Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs GWM Jolion

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 Jolion in South Africa

GWM Jolion

1.5T Hybrid LT Hybrid Current
ZAR 519,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 17.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

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

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cullinan Jolion
Maximum Power 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm 115 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm 250 Nm
Engine Size 6749 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 17.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 190 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 340 l
Airbags 8 6
Kerb Weight 2725 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +48 pts
Efficiency Jolion +45 pts
Safety Cullinan +5 pts
Practicality Cullinan +15 pts
Ownership Jolion +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

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

Jolion

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

Which One's Right for You?

Cullinan

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

Jolion

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cullinan Jolion
Model Introduced Year 2018 2021
Generation Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV Jolion sold in South Africa is the first generation under the Jolion nameplate, derived from Haval's L.E.M.O.N. modular platform launched in 2020. Local specification differs from the Chinese-domestic version in suspension calibration (slightly softer for SA road conditions), cabin material grades (higher) and infotainment software localisation.
Facelift History Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024 Haval Jolion received a mid-cycle update in 2023 that brought the 12.3-inch infotainment screen to LT as standard (replacing the original 10.25-inch unit), added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range, refined driver-assistance calibration, and updated front-end styling with revised headlamp signatures. The hybrid variants were introduced to the South African market in 2024 as a separate trim ladder rather than a powertrain option on existing trims.
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
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1500 kg
Color Note - Hamilton White, Crystal White, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red, Atlantic Blue and Dignity Black. Some colours are limited to specific trim levels and availability changes annually.
Spec Cullinan Jolion
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering Front Engine Front Wheel Drive
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Not Applicable
Differential Lock No lockable differential No
Paddle Shifters No No
Gearbox 8-speed ZF automatic DHT Hybrid Transmission
Final Drive Ratio 2.81:1 3.73
Number of Gears 8 2
Transmission Type 8-speed ZF automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Torque converter Wet Multi-Disc
Drivetrain All-wheel drive Front 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 No
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic DHT Hybrid Transmission
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 FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 2
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection Automatic
Differential Type Front - Not Available
Differential Type Rear - Not Available
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
Transfer Case Guard - Not Available

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cullinan leads by 5 points

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

Winner 73 /100
Lead 5 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 5 points
68
#2

Jolion

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 73
Safety 94
Practicality 60
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cullinan +48 Efficiency Jolion +45 Safety Cullinan +5 Practicality Cullinan +15 Ownership Jolion +21

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Cullinan

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

Jolion

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Cullinan wins with 73 pts vs 68 pts for Jolion

In structured scoring, Cullinan emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Jolion 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 Jolion 73. 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, Jolion 94. 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, Jolion 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, Jolion 60. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, Jolion 51. 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 Jolion in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 51.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 73.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 60.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Cullinan the advantage in this comparison.