2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Cullinan is Rolls-Royce's first entry into the lucrative luxury SUV segment. It takes the brand's world-famous styling cues and pastes them onto a tall, boxy body wrapped around one of the most luxurious cabins on the market.
Overview
There's no mistaking the Cullinan for anything other than a Rolls-Royce. It wears a confident-looking front end characterized by a tall, upright grille with chromed vertical slats and topped off by the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem. It's flanked by vertical lights similar to the ones worn by the Phantom.
The long hood flows into a boxy roof line while a pronounced belt line emphasizes the Cullinan's visual mass, a styling cue which makes Rolls-Royce's cars look like they're crafted from a solid block of metal. Chrome trim adds a premium touch to the look.
Life aboard
Step inside the Cullinan and you'll see the same type of tall, upright dashboard found in the Phantom. The driver faces a three-spoke steering wheel and a simple, easy-to-read instrument cluster with a speedometer and Rolls-Royce's famous power reserve meter.
The Cullinan, like every member of the Rolls-Royce line-up, is highly customizable and we doubt there will ever be two identical examples. Buyers can choose from several types of wood trim, leather upholstery and metal accents. The rear seats are accessed through a set of suicide doors.
Technical specifications
Built on a Rolls-Royce-specific architecture, the Cullinan receives a twin-turbocharged, 6.7-liter V12 engine rated at 563 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Those figures are impressive -- or "adequate" in Rolls-Royce-speak -- but keep in mind the SUV weighs nearly 6,200 pounds. The firm nonetheless quotes a zero-to-60-mph time of five seconds and limits top speed to 155 mph.
The 12-cylinder sends its power to the four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It's the first Rolls-Royce equipped with all-wheel drive. It's not a dedicated off-roader, don't expect it to keep up with a Jeep Wrangler, but it offers an off-road mode and hill descent control technology to stay composed off the pavement.
Key competitors
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan competes in the same segment as the Bentley Bentayga and high-end variants of Land Rover's Range Rover. Buyers can also consider the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.