Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan vs Mahindra XUV700

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.

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
VS
Mahindra XUV700 in South Africa

Mahindra XUV700

AX7L BE Automatic Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 627,899 ex-showroom
⚡ 149 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 13 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Black Badge Cullinan
Fuel Economy XUV700
🛡 Safety Black Badge Cullinan
📦 Practicality Black Badge Cullinan
🔑 Ownership Tie

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Black Badge Cullinan XUV700
Maximum Power 441 kW @ 5250-5750 rpm 149 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque 900 Nm @ 1700-4000 rpm 380 Nm
Engine Size 6750 cc 1997 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 13 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 200 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 240 l
Airbags 8 7
Kerb Weight 2725 kg 2040 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 5 years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Black Badge Cullinan has a slight advantage, but XUV700 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Black Badge Cullinan +34 pts
Efficiency XUV700 +25 pts
Safety Black Badge Cullinan +37 pts
Practicality Black Badge Cullinan +8 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Black Badge Cullinan

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

XUV700

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Black Badge Cullinan

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

XUV700

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Black Badge Cullinan XUV700
Model Introduced Year 2020 Not Available
Generation Black Badge Cullinan Series II, the high-power alter ego of the current Cullinan SUV Current local listing
Facelift History 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 Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door performance-luxury SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status active Active
Segment Full-size performance super-luxury SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 2040 kg
Spec Black Badge Cullinan XUV700
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with front- and rear-steered axles Not Applicable
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Not Applicable
Differential Lock No lockable differential Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters No Not Applicable
Gearbox 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 2.81:1 Not Applicable
Number of Gears 8 6
Transmission Type 8-speed ZF automatic 6-speed automatic
Clutch Type Torque converter Not Applicable
Drivetrain All-wheel drive Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Everywhere off-road capability engaged by one button Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Everywhere button Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles No Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic 6-speed automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout All-wheel-drive power delivery with front- and rear-steered axles Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 6
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection via column stalk with Low button Not Applicable
LSD Available - Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator - Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Black Badge Cullinan leads by 14 points

Black Badge Cullinan has a slight advantage, but XUV700 remains highly competitive.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 14 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 14 points
60
#2

XUV700

82% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 67 Check Ownership 44
Performance 66
Efficiency 53
Safety 62
Practicality 67
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Black Badge Cullinan +34 Efficiency XUV700 +25 Safety Black Badge Cullinan +37 Practicality Black Badge Cullinan +8 Ownership Level

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

XUV700

Performance 66/100
Efficiency 53/100
Safety 62/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan wins with 74 pts vs 60 pts for XUV700

In structured scoring, Black Badge Cullinan emerges as the stronger overall package. However, XUV700 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: Black Badge Cullinan 28 vs XUV700 53. 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: Black Badge Cullinan 99, XUV700 62. 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: Black Badge Cullinan 44, XUV700 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: Black Badge Cullinan 75, XUV700 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Black Badge Cullinan 100, XUV700 66. 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 Black Badge Cullinan and XUV700 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Black Badge Cullinan scores 100 vs 66.

Efficiency: Black Badge Cullinan scores 28 vs 53.

Safety: Black Badge Cullinan scores 99 vs 62.

Practicality: Black Badge Cullinan scores 75 vs 67.

Ownership: Black Badge Cullinan scores 44 vs 44.

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