Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

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

Cullinan Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current

Price on request

⚡ 420 kW 🔧 850 Nm ⛽ 5.95 km/l

Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

PHEV Ultra Plug-in Hybrid Current

ZAR 679,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 265 kW 🔧 530 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Cullinan

⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 7 PHEV

🛡 Safety Cullinan

📦 Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV

🔑 Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Maximum Power	420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm	265 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque	850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm	530 Nm
Engine Size	6749 cc	1500 cc
Claimed Mileage	5.95 km/l	20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance	173 mm	162 mm
Boot / Load Bay	612 l	626 l
Airbags	8	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	2725 kg	1870 kg
Seating Capacity	-	-
Warranty	4 years; regional conditions apply	7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 7 PHEV has a slight advantage, but Cullinan remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +8 pts

Efficiency Tiggo 7 PHEV +57 pts

Safety Cullinan +5 pts

Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +1 pts

Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV +25 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

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

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

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

Tiggo 7 PHEV

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	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Model Introduced Year	2018	2026
Generation	Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV	Current South Africa Tiggo 7 PHEV range
Facelift History	Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024	Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since	2024	2026
Facelift Version Ending	Current	Current
Body Style	Five-door luxury SUV	SUV
Model Year	2026	2026
Production Status	active	active
Segment	Full-size super-luxury SUV	SUV
Vehicle Type	Internal-combustion sport utility vehicle	SUV
Tare Mass Kg	-	1870 kg

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Drivetrain Layout	All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering	FWD
Transfer Case	ATC 13 transfer case	Not Applicable
Differential Lock	No lockable differential	Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters	No	Standard
Gearbox	8-speed ZF automatic	1 DHT
Final Drive Ratio	2.81:1	Not Applicable
Number of Gears	8	Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type	8-speed ZF automatic	Automatic
Clutch Type	Torque converter	Automatic clutch
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive	FWD
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	Standard
Front Differential Lock	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Gearbox Type	8-speed ZF automatic	1 DHT
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	Hybrid DHT
Gear Shift Type	Satellite Aided automatic gear selection	Electric
LSD Available	-	Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Standard

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Claimed Mileage	5.95 km/l	20.4 km/l
City Mileage	5.10 km/l	Not Available
Highway Mileage	8.08 km/l	Not Available
Fuel Tank Capacity	90 l	60 l
Emission Standard	Euro 6e (B6e)	Euro VIb
AdBlue Tank Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop	Automatic start/stop: Yes	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	16.8 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	16.8 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	16.8 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Real-world Mileage	5.95 km/l	20.4 km/l
Charging Port Type	Not Applicable	Plug-in hybrid AC/DC
Charging Type	Not Applicable	AC/DC
Combined Consumption	16.8 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	16.8 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined	16.8 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	90	60
Combined Driving Range	536-563 km (calculated from 90 L and 16.0-16.8 l/100 km WLTP)	1200
Electric Consumption	Not Applicable	Not Available
Range Real World Highway	-	Not Available
Range Real World Mixed	-	1200 km

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Airbags	8	Multiple airbags
ABS	Four-channel Anti-lock Braking System	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Dynamic Stability Control	Standard
Traction Control	Dynamic Traction Control	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Hill Descent Control	Standard
Hill Start Assist	Hill Start Assist	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Rear child-safety locks	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	ISOFIX child-seat mounts	Standard
Brake Assist	Dynamic Brake Control	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Tyre Pressure Monitoring System	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Engine immobiliser	Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Front seatbelt warning sensor	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Park Distance Control, front and rear	Standard
AEB	Collision Warning with Brake Function; pedestrian/bike warning with brake function	Standard
BA	Dynamic Brake Control	Standard
Curtain Airbags	Head Protection System	Standard
Driver Airbag	Driver airbag	Standard
EBD	Electronic Brakeforce Distribution	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Engine immobiliser	Standard
Hill Hold	Hill Start Assist	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Front-passenger airbag	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front and rear three-point pretensioning seatbelts; front force limiters	Standard
Side Airbags	Front side-impact airbags	Standard
TCS	Dynamic Traction Control	Standard
Knee Airbag	Active front knee protection	Standard
ABS EBD	Four-channel Anti-lock Braking System	Standard
Seatbelt Reminder	Front seatbelt warning sensor	Standard
Stability Control	Dynamic Stability Control	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Standard

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Cruise Control	Dynamic Cruise Control; Active Cruise Control fitted to the referenced current vehicle	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Active Cruise Control	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Lane Departure Warning with Active Return	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Lane Departure Warning with Active Return	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Lane Change Warning with Blind Spot Detection	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard
Parking Sensors	Park Distance Control, front and rear	Standard
Rear View Camera	Rear View Camera	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Surround View Camera with 3D view	Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Collision Warning with Brake Function; pedestrian/bike warning with brake function	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	Driver Attention Alert	Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition	Speed Limit Information	Not Available
Auto Highbeam	High-Beam Assistance	Standard
Auto Wipers	Rain-sensing variable-speed windshield wipers	Standard
Rear Parking Sensors	Park Distance Control, front and rear	Standard
Reverse Camera	Rear View Camera	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Active Cruise Control	Standard
Park Assist	Park Assist and Reversing Assistant	Not Available
Around View Monitor	Surround View Camera with 3D view	Standard
Blind Spot Warning	Lane Change Warning with Blind Spot Detection	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Collision Warning with Brake Function	Standard

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Seat Material	Leather, Duality Twill or Bespoke alternatives	Leatherette / leather
Heated Seats	Available, including rear-seat heating	Standard
Ventilated Seats	Available, including rear-seat cooling	Standard
Ambient Lighting	Illuminated Fascia with Cullinan wordmark and Cityscape graphic; illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy Clock Cabinet	Standard
Steering Wheel Material	Heated full-leather multifunction steering wheel	Leather
60 40 Split Seat	Electronically folding 2/3 and 1/3 rear bench	Standard
Driver Seat Adjustment	Heated, electronically adjustable front seat with memory	Power
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Heated, electronically adjustable front seat with memory	Power
Seat Trim	Placed Perforation leather available	Leatherette / leather
Front Shoulder Room	-	Not Available
Rear Shoulder Room	-	Not Available

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Climate Control	Automatic four-zone climate control	Automatic
Power Windows	Front and rear power windows with one-touch up/down	Standard
Keyless Entry	Comfort Access keyless entry	Standard
Push Button Start	Engine start button	Standard
Wireless Charging	Wireless smartphone charging	Standard
Sunroof	Panoramic glass roof	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Power-operated two-part Clasp tailgate	Standard
Rain Sensing Wipers	Rain-sensing variable-speed windshield wipers	Standard
AC Type	Automatic four-zone climate control	Automatic
Load Bed Length	-	Not Applicable
Load Bed Width	-	Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	1672 l
Loadbox Length Mm	-	Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm	-	Not Applicable

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Length	5355 mm	4553 mm
Width	2000 mm	1862 mm
Height	1835 mm	1686 mm
Wheelbase	3295 mm	2670 mm
Doors	5 doors	5 doors
Front Headroom	1064 mm	-
Payload Capacity	575 kg	-
Fuel Tank Capacity	90 l	60 l
Kerb Weight	2725 kg	1870 kg
Towing Capacity	2700 kg	-
Rear Headroom	1026 mm	-
Front Legroom	1006 mm	-
Rear Legroom	1090 mm	-
Ground Clearance (Default)	173 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)	173 mm	-
Boot/Cargo Space	612 l	626 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)	3300 kg	2310 kg
Seating Capacity	5 seats	5 seats
Number of Rows	2 rows	-
Minimum Turning Radius	6.6 m	-

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine	6.75-litre V12 petrol	1.5-litre Turbocharged Petrol Plug-in Hybrid
Cylinders	12	4
Valves	48	16
Fuel System	Direct Injection	Petrol injection
Compression Ratio	10.0:1	Not Officially Disclosed
Drive Type	AWD	FWD
Top Speed	250 km/h	Not Officially Disclosed
Engine Code	N74B68A	Not Officially Disclosed
Cylinder Layout	V	Inline
Aspiration	Twin Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Bore	89 mm	Not Officially Disclosed
Stroke	90.4 mm	Not Officially Disclosed
Drive Modes	Low	Eco, Normal, Sport
Valves per Cylinder	4	4
Launch Control	Not Officially Disclosed	Not Officially Disclosed
Engine Displacement	6749 cc	1500 cc
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	Not Officially Disclosed
0-100 km/h	5.3 sec	Not Officially Disclosed
Battery Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
DC Charging Power	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Type	Petrol	Plug-in Hybrid
Maximum Power	420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm	265 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque	850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm	530 Nm
Motor Type	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Regenerative Braking	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Hybrid System	Not Applicable	Plug-in Hybrid
Combined Power	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Combined Torque	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Number of Motors	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Motor Location	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Quarter Mile	Not Officially Disclosed	Not Officially Disclosed
Rev Limiter	Not Officially Disclosed	Not Officially Disclosed
Power-to-Weight Ratio	154.1 kW/tonne	Not Officially Disclosed
Torque-to-Weight Ratio	311.9 Nm/tonne	Not Officially Disclosed
Usable Battery Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Battery Type	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Battery Voltage	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
Electric Range	Not Applicable	93 km (WLTP)
AC Charging Power	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
AC Charging Time	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed
DC Charging Time	Not Applicable	Not Officially Disclosed

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Apple CarPlay	Apple CarPlay compatibility	Standard
Android Auto	Android Auto compatibility	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Bluetooth wireless technology; rear passengers can pair headphones individually	Standard
Number of Speakers	16	8
Digital Instrument Cluster	SPIRIT digital instrument interface	Standard
Infotainment System	SPIRIT infotainment operated by touch, controller and voice commands; independent rear-screen streaming available	Touchscreen infotainment
Infotainment Screen	10.25-inch Central Information Display with touchscreen plus available independently streaming rear screens	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Touchscreen	10.25-inch Central Information Display with touchscreen plus available independently streaming rear screens	10.25-inch or larger by trim
USB Ports	USB Type-C ports	Front and rear USB where listed

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
LED Headlamps	Rolls-Royce LED headlights	Standard
Daytime Running Lamps	Vertical daytime-running-light treatment	Standard
Fog Lamps	Front fog lamps	Standard
Roof Rails	No; vehicle not approved for roof loads	Standard
Headlights	Rolls-Royce LED headlights	Standard
Panoramic Sunroof	Panoramic glass roof	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	Emperador Truffle; Crystal Over finish available	White, black, grey, silver, blue, green and other official Chery market colours by model.

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Wading Depth	540 mm	Not Available
Terrain Modes	Everywhere mode: rough track, gravel, wet grass, mud, snow and sand	Not Applicable
Locking Differential	No lockable differential	Not Applicable
4WD System Type	Rolls-Royce all-wheel drive with all-wheel steering	Not Applicable
Approach Angle	-	Not Available
Departure Angle	-	Not Available
Breakover Angle	-	Not Available
Ground Clearance Max	-	162 mm
Ground Clearance Min	-	162 mm

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Tyre Size	255/45 R22 107Y front and 285/40 R22 110Y rear; 255/40 R23 104Y front and 295/35 R23 108Y rear; 255/45 R22 107H M+S all-round	225/60 R18
Front Brake Type	Power-assisted ventilated disc brakes	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Power-assisted ventilated disc brakes	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Full-size matching spare wheel fitted on an exact 2026 commissioned vehicle; mounted inside	Not Available
Wheel Rim Size	22- and 23-inch approved fitments	225/60 R18
Handbrake Type	Electromechanical parking brake acting on rear discs	Electronic parking brake

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Front Suspension	Double-wishbone self-levelling air suspension with electronically controlled dampers	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Five-link self-levelling air suspension with electronically controlled dampers	Multi-link
Front Track Width	-	1570 mm
Rear Track Width	-	1570 mm

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
CO2 Emissions	380 g/km	33 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement	-	Petrol

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Ownership Role	Versatile owner-driven Rolls-Royce for urban, touring and off-road access	flagship or capability-focused
Price Source	https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/johannesburg/en_GB/showroom.html	Official model page price card
Pricing Role	Price on application	flagship or capability-focused
Price Zar	-	679900 ZAR
Starting Price	-	599900
Starting Price Zar	-	599900

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Warranty	4 years; regional conditions apply	7 Year / 200 000 km

Spec	Cullinan	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Service Plan	4 years / unlimited km	5 Year / 75 000 km

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 11 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV has a slight advantage, but Cullinan remains highly competitive.

Winner 84 /100

Lead 11 points

Data 74% confidence

#1 Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

74% data confidence 4 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 69

Performance 91

Efficiency 85

Safety 94

Practicality 76

Ownership 69

Leads by 11 points

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 +8 Efficiency Tiggo 7 PHEV +57 Safety Cullinan +5 Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +1 Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV +25

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Performance 91/100

Efficiency 85/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 76/100

Ownership 69/100

Cullinan

Performance 99/100

Efficiency 28/100

Safety 99/100

Practicality 75/100

Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 73 pts for Cullinan

In structured scoring, Tiggo 7 PHEV 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 Tiggo 7 PHEV 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 Tiggo 7 PHEV 85. 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, Tiggo 7 PHEV 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, Tiggo 7 PHEV 69. 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, Tiggo 7 PHEV 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, Tiggo 7 PHEV 91. 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 Tiggo 7 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 7 PHEV 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 Tiggo 7 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 91.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 85.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 76.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 7 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cullinan

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Which One's Right for You?

Cullinan

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 11 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Cullinan

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Cullinan

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

Buyers Also Looked At These

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

In Depth — Breaking It All Down