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Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Car and Driver says while the ultraluxurious Rolls-Royce Cullinan has some modern touches, such as digital displays and a streaming-capable rear-seat entertainment system, it's still old school in the ways that matter to the brand's customers, relying on a woefully inefficient but powerful twin-turbo V-12 and enough sound-deadening material, leather, metal, wood, and wool to silence a Vitamix, ranking #4 in Ultimate Luxury SUVs behind the Ferrari Purosangue, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus. MotorTrend says there was no shortage of big, baller luxury SUVs on the market, but then Rolls-Royce rolled in and dropped an SUV bigger and baller-er than them all, providing sublime comfort amidst impeccable finishings in a spacious, whisper-quiet cabin, and while incredibly nice to drive, the Cullinan isn't very fun, seeking instead to disconnect its occupants from any sensation that might disturb them from absolute relaxation; a Series II update in 2025 brought revised headlights, air vents, an illuminated grille, and wheels as large as 23 inches.
Old school where it matters, a V-12 and yards of leather
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says while the ultraluxurious Cullinan has modern touches like digital displays and a streaming-capable rear-seat entertainment system, it's still old school in the ways that matter to the brand's customers, relying on a woefully inefficient but powerful twin-turbo V-12 and enough sound-deadening material, leather, metal, wood, and wool to silence a Vitamix.
#4 among Ultimate Luxury SUVs
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) ranks the Cullinan #4 in Ultimate Luxury SUVs, behind the Ferrari Purosangue, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus.
Designed to disconnect, not to engage
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says there was no shortage of big, baller luxury SUVs on the market, but then Rolls-Royce rolled in and dropped an SUV bigger and baller-er than them all, and while incredibly nice to drive, the Cullinan isn't very fun, seeking instead to disconnect its occupants from any sensation that might disturb them from absolute relaxation; a Series II update in 2025 brought revised headlights, air vents, an illuminated grille, and wheels as large as 23 inches.
Questions buyers ask
What engine does the Rolls-Royce Cullinan use?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says a twin-turbo V-12.
Is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan fun to drive?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says no, it's designed to disconnect occupants from sensation rather than engage them.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is built around 6.75L twin-turbo V12, rated at 563 / 591 horsepower across its full-size luxury SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 2 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Cullinan seats 4 or 5 and is a Full-size luxury SUV.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Cullinan.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Standard Cullinan uses a 563-horsepower twin-turbo V12; Black Badge steps up to 591 horsepower with 900 Nm of torque (vs. 850 Nm standard) and unique styling.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Rolls-Royce Cullinan model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a full-size luxury crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV)/4x4 manufactured by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as the brand's first all-wheel drive vehicle. It is named after the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered. The Cullinan is positioned above the Ghost and below the Phantom in Rolls-Royce's range, with a starting price in the United States of approximately US$325,000.
- Interior
- The interior includes many of the same standard and optional features found in other Rolls-Royce models, such as a number of different upholstery and trim finishes in leather, wood, carbon fiber and more, as well as power closing doors, double paned windows, and a choice of an optional "Starlight" fiber optic headliner or panoramic sunroof.
- Suspension
- The Cullinan uses a double wishbone front axle and a 5-link rear axle. It is fitted with self-levelling air suspension and electronically controlled dampers front and rear. It is also equipped with electrically actuated active anti-roll bars.
- Powertrain
- The Cullinan is only equipped with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine. ZF's 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission is the Cullinan's sole gearbox option. The Cullinan uses a permanent all-wheel drive system.
- Variants
- The Black Badge is a special edition of the Cullinan which features a power increase to 600 PS; 591 hp (441 kW), as well as exterior features painted in black (including the Spirit of Ecstasy) and carbon fibre trim on the interior. The leather used in the interior is black, with borders coloured according to the exterior.
Source: Rolls-Royce Cullinan (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan at a glance
- Production
- 2018–present
- Assembly
- United Kingdom: West Sussex, England (Goodwood plant)
- Class
- Full-size luxury crossover SUV (F)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout
- Platform
- Architecture of Luxury
- Engine
- 6.75 L N74B68 twin-turbocharged V12 (petrol)
- Transmission
- 8-speed 8HP automatic
- Wheelbase
- 3295 mm
- Length
- 5341 mm
- Width
- 2000 mm (with mirrors: 2164 mm)
- Height
- 1835 mm
- Curb weight
- 2660 kg
- Related models
- Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Rolls-Royce Spectre
- Designer
- Giles Taylor
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- March 2026, Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners. BMW of North America, LLC (Rolls-Royce) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan vehicles. The fixing bolts may not have been properly tightened. The bolts may loosen and damage the left or right rear seat belt webbing or allow the backrest to move… Consequence: A damaged seat belt or unsecured seat back may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of 135/2,000 Safety Risk: Crash Fire Death Injury Consumer Advisories: Do Not…
Year by year
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan across 9 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 13 | $6,150 | 2 | ||
| 2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 14 | $5,550 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 14.0 to 13.0 | |||
| 2024 to 2025 | Size classes: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Size classes: Midsize Station Wagons | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 1 to 2 | Labels: Cullinan Black Badge |
Buying used
What the Rolls-Royce Cullinan recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2025 | 1 | seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2024 | 1 | seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2023 | 1 | seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2022 | 1 | seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2021 | 2 | seat belts; seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2020 | 1 | seat belts (critical fasteners) | None |
| 2019 | 2 | exterior lighting (brake lights); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series II | AWD | 6.7-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563 | 627 | 6,173 | 7,300 | 14 | $442,750 |
| Black Badge Series II | AWD | 6.7-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 591 | 664 | 6,173 | 7,300 | 14 | $512,750 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Rolls-Royce Cullinan model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2 | 6.7-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563–591 | 6,173 | 7,300 | 23.8 |
| 2026 | 2 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563–591 | 6,151 | – | 20 |
| 2025 | 4 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 600 | 6,151 | – | 23.8 |
| 2024 | 2 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 600 | 6,151 | – | 23.8 |
| 2023 | 2 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 600 | 6,089–6,151 | – | 23.8 |
| 2022 | 2 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563 | – | – | – |
| 2021 | 2 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563 | – | – | – |
| 2020 | 2 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563–592 | 6,069 | – | – |
| 2019 | 1 | 6.8-liter V12 (Twin Turbo) | 563 | 6,069 | – | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Rolls-Royce Cullinan: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | seat belts |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | exterior lighting, backup camera |
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Rolls-Royce Cullinan model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Rolls-Royce Cullinan?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Rolls-Royce Cullinan model year: recall counts across the 8 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 1.3 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan by model year?
2026: seat belts. 2025: seat belts. 2024: seat belts. 2023: seat belts. 2022: seat belts. 2021: seat belts.
Q03Why do some Rolls-Royce Cullinan model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Rolls-Royce Cullinan model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Rolls-Royce Cullinan is most often compared with.
Nearest Rolls-Royce models
Other Rolls-Royce models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Cullinan come in?
The 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan (full-size luxury SUV) comes in 2 trims: Cullinan, Cullinan Black Badge.
Q02What are the 2027 Cullinan trims?
The 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan trims are Cullinan, Cullinan Black Badge, listed from the entry Cullinan up to the top Cullinan Black Badge.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Cullinan use?
The 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is built around 6.75L twin-turbo V12, rated at 563 / 591 horsepower across its full-size luxury SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Cullinan have?
The 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is rated at 563 / 591 horsepower (6.75L twin-turbo V12).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Cullinan?
The 2027 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is offered with Standard AWD.