Hyundai ALCAZAR vs Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Hyundai ALCAZAR in South Africa

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT Diesel Current
ZAR 669,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan

Black Badge Cullinan Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 441 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 5.95 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Black Badge Cullinan
Fuel Economy ALCAZAR
🛡 Safety Black Badge Cullinan
📦 Practicality Black Badge Cullinan
🔑 Ownership ALCAZAR

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec ALCAZAR Black Badge Cullinan
Maximum Power 85 kW 441 kW @ 5250-5750 rpm
Maximum Torque 250 Nm 900 Nm @ 1700-4000 rpm
Engine Size 1493 cc 6750 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l 5.95 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 173 mm
Boot / Load Bay 180 l 612 l
Airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags 8
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 2725 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 5 4 years; regional conditions apply

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Black Badge Cullinan holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Black Badge Cullinan +56 pts
Efficiency ALCAZAR +40 pts
Safety Black Badge Cullinan +71 pts
Practicality Black Badge Cullinan +11 pts
Ownership ALCAZAR +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Black Badge Cullinan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Black Badge Cullinan

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR Black Badge Cullinan
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2020
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Black Badge Cullinan Series II, the high-power alter ego of the current Cullinan SUV
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Black Badge Cullinan debuted globally in 2019, was introduced in South Africa in 2020 and evolved into Black Badge Cullinan Series II in May 2024
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat SUV Five-door performance-luxury SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV Full-size performance super-luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg -
Spec ALCAZAR Black Badge Cullinan
Drivetrain Layout Front-wheel drive All-wheel drive with front- and rear-steered axles
LSD Available Not Applicable -
Transfer Case Not Applicable ATC 13 transfer case
Differential Lock Not Applicable No lockable differential
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable No
Gearbox Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 2.81:1
Number of Gears 6 8
Transmission Type Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque converter
Gear Shift Indicator Yes -
Drivetrain Front-wheel drive All-wheel drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Everywhere off-road capability engaged by one button
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Everywhere button
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable No
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout Front-wheel drive All-wheel-drive power delivery with front- and rear-steered axles
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds 6 8
Gear Shift Type Automatic Satellite Aided automatic gear selection via column stalk with Low button

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Black Badge Cullinan leads by 22 points

Black Badge Cullinan holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 22 points
Data 94% confidence
74
#1 Winner

Black Badge Cullinan

94% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Efficiency 28
Performance 100
Efficiency 28
Safety 99
Practicality 75
Ownership 44
Leads by 22 points
52
#2

ALCAZAR

79% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 68 Check Safety 28
Performance 44
Efficiency 68
Safety 28
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Black Badge Cullinan +56 Efficiency ALCAZAR +40 Safety Black Badge Cullinan +71 Practicality Black Badge Cullinan +11 Ownership ALCAZAR +21

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Black Badge Cullinan

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 28/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 44/100

ALCAZAR

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan wins with 74 pts vs 52 pts for ALCAZAR

In structured scoring, Black Badge Cullinan emerges as the stronger overall package. However, ALCAZAR may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Black Badge Cullinan edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: ALCAZAR 68 vs Black Badge Cullinan 28. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: ALCAZAR 28, Black Badge Cullinan 99. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: ALCAZAR 65, Black Badge Cullinan 44. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: ALCAZAR 64, Black Badge Cullinan 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, Black Badge Cullinan 100. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Black Badge Cullinan edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Black Badge Cullinan scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between ALCAZAR and Black Badge Cullinan in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 100.

Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 68 vs 28.

Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 99.

Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 75.

Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Black Badge Cullinan the advantage in this comparison.