The bold front end of the Cullinan receives a substantial facelift for model year 2025.
In the current era of super SUVs, most manufacturers focus on the mind-melting performance that earns more headlines than all-out luxury. Lamborghini arguably set the stage with the Urus back in 2017, then doubled down on the recipe with more power and eventual hybridization over the years. Along the way, Aston Martin jumped into the fray with the DBX and DBX707. And more recently, Ferrari’s Purosangue stuck with a naturally aspirated V12 engine.
Compared to the rest of the pack, Rolls-Royce’s Cullinan occupies an entirely different market position—not just in pricing terms, but rather in presence thanks to the massive hood and upright grille that serve as distinguished reminders of the British coachbuilder’s long heritage.
Subtly metallic Twilight Purple paint draws attention of the right sort to a Cullinan.
The Cullinan no longer caters only to chauffeuring in style, either, and relishes any opportunity to prove so. I recently pushed a new Series II Cullinan loaner right up to the limit over the course of a week in Los Angeles, learning exactly where the fine line between super SUV and superluxe cruiser meets at a happy medium.
The new Cullinan serves as a facelift for Rolls-Royce’s original SUV, which means the 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 carries over. Satellite-based suspension can use GPS data to adjust the 6,000-pound SUV’s shock dampers and ride height to perfectly absorb any road imperfections, which creates an implacable sense of stability when cornering hard, too. The Cullinan lacks paddle shifters on the steering wheel, sure, but a Low button on the gear lever holds the transmission one step down to up power output with ease.
Only the Finest, or Go Without
That long hood hides a massive 6.75-liter V12 and two turbochargers.
Still, hard driving in a Cullinan isn’t really the point, I’ll readily admit, even though more and more Rolls-Royce buyers choose to drive themselves these days instead of hiring a chauffeur. The firm’s historical significance shone through as soon as I climbed into the driver’s seat, though. A thin steering wheel rim immediately belied the overall size and heft of the SUV, as I sunk into sumptuously cushioned seats. A push of the ignition button fired up the engine, producing a barely perceptible thrumbling bass line that calmly and confidently hinted at deep wellsprings of power beneath the surface.
Ease into the throttle pedal’s longer than long travel, which admittedly required a few minutes of adjustment for my mind to file under unconscious competence, and the total ratings of 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque stop mattering quite as much. Light inputs for the gas, brake, and steering pair with the smoothest of shifts from the eight-speed automatic, all impressing upon the driver just how important comfort can—and should—be on the road.
Only the finest or go without, in classic Rolls-Royce fashion.
Maybe doze off in the back seats, staring up at the Starlight Headlining dreaming of Vincent van Gogh, even take a nap back there if just to get out of the house. Of course, massaging seats help, as might a glass of champagne from the chiller between the two seatbacks. Such famous contrivances carry over from the Cullinan’s first iteration, while the Series II’s cosmetic changes amplify the exterior presence with a revised grille design, daytime running lights, and more substantial air intakes. The interior can now receive even further customization than ever before, including seat upholstery with the double R logo, custom dash woods, and the little details that run the gamut from the famous door umbrellas to fold down tables for passengers in the back seat.
Adapting to the full Rolls-Royce experience truly requires spending time with one of the vehicles. Only later in the loan, I remembered to fiddle with the air suspension to raise and lower the ride height. I stuffed my feet deeper into the sensuous carpeting, lowered the rear tailgate to sit around enjoying an imaginary picnic, adjusted the brightness of the headliner while waiting at stoplights.
Lasting Impressions of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II
Slicktop SUVs make more sense when equipped with Rolls-Royce's famous Starlight Headlining.
Before giving back the Cullinan Series II, all my preconceived notions started to reconcile with reality. What did I expect? Something BMW-related, no doubt. And so large and gaudy as to turn off other drivers and pedestrians who saw me rolling around Los Angeles in a subtly metallic Twilight Purple Rolls. Instead, the Cullinan emerged as one of the biggest surprises of my career, eminently enjoyable and equally as appealing to passersby who flipped me thumbs up, took pictures, and occasionally just stopped to stare.
Even more surprisingly, living with the Cullinan Series II required minimal changes to my lifestyle—other than trying not to park under trees to keep that sparkling paint sparkling. Counterintuitively, the Cullinan is the smallest Rolls-Royce in production, including the two-door Spectre EV and drop-top one-offs, so driving around town never seems ungainly.
Note the umbrella protruding from the rear-hinging rear doors.
I also expected the Cullinan to occupy a similar niche as the Bentley Bentayga, another of the super SUVs that slots in as somewhat more luxurious than the typical performance-focused fare. Yet the Cullinan’s smoothness, a calm capability, reminded me more of the Bentley Flying Spur, actually. Something so refined that every detail contributes to the sense of a whole—in hindsight, only the Lexus LX 600 comes to mind as somewhat similar in the unique embodiment of overall quality.
Of course, comparing the two requires adjusting to the Cullinan’s price tag, onto which options alone can eclipse even the most expensive Lexus. Though not my style, and certainly out of my league, Rolls-Royce’s SUV entirely resets the experience and mindset of driving, whether for professional chauffeurs or well-heeled owners alike.
