2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The Cullinan is bundled as a single trim and comes equipped with all the bells and whistles you could ask for. Why not? After all, you spend a fortune to get the Cullinan delivered to your doorstep. Having said that, Rolls Royce offers a plethora of optional features too, that further add on top of its MSRP. However, some of these options are more like a-la-carte where you get to choose your pick for no additional costs.

Trim	Rolls Royce Cullinan
MSRP	$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 scratching your head here. However, we’d recommend you to check out the wide array of optional features and tick whatever suits you. If we had to pick, we’d surely opt for the “Cullinan Viewing suite” to add a bit of oomph factor to it. 

Resting beneath the Cullinan’s hood is a 6.75L, twin-turbocharged V12 wooly mammoth that gives you a leash over 563 horses. Speaking about the torque figures, the 627 lb-ft of it ensures that your back stays pinned to the seat in case you make the most of your Cullinan. Transferring this power to all four wheels (AWD) is the familiar 8-speed automatic gearbox that has also been seen in many BMWs. 

The power delivery of the Cullinan is linear and it doesn’t scare you off to flat-foot the accelerator, as is the case with the Lamborghini Urus. There is negligible turbo lag and power is always available on tap. The Bimmer-borrowed 8-speed automatic is pretty slick and doesn’t hesitate in shifting down whenever there’s a need. 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 just ensure there is no room for the purists behind the steering wheel.

Models	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
MSRP	$325,000	$260,000	$200,000
Engine	6.75-liter V12 premium	6.0-liter W12	4.0-liter V8
Transmission	8-speed automatic w/OD	8-speed automatic	8-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual
Horsepower	563 hp @ 5,000 rpm	626 hp @ 5,000 rpm	641 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	627 lb.-ft.@ 1,700 rpm	664 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm	626 lb.-ft. @ 2,250 rpm

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 Speed follows the Bull closely. The Cullinan is completely out of the question here in terms of power figures.

Acceleration

Pinning the Cullinan’s accelerator will propel you to the 60 MPH mark from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds. Aim for the quarter-mile mark, and 12.9 seconds later, you’ll be waving around to the public cheering for you at the drag strip. The numbers are pretty average, or below average for that matter, for a vehicle tagged with a price tag as hefty as this. 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	4.8	3.8	3.6
Quarter Mile	12.9	11.5	11.3
Engine	6.8L	6.0L	4.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	NA	NA	NA

The Cullinan’s acceleration figures are even worse than the much cheaper - BMW X6M. 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 just puts the luxury in the priority list, but safety is equally important for them too. Adhering to their ideology, the Cullinan, despite being a 5,800-pound woolly mammoth, impresses us with the kind of stopping power it possesses. 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 front (in.)	NA	NA	NA
Brake Rear (in.)	NA	NA	NA
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5,864	5,500	4,850
60-0 MPH (ft.)	NA	114	107

Unfortunately, we do not have the braking data for the Cullinan, however, judging by its Curb weight, we believe it is pretty hard for the 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 at the 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 the kind of hospitality on offer here. We need not even 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, ventilation and heated seats just mark the beginning of the unmatched equipment list, the Cullinan also 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 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 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 pin-drop silence you get even at triple-digit speeds.

For people thinking about how is it to be behind the steering on a Rolls Royce, let us prepare you for the kind of disappointment you’re in for. Yes, there are luxurious and exotic materials all around you, but you won’t really feel connected with the car while you get it to move. Focused more towards comfort, the Cullinan is not the most eager to pick its pace even on flat-footing 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 cabin roll too, but that’s okay. This is not why you were planning to buy the Cullinan right?

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 can munch 12 miles for a gallon of fuel within the city limits. Take it to the highway and this number escalates to an impressive figure of 20 MPG. With a combined mileage of 14 MPG, the Cullinan just joins the band of SUVs rocking on the same tune as the majority.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed*	Lamborghini Urus
MPG (city)	12	12	12
MPG (highway)	20	19	17
MPG (combined)	14	15	14

*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, rest everything 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 at the last of this comparison. The Bentayga Speed’s combined mileage emerges to be the best of the lot.

When you buy a Rolls Royce, you would never even think of complaining about the space and comfort inside. 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 to choose from the wide range of color and material options for the seats and dash.

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 its 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 enhance the overall travelling experience.

Model	Rolls-Royce Cullinan	Bentayga Speed	Lamborghini Urus
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)	NA	NA	NA
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)	NA	NA	NA

Unfortunately, we do not have the statistical data to back our statement regarding this comparison. However, on the inside, 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 here.

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 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. The interface is sublime and convenient 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 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 iDrive and Android Auto but Rolls Royce offers just iDrive 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

Cargo Volume

With luxury, practicality comes as a synonym too, and RR Cullinan is the best example to explain this notion. 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 more than required. 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 cargo area, 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 Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	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.

Creature comfort features on the  Rolls Royce Cullinan

There’s no shortage of luxurious features in the Cullinan. After all, it’s a Rolls Royce - a benchmark for manufacturers in terms of luxury and 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)

Talking in terms of the dimensions, the Cullinan is the biggest vehicle to flaunt “Eleanor” (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 remind you of its sedan sibling, just taller. 

Move over to the sides, and you’ll notice the classic design traits cleanly hidden beneath this modern SUV 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 your headroom inside. 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.)	NA	NA	6.2
Wheelbase (in.)	130.0	117.8	118.2
Track Width (in.) F/R	NA	NA	66.7/67.3

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. 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-leveling 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, is the RR Phantom 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.

2020 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. The latter is just focused on the rear occupants and their comforts. 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 that the Bentley offers almost everything for a much less expensive price tag.

2020 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 then the other remains to be the world’s fastest SUV. So, if you prefer to spend your weekends on racetracks, its the Lamborghini you want. And if you prefer to be chauffeured throwing a style statement around, then the Rolls should give you the kind of satisfaction you’re looking for. However, let’s admit, if the Lambo cannot match the sheer luxury and class offered by the Cullinan, then the Cullinan also 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 in the market to buy a chariot on wheels, then go no further than the Rolls Royce. Now also injected with some offroad capabilities, the 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. So, if you can, go and look for the nearest Rolls Royce Cullinan for sale.