, combined (NRCan) | 12.9 L/100 km | 14.3 L/100 km | 13.3 L/100 km | 14.7 L/100 km |
Prices and specs from audi.ca as of Nov. 11, 2026, except Q9 displacement and torque and the cargo rows behind the second and third rows, which come from Audi of America’s U.S. figures. Fuel figures are from NRCan. A “Not listed” cell means the figure isn’t published in the sources we checked.
Which three-row Audi should you buy?
The Q7 is the right choice for most households. It has the same V6 and quattro as the Q9, uses less fuel, and its starting total is $98,060 against $132,352 for the Q9. Even a Q7 at the top of audi.ca’s trim list undercuts that by $16,020. The trade is equipment: audi.ca lists air suspension as standard on the Q9, while Audi of America lists it as an option on the Q7.
The Q9 earns its premium when you regularly use all seven seats and still need luggage space. It’s the larger vehicle by audi.ca’s own description and holds 272 L more with the seats folded, with about 28% more space behind the third row in Audi’s U.S. figures.
The S models split the same way. The SQ7 gives you the 591-hp V8 for $23,000 less on MSRP, and the SQ9 asks you to pay that difference for size. Whichever pair you pick, run your exact options through audi.ca’s build tool before you visit a dealer, because above $100,000 the luxury tax adds about 20 cents to every dollar of options.
Audi Q7 vs Q9 FAQ
Is the Audi Q9 bigger than the Q7?
Yes. audi.ca says the Q9 is larger than the Q7 and positions it above the Q7 as the flagship. Its maximum cargo volume is 2,483 L against 2,211 L for the Q7.
Do the Q7 and Q9 have the same engine?
Both use a twin-turbo V6 rated at 429 hp, and the SQ7 and SQ9 share a 591-hp twin-turbo V8.
How much more does the Q9 cost than the Q7 in Canada?
On audi.ca’s MSRPs, the Q9 costs $28,900 more: $123,300 against $94,400. On audi.ca’s “Starting at” totals, it costs $34,292 more: $132,352 against $98,060.
Does Canada’s luxury tax apply to the Q7 and Q9?
The CRA says SUVs priced above $100,000 could be subject to it. audi.ca’s build tool shows $5,392 on the Q9 Progressiv and none on the entry Q7 at $98,060, though options and dealer add-ons count toward the taxable amount.
Can you buy the Q7 and Q9 in Canada yet?
audi.ca lists both with build tool links, but Audi Canada hasn’t announced when showrooms will have them or given a delivery date.
If the gap between the new Q7 and Q9 has you pricing a previous-generation Q7 or SQ7 on the used market, give the inspecting shop our Audi PPI checklist before you sign.
Sources
- Audi Canada: 2027 Audi Q7 overview
- Audi Canada: 2027 Audi SQ7 overview
- Audi Canada: 2027 Audi Q9 overview
- Audi Canada: 2027 Audi SQ9 overview
- Audi Canada: Q7 offers
- Audi Canada: Pricing legal notice
- Canada Revenue Agency: Subject vehicles under the Select Luxury Items Tax Act (LTN2)
- Audi of America: 2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7 release
- Audi of America: 2027 Audi Q9 release
- Audi of America: 2027 Audi SQ9 release
- Natural Resources Canada: Fuel consumption ratings search tool
- Audi of America: Q7 and SQ7 on sale release, Nov. 9, 2026
- Euro NCAP: Audi Q7 assessment
- AUDI AG: Audi Q7 earns 100 percent in Euro NCAP Post-Crash Safety
- NHTSA: 2027 Audi safety ratings