Update (June 3, 2026): ‘Regular door handles’ added.
Audi has confirmed that it will introduce the third-generation Q7 in 2026, which will be a major intervention for one of its longest-running SUVs. The current Q7 dates back to December 2014 and has already seen two facelifts.
Further attractive models will follow in 2026, for instance with the unveiling of a new electric entry-level model below the Audi Q4. We will have the world premiere of the Audi Q7 and for the first time the Audi Q9, a model that is dedicated to the U.S. market.
Audi’s CEO Gernot Döllner during the Volkswagen Group Product & Tech Update on September 9, 2025
The all-new model is expected to arrive in the U.S., which will be one of its biggest markets globally, in mid-2026, as confirmed by the chairman of the Audi National Dealer Council, who spoke to Automotive News. It is set to take on the next-gen 2027 BMW X5 and the upgraded 2027 Mercedes GLE.
Here are seven features and updates we are watching most closely in the 2027 Audi Q7.
1. New face with split headlamps
The Q7 is completing its final rounds of testing, and spy shots point to a more upright, commanding front-end.
As shown in our exclusive renderings in this story, the 2027 Q7 will adopt split headlamps and a redesigned octagonal grille that looks shorter in height than today’s unit. A larger lower intake appears set to give the SUV a sportier stance.
2. Regular door handles
Flush-integrated door handles and winglets may be trending in the world of automotive design, but Audi has decided to take a conventional approach. The company has confirmed the use of regular, pull-type door handles on the next-gen Q7 in the future model’s first teaser.
This feature should make ingress easier while offering greater safety in emergencies.
3. New rear lighting signature
At the back, the taillights are linked by a horizontal light strip. Projection lighting and customizable OLED taillights are also expected, which would give the 2027 Audi Q7 more personalization and a more high-tech night signature.
4. More digital cabin with revised screens
Audi has reworked the dashboard with an asymmetric design and a simplified MMI interface. Spy photos suggest a move away from the previous dual-screen layout toward a single central touchscreen, with a focus on more streamlined usability.
The ambient lighting system should directly illuminate the upper section of the dashboard and softly light up the area beneath the central touchscreen.
5. Passenger display & in-cabin tech
An optional passenger touchscreen is also expected, enabling entertainment functions like video streaming and gaming, along with navigation assistance.
Other upgrades that we expect include an augmented reality head-up display, a panoramic sunroof with electrochromic shading, a Qi2.2 magnetic wireless charging pad for two smartphones, 100-watt USB-C PD charging ports, acoustic glazing, and a new Bang & Olufsen sound system.
6. ADAS features
Expectations include at least Level 2+ driver assistance and Smart Remote Park Assist Plus. While we’re not convinced about capacitive steering buttons, we notice a familiar compact electronic gear selector in the center console.
7. Electrification upgrades
The new Q7 will ride on Audi’s PPC platform, a step evolution of MLB evo, supporting mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. All standard models are expected to use a 48V mild-hybrid system globally, capable of EV-only operation at low speeds.
Also See: First Look Review: 2026 Audi Q3 amps up with sharp looks, high-tech lighting
Audi has confirmed that a Q7 plug-in hybrid will not be available during the launch in 2026. That said, it is expected to follow later and reach additional markets where the current Q7 does not offer this powertrain.
And in North America, we are expanding strategically with models tailored to the U.S. market and the rollout of our SUV models Q7 and Q9.
Audi’s CEO Gernot Döllner speaking about profitable growth at the Audi Annual Media Conference 2026 on March 17, 2026
Auto Express reports that the new Q7 will use a V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain pairing a twin-turbocharged gas engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery.
The publication expects the system to produce about 400 hp, deliver an electric-only range of around 60-80 miles, up from 52 miles in the current model, and offer a total driving range of roughly 500 miles.
Featured image: TopElectricSUV’s exclusive illustration of the 2027 Audi Q7
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
