Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs Toyota Fortuner

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 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
VS
Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel Current
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cullinan
Fuel Economy Fortuner
🛡 Safety Cullinan
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership Fortuner

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cullinan Fortuner
Maximum Power 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm 150 kW
Maximum Torque 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm 500 Nm
Engine Size 6749 cc 2755 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 279 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l -
Airbags 8 Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags
Kerb Weight 2725 kg -
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Cullinan has a slight advantage, but Fortuner remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +19 pts
Efficiency Fortuner +28 pts
Safety Cullinan +71 pts
Practicality Fortuner +14 pts
Ownership Fortuner +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cullinan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Fortuner

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Cullinan

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Fortuner

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cullinan Fortuner
Model Introduced Year 2018 2006
Generation Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades
Facelift History Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024 Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2021
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door luxury SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status active published
Segment Full-size super-luxury SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle SUV
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT
Tare Mass Kg - GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass
Spec Cullinan Fortuner
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering Ladder frame
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Confirmed 4WD derivative
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 Automatic
Clutch Type Torque converter Not Applicable
Drivetrain All-wheel drive 4WD / AWD
4WD Engagement Everywhere off-road capability engaged by one button Available
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Available
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Available where 4WD low range is fitted
4WD Selector Everywhere button Confirmed 4WD derivative
Automatic Shift Paddles No Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Available where 4WD low range is fitted
Axle Layout All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering 4x4
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 6
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection Automatic
LSD Available - Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator - Not Applicable
Drive Mode Selector - 4WD/off-road drive mode support

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cullinan leads by 11 points

Cullinan has a slight advantage, but Fortuner remains highly competitive.

Winner 73 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 94% confidence
73
#1 Winner

Cullinan

94% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 99 Check Efficiency 28
Performance 99
Efficiency 28
Safety 99
Practicality 75
Ownership 44
Leads by 11 points
62
#2

Fortuner

74% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 89 Check Safety 28
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 28
Practicality 89
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cullinan +19 Efficiency Fortuner +28 Safety Cullinan +71 Practicality Fortuner +14 Ownership Fortuner +7

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Cullinan

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

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Cullinan wins with 73 pts vs 62 pts for Fortuner

In structured scoring, Cullinan emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Fortuner 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 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: Cullinan 28 vs Fortuner 56. 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: Cullinan 99, Fortuner 28. 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: Cullinan 44, Fortuner 51. 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: Cullinan 75, Fortuner 89. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, Fortuner 80. 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 Cullinan edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 80.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 56.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 28.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 89.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 51.

Final structured scoring gives Cullinan the advantage in this comparison.