Third-Gen 2027 Audi Q7 Lands With Smarter Lights and a 591-HP SQ7

Audi just pulled the wraps off its refreshed SUV, and the changes run deeper than a typical mid-cycle update. The new model gets adaptive headlight tech the brand has never offered stateside, a reworked cabin with better materials, and a high-output V8 variant that knocks the 0-60 sprint into supercar territory.

• Adaptive Digital Matrix LED headlights finally come to the US market
• Cabin upgrades include open-pore wood, cooled MagSafe wireless chargers, and switchable panoramic glass
• Q7 makes 429 hp; SQ7 jumps to 591 hp with a 3.7-second 0-60 mph time

The Q7 first arrived in American showrooms back in 2007, and Audi has been chipping away at refinements ever since. The second-generation truck launched in 2016 and pushed sales even higher. Now the third-gen 2027 Audi Q7 redesign brings a smarter look, a richer interior, and a meaner SQ7 sibling to keep things spicy at the top of the lineup.

Lighting Tech That Actually Does Something

Up front, the Q7 carries Digital Matrix LED headlights with adaptive driving beam capability. This is the first time American Q7 buyers get the full version of Audi’s smart lighting setup, and the company had to rework the system to make it work under US regulations. The idea is simple. You can roll with the high beams ready to go, and the system figures out how, when, and where to apply them. Forward visibility improves while glare drops for oncoming drivers.

The rear is where Audi gets a little theatrical. The taillights can be set to one of eight digital signatures, and the turn signals project a directional pattern onto the ground when you flip the stalk. A bit show-offy, sure, but clearer directional cues are never a bad idea.

Across the 118.0-inch wheelbase, the styling feels calmer than recent Audis. There’s less crease-and-slash bodywork, and the lighting elements front, side, and rear carry most of the visual interest.

A Cabin That Earns the Flagship Label

Inside, buyers can pick between a six- or seven-seat layout. The seven-seater uses a second-row bench, while the six-seater swaps in captain’s chairs that mirror the front buckets. They’re well bolstered, plush, and a clear step above what the outgoing Q7 offered.

One welcome change is the near-absence of piano black trim. Audi has leaned into open-pore woods and premium inlays instead, and the whole space feels more grown-up because of it.

On the tech side, the highlight is a pair of Qi wireless chargers that actually work as advertised. They use MagSafe to keep the phone locked to the coil, they’re raised so camera bumps don’t get in the way, and they’re cooled so your phone doesn’t roast on a long drive. The panoramic sunroof is another talking point, with optional ambient lighting and a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal layer that lets you switch the glass between clear and opaque across nine separate segments.

Power, From Plenty to Plenty More

Under the hood, the Q7 runs a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6, the same engine that powered the last-gen Audi RS5. Here it’s tuned for 429 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, enough to push the SUV from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.

If that’s not enough, the SQ7 brings out the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 sourced from the pre-facelift RS6 Avant. Output climbs to 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, dropping the 0-60 time to 3.7 seconds. With the optional Audi towing package, the SQ7 can pull up to 7,700 pounds, and the standard Q7 matches that figure when properly equipped.

Both trims use an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic paired with Quattro all-wheel drive. The SQ7 separates itself by making the adaptive air suspension standard instead of optional. Stopping hardware is suitably serious too, with the Q7 wearing roughly 15-inch front brakes and the SQ7 stepping up to nearly 16-inch units.

What to Watch For When It Lands

Audi hasn’t shared US pricing or an exact on-sale date yet, but the formula looks promising. The new Q7 keeps the things buyers liked about the last one, namely the smooth powertrains and the comfortable cabin, and adds genuinely useful tech like the adaptive matrix lights and the cooled MagSafe pads. The SQ7, meanwhile, makes a strong case for itself as one of the quicker three-row SUVs you can buy from a mainstream luxury brand. Expect more details, including pricing and trim breakdowns, as the 2027 model year gets closer.