ROLLS-ROYCE WINS LUXURY WITH THE 2025 CULLINAN
The 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II sits right on top of the pile, with a confidence that barely acknowledges its contemporaries. There are other super-luxurious (and mega-expensive) SUVs, but none strive for the same goals. The Cullinan is a statement vehicle, projecting an air of superiority while maintaining grace and decorum. Okay, maybe a smidgen of that grace has gone this year in favor of a flashier front end and a modernized interior. Rolls never evolves quickly, and in usual fashion, the so-called "Series II" Cullinan's mission hasn't been changed by this refresh.
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The Lowdown
Rolls-Royce was always going to keep the Cullinan's twin-turbo 6.8-liter V-12, the trademark powertrain being the starring feature that sets apart this SUV from most luxury rivals, especially as the Bentley Bentayga no longer offers a W-12. As before, all-wheel drive is standard, as is a Magic Carpet Ride system that combines self-leveling air suspension with continuously adjustable electronically controlled shock absorbers. The Cullinan also gets standard rear-wheel steering to help maneuverability in city environments.
Changes for the Series II update include revised styling and the addition of an updated BMW iDrive-based infotainment system, plus a fully digital dashboard. But this car's greatness definitely isn't defined by electronic doodads or high-tech features.
- Vehicle Tested: 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Base Price: $410,350
- Price as tested: $555,200
- Location: Greenville, South Carolina
More Specs
Engine: 6750cc V-12, twin-turbocharged
Power: 563 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 627 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.5-sec (est.)
Transmission: Eight-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Weight: 5864 pounds
EPA MPG: 12 / 19 / 14 (City / Highway / Combined)
How Does It Drive?
It is refreshing to drive an SUV that embraces the limitations of its form and which doesn't try to pass itself off as a performance car. Despite what you might see at the Goodwood Festival of Speed every year, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan doesn't encourage hooligan-like driving behavior. After a serene cruise through downtown Greenville, South Carolina, I took the Cullinan to the same mountain roads where I recently tested the new BMW M5. It was clear before I even got there what the result would be.
The slow and spacey steering is lots of work on a winding road, but it makes the Cullinan a beautifully steady and calm cruiser at highway speeds. Effortless is the word that came to mind more than once as I navigated narrow streets, with the four-wheel steering subtly pivoting the car around sharp bends. Mountain hairpins expose how soft the Cullinan's suspension tuning is—it leans and rolls like a listing barge. But this aristocratic apathy toward enthusiastic driving is exactly what you would expect from a Rolls-Royce, and that's completely fine.
The brakes lack aggressive bite when shedding speed for a tight downhill corner but are perfectly tuned to make the smoothest possible stops in heavy traffic. Similarly, the throttle mapping is gentle enough to allow near-imperceptible starts, despite the mountainous torque produced by the twin-turbo V-12. But ride quality is the highlight. I got into the Cullinan expecting it to be the most comfortable SUV in the world, and that's exactly what Rolls-Royce has delivered.
None of this has changed with the Series II facelift, so anybody with an earlier Cullinan can rest assured their cars will drive the same way. That may sound like something of more concern to the chauffeur, with likely few Cullinan buyers lacking the financial means to employ a professional driver. But Rolls says customers enjoy the experience of taking the wheel, 90 percent of buyers piloting themselves at least some of the time. Good on them, because driving a Cullinan is an experience you can't get close to in any other rival.
What's It Like to Live With?
A new pillar-to-pillar glass panel faces you upon entering the Cullinan Series II. It houses the same interface Rolls initially introduced on the electric Spectre, including a BMW iDrive-like infotainment system and fully digital instrument cluster. Surprisingly, little customization is possible within the cluster display, which—channeling my internal persnickety billionaire—I found disappointing. One neat touch is the ability to customize the instrument dial color. For my test car, the cluster was rendered in Peridot Green to complement the Chartreuse interior. It ruled.
A small physical Spirit of Ecstasy now lives inside a clock cabinet on the dashboard, mirroring the larger figure that sits at the front of the hood. A host of new interior materials and finishes are available, like gray-stained ash, fancy twill textiles, and "placed perforation," which creates cloudlike perforation patterns on some leather surfaces. Being a rider is better in the Cullinan Series II as well, with Rolls-Royce bringing the options of a Wi-Fi hotspot and a new rear entertainment system.
One of the few complaints I could muster is that the Cullinan's auto-door-close feature isn't as advanced as in the BMW 7 Series. Rolls doesn't offer a universal auto-open or close from the driver's seat like BMW does, which felt like a missed opportunity with the button-controlled power-operated doors. But hey, that's the sort of complaint that falls under the category of extreme nitpicking.
Every seat in the Cullinan is first class when it comes to comfort. This is the most hushed SUV on the market, with occupants able to choose between restful near-silence or the exceptional fidelity of the 18-speaker Bespoke Audio upgrade, which brings a 1400-watt amplifier and effectively turns the hollow sections inside the aluminum sills into subwoofers. In terms of luxury, a journey in the Cullinan is on another level; anything else will feel like an anticlimax.
Should I Buy One?
You don't buy a Cullinan for its bleeding-edge tech. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 has that route covered. Nor will the Rolls-Royce deliver performance even close to that of the Ferrari Purosangue or the Lamborghini Urus SE. No, you buy a Cullinan because you simply want the best possible luxury experience in SUV form. And, of course, because you are exceedingly rich and can afford one.
How rich? Toward the top one percent of the top one percent: The Cullinan starts at $410,350, with the possibility to add substantially to that with options and bespoke finishes. Frankly, if you're already in for the base price, then there is very little reason not to spring for the slightly more powerful Black Badge version, which ups output to 592 hp and 664 lb-ft and starts at $475,350. For car buyers, that $65,000 supplement would be a huge stretch, but for Cullinan customers, it is basically the upcharge for being able to say that you got the more exclusive version.
The only real question is over the revised front-end design, with a more monolithic front bumper, an illuminated grille, and new, bolder headlights—plus showy 23-inch wheels. Rolls obviously wants to ensure the neighbors of Series II buyers realize this is the newer car, but the massaged styling is undoubtedly less classical and likely more polarizing than it was before.
Highlights and Lowlights
We Love:
- Exceptional refinement makes long drives blissful.
- The subtle and serene V-12 is only heard when you want it to be.
- Exquisitely crafted and artful interior.
We Don't:
- Tech still lags behind rivals.
- The starting price is wild, however rich you are.
Favorite Detail:
It's old news by now, but there's still nothing quite like the Shooting Star headliner option on a Rolls-Royce. The beautiful lights integrated into the full leather headliner are a perfect example of this car's opulence and purpose. Its proof that Rolls doesn't let a square inch of the Cullinan's interior go without added thought and purpose. Truly, it lives in a class of one.