Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs GWM Tank 300

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 Tank 300 in South Africa

GWM Tank 300

2.0T Hi4-T Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 849,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 240 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 35.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cullinan
Fuel Economy Tank 300
🛡 Safety Tank 300
📦 Practicality Tank 300
🔑 Ownership Tank 300

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cullinan Tank 300
Maximum Power 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm 240 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm 750 Nm
Engine Size 6749 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 35.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 224 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 490 l
Airbags 8 8
Kerb Weight 2725 kg 2050 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tank 300 holds a noticeable edge over Cullinan, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +1 pts
Efficiency Tank 300 +69 pts
Safety Tank 300 +1 pts
Practicality Tank 300 +1 pts
Ownership Tank 300 +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cullinan

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

Tank 300

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

Which One's Right for You?

Cullinan

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Tank 300

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cullinan Tank 300
Model Introduced Year 2018 2024
Generation Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV First generation, launched globally in 2021 and brought to South Africa in 2024. The Tank brand is positioned as GWM's premium off-road sub-brand alongside Haval (SUVs) and Ora (electric).
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 Tank 300 launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the differential locking activation logic and refined the hybrid system on the Hi4-T variant.
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 - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 2050 kg
Color Note - Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Mars Red, Atlantic Blue, Adventure Olive Green and Sand Dune Beige. The Adventure Olive Green is exclusive to Off-Road and Hi4-T Hybrid trims.
Spec Cullinan Tank 300
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering Front Engine Four Wheel Drive
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Yes
Differential Lock No lockable differential Yes
Paddle Shifters No Yes
Gearbox 8-speed ZF automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 2.81:1 3.73
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 (Hi4-T Hybrid)
4WD Engagement Everywhere off-road capability engaged by one button Available
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Yes
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Yes
4WD Selector Everywhere button Confirmed 4WD derivative
Automatic Shift Paddles No Yes
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic 8-Speed 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 AWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Transmission Speeds 8 8
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection Automatic
Drive Mode Selector - 4WD/off-road drive mode support
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Gear Shift Indicator - Yes
LSD Available - Yes
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

Tank 300 leads by 15 points

Tank 300 holds a noticeable edge over Cullinan, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 88 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 97% confidence
88
#1 Winner

Tank 300

97% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 98
Efficiency 97
Safety 100
Practicality 76
Ownership 65
Leads by 15 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 +1 Efficiency Tank 300 +69 Safety Tank 300 +1 Practicality Tank 300 +1 Ownership Tank 300 +21

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tank 300

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 76/100
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 Tank 300 wins with 88 pts vs 73 pts for Cullinan

In structured scoring, Tank 300 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 Tank 300 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 Tank 300 97. 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, Tank 300 100. 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, Tank 300 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, Tank 300 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, Tank 300 98. 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 Tank 300 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tank 300 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 Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 98.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 97.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 100.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 76.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Tank 300 the advantage in this comparison.