Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs GWM H7

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
GWM H7 in South Africa

GWM H7

2.0T LX Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 185 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cullinan
Fuel Economy H7
🛡 Safety H7
📦 Practicality Cullinan
🔑 Ownership H7

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cullinan H7
Maximum Power 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm 185 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm 420 Nm
Engine Size 6749 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 195 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 620 l
Airbags 8 8
Kerb Weight 2725 kg 1830 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Cullinan and H7 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +19 pts
Efficiency H7 +18 pts
Safety H7 +1 pts
Practicality Cullinan +2 pts
Ownership H7 +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cullinan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

H7

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Cullinan

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

H7

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cullinan H7
Model Introduced Year 2018 2024
Generation Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV First generation, derived from Haval's larger SUV platform launched in 2023. Local specification differs from the Chinese-domestic model in suspension calibration and equipment loading.
Facelift History Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024 First-generation H7 launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the all-wheel-drive system calibration and the driver-assistance behaviour.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door luxury SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Full-size super-luxury SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1830 kg
Color Note - Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Cosmos Grey, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red and Atlantic Blue. Two-tone roof options available on LT and LX trims.
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Spec Cullinan H7
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering Front Engine All Wheel Drive
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Not Applicable
Differential Lock No lockable differential No
Paddle Shifters No Yes
Gearbox 8-speed ZF automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 2.81:1 3.42
Number of Gears 8 8
Transmission Type 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Torque converter Torque Converter
Drivetrain All-wheel drive All Wheel Drive
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 Yes
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering AWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Transmission Speeds 8 8
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection Automatic
Drive Mode Selector - Yes
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Gear Shift Indicator - Yes
LSD Available - No
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 14.7:1

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H7 leads by 2 points

Both Cullinan and H7 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 97% confidence
75
#1 Winner

H7

97% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 80
Efficiency 46
Safety 100
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
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 +19 Efficiency H7 +18 Safety H7 +1 Practicality Cullinan +2 Ownership H7 +21

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H7

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

Cullinan

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM H7 wins with 75 pts vs 73 pts for Cullinan

In structured scoring, H7 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 H7 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 H7 46. 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, H7 100. 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, H7 65. 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, H7 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, H7 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 H7 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H7 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 H7 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 80.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 46.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 100.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 73.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives H7 the advantage in this comparison.