For 2021, Rolls Royce has given minimal changes to the Cullinan badge. There’s a new Cullinan Black Badge edition and aside from that, there’s nothing too new as such.
Luxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce is the epitome of luxury vehicles and the Cullinan SUV, which it launched in 2019, further accentuates this status and creates new benchmarks for SUVs. Having gone into 2021 with no changes from 2020, the Cullinan derives its power from a 6.7-liter twin-turbo V12 motor that develops 571 hp and 627 ft-lbs. of torque. However, it does get a new Bespoke Recreation Module package this year and is available for both the Cullinan and the Black Badge.
This Rolls-Royce gets a star-like treatment on the roof on the interiors, Spirit of Ecstacy Badge on the contrasting hood, 22-inch Alloy wheels, and a plethora of bespoke customization options. Prices for the 2021 Cullinan range start from $340,350 (excluding a $2,750 destination fee) and this takes it right on into the territory of the Bentley Bentayga Speed, Aston Martin DBX, and the Lamborghini Urus. The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan makes its way into the lineup to cater to customers looking for a bit more exclusivity from their Cullinan.
The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan remains unchanged from 2020 and which is why you won't find a lot of feature enhancements. However, for 2021, the British carmaker is offering a new "Neon Lights" edition of the Cullinan that brings in 3 new color schemes- Green, Blue, and Orange to the lineup.
When compared to the Rolls' main rival, the Bentayga, the Cullinan comes with exclusivities like the Spirit of Ecstacy badge, Pantheon Grille, 18-speaker bespoke audio system, and an umbrella stored in the door, among many other endless sets of features.
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Model |
Rolls-Royce Cullinan |
|---|---|
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MSRP |
$340,350 |
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Key Features |
22-inch wheels |
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Glass sunroof |
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18-speaker sound system |
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Four-zone automatic climate control |
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Power-adjustable front seats with a memory system |
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Adaptive cruise control |
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Woodgrain Interior trim |
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Keyless entry and push-button door exit |
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Remote engine start |
Since the customization levels in the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan are near endless, we would love to spec ours with the Aspen color scheme and the Cullinan package with 22-inch 10 spoke part-polished wheels.
A solid-silver Spirit of Ecstacy badge on the exterior stainless steel package paint scheme and an electronic tow hitch would further enhance the car's appeal. On the inside, we'd go for the Immersive Seating with Center Console option, coupled with the rear seats massage functionality.
"Luxury can also be found under the hood of the Cullinan, where you'll see a 6.75-liter turbocharged V12 engine"- Edmunds
The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan comes with a 6.7-liter twin-turbocharged V12 with 563 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. A ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission effortlessly channels all that power to all 4 wheels. Despite its 3-tonnes of weight, a 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.0-seconds and does the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.
Certainly capable of more, the 2021 Cullinan gets an electronically limited top speed of 155 MPH to cushion its ultra-luxury presentation. On the move, the Cullinan's vibrationless V12 pot showcases plenty of grunt and is also capable of towing up to 7257 lbs.
A lightweight aluminum architecture seamlessly couples up with the behemoth engine for an intimidating performance. For its size, weight and class, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a great performer, but surely not the best. The likes of Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus are not only lighter and more powerful than the Cullinan but also quicker.
Both the Volkswagen-group-owned exotic SUVs have a shared 0-60 MPH timing of 3.1 seconds. For power-hunters though, the 2021 Cullinan Black Badge should be more enticing. The Black Badge gets an upgraded V12 with 592 hp and 664 ft-lbs of torque and can race from 0-60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds.
On the move, the 2021 Cullinan is simply the Rolls-Royce Phantom among SUVs. Riding on a double-wishbone front axle and five-link rear axle suspension setup, the 2021 Cullinan benefits from an automatically adjustable-air suspension. Using a road-scanning camera, the suspension alters the ride height by itself according to the road conditions.
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Models |
2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan |
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed |
2021 Lamborghini Urus SUV |
|---|---|---|---|
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MSRP |
$ 340,350 |
$ 250,000 |
$ 218,009 |
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Engine |
6.7-liter twin-turbo V12 |
6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 |
4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 |
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Drivetrain |
AWD |
AWD |
AWD |
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Transmission |
8–Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
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Power |
563 hp |
626 hp |
650 hp |
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Torque |
627 lb-ft |
664 lb-ft |
627 lb-ft |
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0-60 mph |
5.0 sec |
3.1 sec |
3.1 sec |
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Quarter Mile |
12.9 sec |
11.5 sec |
11.3 sec |
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Top Speed |
155 MPH (Electronically Limited) |
190 MPH |
190 MPH |
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60-0 MPH |
107 ft. |
114 ft. |
107 ft. |
The surreal equation of its taught dynamics and advanced electronics also make the Cullinan an efficient stopper. With Brembo brakes and ABS at all four corners, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan stops from 60-0 MPH in just 107 feet. The mighty Rolls' braking performance seems as progressive and inspiring as the sportier Lamborghini Urus.
"We ran the Cullinan on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and it outperformed expectations, achieving 21 mpg."- CarandDriver
The extravagant Cullinan is at par with the segment when it comes to mpg figures, considering its physical statistics and a meaty V12 engine. As per EPA estimates, a 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan delivers an appreciable 14 MPG combined economy. Even a 2021 Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus offer a 14 MPG combined economy.
Surprisingly though, the Cullinan's highway economy of 20 MPG combined is better than the 17 MPG offered by both its rivals here. Noteworthy is the fact that both the Bentayga and Urus have a smaller engine and lighter body than the Cullinan. Even in day-to-day city traffic the Cullinan confidently keeps up with its rivals with a 12 MPG city economy.
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Model |
2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan |
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed |
2021 Lamborghini Urus |
|---|---|---|---|
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MPG (City) |
12 |
12 |
12 |
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MPG (Highway) |
20 |
17 |
17 |
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MPG (Combined) |
14 |
14 |
14 |
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Fuel Capacity |
26.4 gallons |
22.5 gallons |
19.8 gallons |
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Range (City/Hwy/Combined) |
316/528/369 miles |
270/382/315 miles |
237/336/277 miles |
Another healthy advantage that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has over its rivals its long driving range. The Cullinan, with a 26.4-gallon fuel tank, puts an impressive combined range of 369 miles from a tankful. While the Bentley Bentayga Speed with a smaller 22.5-gallon fuel tank manages 315 miles of combined range from a tankful. The Lamborghini Urus with the smallest 19.8-gallon will return just 277 miles of combined range before needing a fuel stop.
"You leave your house, you enter the Rolls and be seated as if it were a Le Corbusier chair. Time passes languidly. Then you arrive at your destination."- Motortrend
The interiors of the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan are sure to transcend you to a different level of luxury and opulence. Irrespective of the customization you choose, the Cullinan features premium wood finish dual-tone leather upholstery on the seats and inside the cabin. the Cullinan seats up to five passengers and if you opt for the rear captain seats the seating goes to four.
While there is infinite customization available for the cabin as well as the dashboard you do get the RR logo embroidered on the seats and Spirit of Ecstacy embroidered on the door panels as standard. The Cullinan also gets a bespoke audio system with 18 speakers that elevates the music streaming experience inside the car.
Comparing the 3 cars on the inside, it is the Rolls that will appeal to the wealthiest of people, with the Bentley Bentayga's interiors coming close to lure people through its magnificence. The Urus has the sportiest interiors of the lot and can be seen through the black treatment on the inside.
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Model |
2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan |
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed |
2021 Lamborghini Urus |
|---|---|---|---|
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Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
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Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Cargo Capacity | 21.2 cu.-ft. | 17.1 cu.-ft. | 21.8 cu-ft. |
As for the comparison based on interior dimensions, not much is known but we feel that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the most spacious SUV followed by Bentley Bentagya and Lamborghini Urus in the order of their interior space. While for the cargo capacity surprisingly the Lamborghini Urus offers 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space which is more than Rolls-Royce Cullinan's 21.2 cubic feet of cargo space. While the Bentley Bentayga's cargo space of 17.1 cubic feet remains the least here.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan infotainment system seems to be inspired by BMW as well. The Cullinan features the iDrive 7 infotainment setup that forms the basis of all the controls inside the car. The infotainment is pretty slick on its own but certain features like Bluetooth connection and phone call connectivity could have been a bit more slicker. The available features include a pair of a 12.0-inch touchscreen at the back of front seats for the rear passengers along with a WiFi hotspot.
That said, some of the key features that you will find with the infotainment system in the Cullinan includes:
"Retaining the controversial but unmistakably Rolls-Royce design from last year, the Cullinan's styling has been the subject of much debate since it was launched."- Carbuzz
The Looks of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV has a design that is ambivalent to look at for some, but beautiful to many. The massive Pantheon front grille with the Spirit of Ecstasy logo adorned on top of it coupled with the massive 22-inch alloy wheels, gives this big bold SUV an imposing look.
The automatic aligning of wheel badges keeps the Rolls-Royce logo in the upright position as well. Apart from this you also get a near-infinite number of exterior color options to choose from and can even go to Rolls-Royce and get a custom color made for you.
As part of a hallmark Rolls-Royce tradition, the rear-hinged coach doors come with an umbrella tucked inside them which can be accessed by the push of a button. Projector LED headlamps on offer, continue to light up the path well making it safe to drive at night despite any road condition. At the rear, the Cullinan gets LED taillights that are visible in the harshest of conditions, be it snow, rain, or fog, and accentuates the looks of the SUV as well.
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Model |
2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan |
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed |
2021 Lamborghini Urus SUV |
|---|---|---|---|
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Curb Weight |
6,069 lbs. | 5,474 lbs. | 4,850 lbs. |
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Length |
210.0” |
202.4” |
201.3” |
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Width |
85.0” |
87.5” |
85.9” |
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Height |
72.0” |
68.6” |
64.5” |
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Ground Clearance |
8.0" |
9.7" |
6.2" |
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Wheelbase |
130.0” |
117.9” |
118.2” |
The dimensions of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan are massive. For instance, an advantage of a 13" wheelbase over the Bentayga Speed helps it in providing unmatched interior space. Its massive proportions make the dimensions of the Bentayga Speed and the Urus look punny. The 8" ground clearance also allows for easier access through bad roads or when traveling over bigger rocks while going off-road.
For those wondering what exterior features adorn the 2021 Cullinan, here is a small snippet of the same:
Luxury SUVs aren't exactly promoted as safe SUVs but it's good that companies like Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, and Bentley are upping their safety quotients in their cars. The IIHS nor the NHTSA carry out their crash tests on the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan and give out their safety rating because of obvious reasons. However, here is a list of safety features of the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan include:
Both the Bentayga Speed's safety features and the Urus's safety features are very similar to what you get in the Cullinan and which is why you won't find anything missing in the Cullinan as far as safety features are concerned.
The Bentley Bentayga Speed versus the Cullinan is one of the most talked-about in the industry. In terms of specs, prices, features, there is hardly much differentiating these two vehicles. The Bentayga Speed comes at a slightly lesser price than the Rolls and offers a lot more performance for the money.
However, the Rolls-Royce is way comfier of the two and against the Bentayga, it just feels worthy of its $340,350 asking price, courtesy of its plethora of customization options. The Rolls-Royce has a lot fewer recalls to its name as well that speaks volumes about its reliability.
Lamborghini created shockwaves in the industry when they launched the Urus in the market. It isn't justified to compare the Urus versus the Cullinan as both have different target audiences and characters as well. The Urus is an outright Lamborghini that is packaged in the body of an SUV and has the ability to take on the Porsche 911 on the track.
The Cullinan is more focused on offering a luxurious and comfortable ride when munching miles. The Cullinan is a notch above the Urus in terms of luxury and feels a bit more well-mannered on the road. The Urus, on the other hand, is suited for people, who want the practicality of an SUV but with the soul of a Lamborghini.
With a starting price of $176,900, the 2021 Aston Martin DBX is one of the best luxury SUVs that you can buy today. It, like the Cullinan, is the first attempt from Aston Martin in making an SUV and they have done it quite well.
The Aston is slightly less powerful than the Rolls and employs the use of a Mercedes engine as well. However, there are plenty of bespoke customizations on offer from Aston martin and their Q division but it falls just short of the options that you would get in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
With its self-adjusting air suspension, bespoke customization options, an endless set of features, and unparalleled driving and in-cabin experience, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan ticks a lot of boxes. However, this SUV isn't for everyone; be it in terms of its $340,350 asking price or in the way it looks. If you are looking forward to buying a vehicle that can sometimes take the road less taken, while offering you the comfort and convenience of a Rolls-Royce, the Cullinan is the one to go for.