2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The Cullinan, being the newest entrant in the Rolls Royce family, is also their first SUV to flaunt the "Spirit Of Ecstacy" on the hood. A synonym for pure luxury and class, the Cullinan also brings along the “go-anywhere” attitude that enables this chariot to crawl over the roughest of surfaces - something that was never seen or expected from a Rolls earlier. The Cullinan is outfitted with some of the most exotic materials on the inside and ensures that you are awestruck every time you touch anything.

With prices starting from $325,000 for the Cullinan, there’s barely any SUV that challenges it. However, before the Cullinan came and took everyone by surprise, some of the SUVs such as the Bentley Bentayga Speed and the fastest production SUV on the planet - The Lamborghini Urus were ruling this segment. While the latter is all about speed and performance, the Cullinan focuses on making the ride as comfortable as possible. However, what should you prefer more for the kind of money you spend? Let’s move ahead and find out.

The Cullinan is bundled as a single trim and comes equipped with all the bells and whistles you could ask for. After all, you spend a fortune to get the Cullinan delivered to your doorstep. Having said that, Rolls Royce lets you customize the Cullinan to the moon and back. A noteworthy fact would be that some of these options are more like a-la-carte where you get to choose for no additional costs.

Trim	Rolls Royce Cullinan
MSRP (AWD)	$325,000
Key Features	Stereo Camera System
	Four-Wheel Steering
	Anti-roll Framework
	Coach Doors (Suicide doors)
	Touchscreen Focal Multimedia Display
	Cullinan Viewing Suit

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Since the Cullinan is offered in just one trim, there’s no dilemma on what to pick. However, being a Rolls Royce we’d recommend you check out the wide array of optional features and tick whatever suits you. We’d surely suggest you go for the “Cullinan Viewing suite” as it just ups the baller factor even more.

Resting beneath the Cullinan’s hood is a buttery smooth twin-turbocharged V12. The 6.75L mammoth churns out a touch over 563 horsepower. Speaking about the torque figures, the 627 lb-ft offered ensures that your back stays pinned to the seat in case you give your chauffeur a day off. Transferring this power to all four wheels (AWD) is the familiar 8-speed automatic gearbox that has also been seen in many BMWs. 

Unlike the Lamborghini Urus, the power delivery of the Cullinan is linear and feels less intimidating. There is negligible turbo lag and the power available is almost instantaneous. The Bimmer-borrowed 8-speed automatic is pretty slick and doesn’t hesitate in shifting cogs. However, unlike most of its rivals, the Cullinan isn’t very eager to rev out - courtesy of the longer gear ratios. Moreover, the absence of the paddle shifters makes the Cullinan less fun to drive, for the purists of course.

Models	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
MSRP	$325,000	$260,000	$200,000
Engine	6.75L Premium V12	6.0L Twin-Turbocharged W12	4.0L Twin-Turbocharged V8
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD	AWD
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic W/OD	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic W/OD And Auto-Manual
Power (hp @ rpm)	563@5,000	626@5,000	641@6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)	627@1,700	664@4,500	626@2,250

Meant for outright performance, the Lamborghini Urus takes the obvious first place in this comparison with its class-leading 641 hp of power. The Bentayga follows the bull with a close second. The British land yacht is completely out of the question here in terms of power figures.

How fast does the Cullinan accelerate?

The Cullinan’s performance will amaze you. The behemoth hits 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds. Speaking of acceleration, the sprint to the quarter-mile takes about 12.9 seconds for this land barge. For the Cullinan's hefty asking price, the numbers are pretty average. The Cullinan’s longer gear ratios are mainly to be blamed for this.

Nevertheless, the Cullinan wasn’t born to be taken to the drag strip. Its expertise lies somewhere else and we shall be discussing that later. However, the Cullinan’s disinterest in this department becomes even more evident as its less expensive rivals like the Urus and the Bentayga are considerably faster. 

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
0-60 MPH (sec)	4.8	3.8	3.6
Quarter Mile (sec)	12.9	11.5	11.3
Top Speed (MPH)	190	190	190
Engine	6.75L Premium V12	6.0L Twin-Turbocharged W12	4.0L Twin-Turbocharged V8
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	12.6	11.8	12.6

The Cullinan’s acceleration figures are even worse than the much cheaper - BMW X6. Which is why it remains out of the question here. The Lamborghini Urus, as expected, is the fastest which is then followed closely by the Bentley Bentayga Speed.

Braking

The Cullinan not only puts luxury on the priority list but also factors in safety as well. Adhering to their ideology, despite being a 5,800-pound woolly mammoth the way this Rolls sheds off-speed impressed us. On slamming the brakes hard, there is a bit of nosedive in the front but there’s only so much an SUV can do. There is a good amount of bite and feedback from the brakes and everything collectively inspires confidence to the driver.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentley Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
Brake Rotors Front(in)	15.5	17.3	17.3
Brake Rotors Rear(in)	15.6	14.5	14.5
Curb Weight(lbs)	5,864	5,500	4,850
60-0 MPH (ft)	107	114	107

Judging by the Cullinan's curb weight, we believe it is pretty hard for this RR to match its rivals. The Italian shines the brightest here with a stopping distance of just 107 ft which is pretty impressive even by sedan standards. The Bentley covers a tad bit more of the tarmac as compared to the Urus in this regard and locks itself in second place.

Ride and Handling

The Cullinan, carrying the brand’s legacy forward, doesn’t fall short of the sheer opulence imparted by its sedan sibling. Step into the rear seats and you’ll be awestruck with what's on offer. We don't even have to talk about the ride quality as Rolls Royces have always been an inspiration to other manufacturers in this regard. The standard air-suspension setup is “smart” enough to read the oncoming road and adjust itself accordingly. While massaging, seats with heating and cooling just mark the beginning of the unmatched equipment list, the Cullinan ensures you tackle the roughest terrains while still enveloped in a palatial aura, with an “RR” embossed wine glass in your hand. 

Rolls Royce, unlike the mainstream automotive manufacturers, has flooded the vehicle with dampers just to ensure that you are cut-off from the outside world completely as you step inside the Cullinan’s cabin. There are two-floors beneath the cabin that restrict the tire and road noises from creeping inside. However, that’s still not the most impressive part. The Phantom-borrowed V12 motor is one of the most silent ones we have ever come across. Yes, a V12! To put it simply, you won’t need more than just a whisper to get your message delivered to your chauffeur. That’s the kind of silence you get even at triple-digit speeds.

For those thinking about how it feels to be behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce, you’re in for a bummer. Yes, there are luxurious and exotic materials all around you, but you won’t really feel connected with the car as you try to get a move on. Focused more towards comfort, the Cullinan is not the most eager to pick up the pace even after pinning the accelerator. The steering feels well-weighted but still fails to deliver the feedback you would expect from a $300k car and there’s a bit of body roll too, but that’s okay. That's not why you buy a Rolls Royce, for now, do you?

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Let’s face it, if you’re willing to spend over $300k on a car, you won’t really care much about its fuel economy as much as other things. However, for the few who care, the Cullinan chugs a gallon of fuel for 12 miles around town. Take it to the highway and the number escalates to an impressive 20 MPG. When it comes to combined mileage, the Rolls Royce Cullinan's MPG figures stand at 14 miles per gallon.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed*	Lamborghini Urus
MPG (City)	12	12	12
MPG (Highway)	20	19	17
MPG (Combined)	14	15	14
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	N/A	22.5	19.8
Range (City/hwy/Combined) (mi)	N/A	270/427/337	237/336/277

*2019 figures used for reference purpose

The Cullinan does take a small leap ahead in terms of the fuel economy obtained on the highway, however, everything else is just head-to-head with its rivals. The Lambo’s thirst for power doesn’t really work in its favor here which is why it sits behind the rest of the competition. The Bentayga Speed’s combined economy emerges to be the best of the lot.

When you buy a Rolls Royce, complaining about the space and comfort inside is not even the last thing you think of. Acknowledging the fact that this Rolls Royce is also an SUV, passenger volume is abundant. For the ones on the front seats, there’s premium leather all around. Moreover, Rolls Royce offers a small booklet worth of options from the wide range of colors to the interior trims. Such levels of customization are offered by other rivaling marques as well. Like the Bentley has an option for speccing a Breitling dash clock for a sweet $160,000.

There’s loads of room all around and the overall seating experience is not just immensely comfortable but pretty “fancy” too. The fancy part basically relates to the “RR” embossed wine glasses sitting right next to the rear passengers. Now that it's a Rolls Royce, some features such as memory seats, multiple levels of power-operated adjustments, heated and ventilated seats are just mainstream for a vehicle from the ultra-luxury segment. 

The cushioning of the seats is top-notch, absolutely no complaints in that department. Rolls Royce also provides an option to get the rear comfort package that replaces the rear bench with two independent seats, more like a couch. With this package, there also comes a refrigerator integrated right behind the armrest. This refrigerator also holds a couple of wine glasses with the “RR” logo on it just to further enhance the overall traveling experience.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
Seating Capacity	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	N/A	40.3/41.7/N/A	N/A
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	N/A	38.0/40.9/N/A	N/A

Unfortunately, we do not have the statistical data to back our statement regarding this comparison. However, the inside of the Cullinan feels the most spacious of the lot. The Bentayga comes pretty close to the RR but still has to do with the second position. The Lambo isn’t the most spacious here and sits at the last.

What kind of tech does the  Rolls Royce Cullinan Feature?

The 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan offers the choice of up to three separate touchscreen displays. While the standard infotainment system offered in the Cullinan is the 10.3-inch LED touchscreen unit on the center console, there are two additional optional 9.2-inch screens for the rear passengers as well. The display is crisp and swift to respond to any input. Even the interface is sublime and comprehensive with its large icons and distinct color tones.

The user interface of the system feels very premium and direct to use and the swivel wheel makes it very easy to navigate through the screen. The large icons make it easy to go through the infotainment system even while you’re driving. While the system feels very premium to use and go through, it is basically BMW’s iDrive. And to be completely honest, the iDrive is a pretty good infotainment system in itself- it is very capable and quick. The one area where the iDrive falls behind is the lack of Android Auto. At this price point, everyone expects a vehicle to have both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but Rolls Royce offers just the former with the Cullinan.

That said, some of the key features associated with the infotainment system in the Cullinan are:

• Wireless Bluetooth Connectivity
•  Voice-activated Navigation System
•  2 USB Ports
•  AUX Input Jack
•  AM/FM/HD Radio
•  SiriusXM Satellite Radio
•  Heads-Up Display
•  Electrochromatic Rearview Mirror
•  Universal Remote Transmitter(For Garage Door, Security System, etc.)
•  External Temperature Display
•  4G Wi-Fi Hotspot
•  360-Degree Surround-View Camera

What's the cargo space of a Cullinan?

The RR Cullinan is the best example to explain the fact that luxury and practicality should be synonymous. In fact, with a cargo capacity of 21.2 cu.ft behind the rear seats, you won’t have to think twice if you pack a couple of bags extra. Furthermore, the power-operated foldable seats elevate this number to an impressive 68.15 cu.ft once folded down flat.

That’s not all, the Cullinan also comes with a few tricks up its sleeve. Rolls Royce offers an optional acoustic window glass that stands firm between you and the cargo area to keep the noises away from you. However, if you get the partition glass, you would be compromising on the folding ability of the rear seats. Apart from this, there are a plethora of nets and hooks in the cargo area just in case you need to hold some precious items in place.

The split-tailgate also serves as a perfect seat for picnic spots. Talking about seats in the trunk, Cullinan also comes with an optional “Viewing Suite” that brings along a couple of chairs that fold outwards from the cargo area. For dining purposes, Rolls Royce has also integrated a small picnic table along with them that slides out.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
Cargo Capacity (ft3)	21.2	17.1	21.8

Turns out, the Bentley Bentayga is the least spacious vehicle in terms of the cargo space. It loses out clearly to the other two giants. Surprisingly, the smaller Urus is still more spacious than the Cullinan and takes the first position in this regard leaving the RR for the second position.

What are the creature comfort features on offer?

There’s no shortage of luxurious features in the Cullinan. After all, it’s a Rolls Royce - a benchmark for manufacturers in terms of luxurious comfort. Though various manufacturers have started to imitate Rolls Royce, a few of them still remain exclusive to the “Eleanor” studded vehicle. The few features that still stand apart from the rather mainstream specifications of the conventional luxury vehicles are:

• Umbrella Holder in the door
• Champagne Chiller (optional)
• Front Massage Seats
• Theatre Rear Seating (optional)
• Compass
• Classic Rolls Royce Analogue clock
• Rear Partition Glass (optional)
• Cullinan Viewing Suite (optional)

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Talking in terms of the dimensions, the Cullinan is the biggest Rolls to flaunt the Spirit Of Ecstacy on top of its hood. It sports a massive presence but remains reminiscent of the Phantom when observed. Take the front for instance. Everything including the hand-polished stainless steel grille and the LED-projector headlamps collectively reminds you of its sedan sibling, just taller. 

Move over to the sides, and you’ll notice the Cullinan's classic design traits cleanly hidden beneath with minimalistic lines flowing across the length of the car. The Coach doors (suicide doors) further enhance the chariot like feeling while you get inside the vehicle. Further enhancing the same feel, all the doors of the Cullinan are power-operated. This means you just sit inside, press a button and voila, your doors will close automatically. 

RR has very smartly integrated modern styling elements to the rather Classic looking Cullinan. How you ask? Take the rear windshield, for instance, RR has carefully ensured that the roofline doesn’t slope with the windshield so that it doesn’t hinder the headroom inside the Cullinan. On the outside though, it still looks very stylish and this sloping character of the rear just adds more to it.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
Curb Weight (lbs)	5,864	5,500	4,850
Length (in)	210.3	202.3	201.0
Width (in)	85.0	78.7	79.4
Height (in)	72.3	67.8	64.5
Ground Clearance (in)	N/A	9.7	6.2
Wheelbase (in)	130.0	117.8	118.2

Talking numbers, the Cullinan dwarfs its competitors in terms of its massive dimensions. The Lambo, being the lightest of the lot is also the smallest in size as well. While the Bentayga just surpasses the Urus by a tad and sits way behind the Cullinan. 

What are the noticeable exterior design elements?

Some of the prominent exterior features giving the identity to the Cullinan are as follows:

• Coach Doors
• Power-closing Doors
• Stereo Camera Arrangement
• Auto-hiding Sigil
• Split tailgate
• 22-inch alloy wheels
• Hand-polished stainless steel front grille
• LED Projector headlamps with DRLs
• LED Taillamps
• Dual-pane Sunroof with Tilt/Retract

The Cullinan borrows most of the components, including the architecture, from its sedan sibling - The RR Phantom (VIII). Now the question here is if the RR Phantom is well-built? Well, yes! Time and again it has proven its worth and there’s a reason why people believe, “Most Rolls Royces outlive their owners”, and there are many examples proving the credibility of this notion. Constructed on an Alumium SpaceFrame (as claimed by Rolls Royce), the Cullinan is just a revised, beefed up, more spacious and strengthened version of the same frame used in the Phantom.

That said, we have high hopes from the Cullinan also because it also has been blessed with a wide array of safety features that set it completely apart from the segment. Some of these juicy features pertaining to the safety of its occupants are:

• Electronic Stability Control
• Side Collision Beams
• Low Tire Pressure Alerts
• Back-up Camera
• Front Camera
• Left Side Camera
• Right Side Camera
• Night Vision Assist
• Rolls Royce Emergency Assist SOS
• Front and Back Parking Sensors
• Lane Change Assist
• Forward Collision Warning
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor

Unfortunately, the Cullinan is yet to go under the NHTSA and IIHS’s scanner to be tested for the build quality. Although we do not have any official ratings for the 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan, we have high hopes from the same considering Rolls Royce has never failed in terms of delivering the best build quality.

Rolls Royce Cullinan vs Bentley Bentayga Speed

If there is any other brand in the automotive sector that can actually lock horns with the mighty Rolls Royce, it’s Bentley. And there couldn’t be anything better than the Bentayga to take on the Cullinan. Both of these cars have a similar equipment list, stature, and recognition in the real world. However, if you’re planning to spend some time behind the steering wheel, the Bentayga is more engaging than the Rolls. Rolls Royce focuses more on the rear occupants and their comforts, unlike its British rival. So it all boils down to where you’ll be spending most of the time in the car, front or the rear? Before you ask yourself that, keep in mind the Bentley offers almost everything for a much less expensive price tag too.

Rolls Royce Cullinan vs Lamborghini Urus

Though both of these cars belong to the same segment, they are still worlds apart. How you ask? Well, to put it in simple words, while one of them is the world’s most luxurious SUV, the other remains to be the world’s fastest SUV. So, if you prefer to spend your weekends on racetracks, it has got to be the Lamborghini. And if you prefer to be chauffeured whilst throwing a style statement around, then this Rolls should give you the kind of satisfaction you’re looking for. However, let’s admit it, if the Lambo cannot match the sheer luxury and class offered by the Cullinan. Then again the Cullinan cannot match the kind of excitement offered by the Urus once you get behind its steering wheel. Also, the “Raging Bull” is a lot less expensive than the Cullinan.

The Cullinan might sound a bit unfair for the money it asks for, but it is nothing new for a Rolls Royce, right? And people will still buy it. That said, if you’re out on the market to buy a chariot on wheels, then look no further. Now that Rolls Royce has primed the Cullinan with some offroad capabilities, the Rolls Royce Cullinan ensures that the “Spirit of Ecstacy” is not just limited to the urban jungle. Loaded with some class-leading features and luxury, we would surely recommend you to put your money on the Cullinan if you have that kind of silver in your pocket.

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