I got an early look inside a camouflaged prototype of the all-new Audi Q9 -- Audi's upcoming full-size flagship SUV -- ahead of its July 28 world premiere. The exterior stayed wrapped (Audi's not ready to show you that yet), but the interior was fully on display. I was able to climb aboard and poke around its triple-screen dashboard, play with its power-opening doors and even charge my phone on its smartly designed wireless chargers. Here's what stood out.
Triple-screen cockpit, curved where it counts
The Q9 runs a triple-screen digital cockpit -- curved displays for the main driver and center infotainment screens, and a flat display for the passenger-side panel -- similar to the AI-enhanced Virtual Cockpit setup we've seen previously on Audi's A6 E-Tron and Q6 E-Tron models. I didn't bring my tape measure, but expect an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster mated with a 14.5-inch main touchscreen, alongside an 11.9-inch passenger display. That third screen is likely an optional upgrade, but Audi hasn't finalized specific packages for the SUV, so I expect to learn more later.
Materials throughout the cabin feel genuinely premium, with ambient lighting threaded through the doors, the dashboard, the first- and second-row bucket seats (which I don't think I've ever seen before), and the standard panoramic glass roof. Some of this is standard equipment, some optional -- again, we'll get the full breakdown at launch.
The dashboard tech is similar to what we've seen on the Audi A6 E-Tron and Q6 E-Tron models -- at least, as best I could tell during my preview.
AudiThe color-changing panoramic roof
The Q9 will come standard with a glass roof measuring approximately 16 square feet. Unlike many glass ceilings on vehicles lately, this one opens to let in fresh air.
The sunroof features a UV-blocking coating that should help keep the cabin cool (up to 99.5% of UV radiation blocked). It can also be had with optional polymer-dispersed liquid crystal technology, an electronically controlled sunshade that lets riders control the opacity of nine individual segments of the laminated glass, dimming any or all of them electronically. No physical shade necessary. When parked, the roof automatically goes opaque for maximum heat control. Start the car, and it returns to the last setting.
The standard glass roof can be upgraded with LED illumination and nine variable opacity panels.
AudiAn additional LED package adds 84 color-controlled lights to the perimeter of the glass roof, bathing the headliner in your choice of 30 colors synced with the cabin's ambient lighting scheme. Paired with the interaction light strip spanning the full width of the windshield base -- which can pulse in time with music and match album artwork colors, but also alert the driver of incoming calls or driver-assistance interventions -- the Q9's cabin lighting system can go from as dramatic as a nightclub to something more subdued at the touch of a button.
The wireless chargers deserve their own story
Two Qi 2.2-standard magnetic wireless charging pads sit in the center console, and they appear to be, without much exaggeration, the best-designed phone chargers I've encountered in any production vehicle. The Qi 2.2 standard means MagSafe-compatible magnets, so your phone stays put in corners instead of skating off the optimal charging position and into the passenger footwell.
The raised puck design accommodates modern, oversized camera bumps without the phone tipping awkwardly, and the elevated platform likely allows enough airflow underneath to keep temperatures in check during a long charge. Smart. USB-C Power Delivery ports deliver up to 100 watts if you prefer wired, and both wireless pads can fast-charge simultaneously.
It's a small upgrade that probably won't make or break your decision to buy, but the attention to this detail warms my little tech nerd heart.
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The standard magnetic charging pucks appear to solve almost all of my nitpicks with wireless phone charging in cars.
AudiPower opening doors
For the first time on an Audi -- but not in the industry -- all four of the Q9's doors can be opened electrically via push-button on the key fob, in the myAudi app or on the SUV's touchscreen. Closing the driver's door is equally intuitive: tap a button on the door panel, use the screen, or just step on the brake pedal. You can still grab the door and do it manually if you're in a hurry -- Audi hasn't taken that away from you. You can also open all four doors at once (which feels more like a flex than a truly useful feature) or just the driver's door by default.
A suite of surround sensors handles the paranoia-inducing part: proximity detection stops a swinging door before it tags the car next to you, a wall or a concrete bollard. The same sensor logic also watches for cyclists and pedestrians on the traffic side, helping prevent the kind of dooring incident that ends badly for everyone involved. Sensors on the door interior prevent it from closing on hands, limbs or distracted children.
Space and seating for 6 or 7
The Q9 seats six or seven across three rows, with the six-seat configuration swapping the second-row bench for two electrically adjustable captain's chairs. Access to the third row is handled by an outer second-row seat that slides and tilts forward electrically -- without folding flat -- meaning an installed child seat can stay put while passengers climb through. The third-row seatbacks also fold individually via electric controls, freeing up space for cargo behind the SUV's cavernous rear hatch (which also power opens and closes).
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Being able to pull up, open the door for a passenger and then close it behind them without leaving the driver's seat is peak laziness -- but also a huge flex.
AudiNew for this generation is an upgrade to optional Bang & Olufsen 4D Sound premium audio, which adds actuators to the front seats, allowing the driver and passenger to physically feel the bass on their backsides.
That's everything Audi is letting me share for now about what will almost certainly be the largest Audi ever built for the US market. Full specs, powertrain details, and pricing will come with the world premiere on July 28. Based on what I've seen so far, the Q9's interior and its nice mix of smart and flashy features make a strong first impression, and it looks ready to compete in the full-size luxury SUV segment.
Editors' note: Travel costs related to parts of this story were covered by the manufacturer, which is common in the auto industry. The judgments and opinions of CNET's staff are our own.
