About Cullinan
When Rolls-Royce announced an SUV, purists predicted the end of civilization. When the Cullinan arrived in 2018, buyers proved them wrong in the most decisive way possible, by queuing for it. Named after the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered, it was the brand's first all-wheel-drive car and what the company insists on calling a high-bodied car rather than an SUV. Underneath is the same aluminum architecture as the Phantom, and under the hood a twin-turbocharged V12.
The Cullinan does what a Rolls-Royce should, gliding over broken roads on air suspension in near silence, while adding a high seating position and the ability to cross a muddy field en route to a polo match. Rear-hinged coach doors, a glass partition separating passengers from the luggage, and optional rear-facing seats that unfold from the tailgate for picnics or watching sport all set it apart. Its brick-like styling has divided opinion, and its weight and thirst are formidable, but it rapidly became one of the brand's best sellers.
The Black Badge version adds power and a darker, more menacing look, and the Series II update brought revised lighting, a redesigned front end and a new dashboard with a glass-covered panel running across it. The Cullinan's rivals are the Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes-Maybach GLS, Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX and the most expensive Range Rovers, though none can match its sheer presence in a hotel driveway. Few rivals can match its sense of occasion.
It is also a favorite canvas for customizers such as Mansory and for bespoke commissions in eye-watering colors, from pastel pinks in Miami to hand-painted artwork. Look here for reviews and drive impressions, Series II news, Black Badge and special editions, dealer events, tuner creations, celebrity sightings, and the recall and service notices that even the most expensive SUVs occasionally need. Its next chapter, and whether an electric successor eventually replaces the V12, will be one of the brand's biggest decisions.