Honda CR-V vs Rolls-Royce 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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
VS
Rolls-Royce Cullinan in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Cullinan Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 850 Nm ⛽ 5.95 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cullinan
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety Cullinan
📦 Practicality Cullinan
🔑 Ownership CR-V

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V Cullinan
Maximum Power 204 kW 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 335 Nm 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm
Engine Size 1993 cc 6749 cc
Claimed Mileage 20 km/l 5.95 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 173 mm
Boot / Load Bay 497 l 612 l
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 2725 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 3 4 years; regional conditions apply

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CR-V and Cullinan are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +22 pts
Efficiency CR-V +52 pts
Safety Cullinan +7 pts
Practicality Cullinan +7 pts
Ownership CR-V +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

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

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?

CR-V

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

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 CR-V Cullinan
Model Introduced Year 2023 2018
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Five-door luxury SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV Full-size super-luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg -
Spec CR-V Cullinan
Drivetrain Layout All Wheel Drive All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering
LSD Available Electronic AWD Control -
Transfer Case Not Applicable ATC 13 transfer case
Differential Lock Electronic AWD Lock No lockable differential
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable No
Gearbox eCVT Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 2.81:1
Number of Gears Not Applicable 8
Transmission Type Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable -
Drivetrain AWD All-wheel drive
4WD Engagement Available Everywhere off-road capability engaged by one button
4WD Hi Range Available Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Everywhere button
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable No
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type eCVT Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout AWD All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 8
Gear Shift Type eCVT Automatic Satellite Aided automatic gear selection

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 2 points

Both CR-V and Cullinan are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 95% confidence
75
#1 Winner

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Leads by 2 points
73
#2

Cullinan

94% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 99 Check Efficiency 28
Performance 99
Efficiency 28
Safety 99
Practicality 75
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cullinan +22 Efficiency CR-V +52 Safety Cullinan +7 Practicality Cullinan +7 Ownership CR-V +7

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

Cullinan

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 73 pts for Cullinan

In structured scoring, CR-V emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Cullinan 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 CR-V 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: CR-V 80 vs 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: CR-V 92, 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: CR-V 51, 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: CR-V 68, Cullinan 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, Cullinan 99. 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 CR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CR-V 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 CR-V and Cullinan in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 99.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 28.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 99.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 75.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives CR-V the advantage in this comparison.