Rolls-Royce Cullinan vs Toyota Urban Cruiser

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 Urban Cruiser in South Africa

Toyota Urban Cruiser

1.5 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 399,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 14.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cullinan
Fuel Economy Urban Cruiser
🛡 Safety Cullinan
📦 Practicality Cullinan
🔑 Ownership Cullinan

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cullinan Urban Cruiser
Maximum Power 420 kW @ 5000-6000 rpm 77 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 850 Nm @ 1600-4250 rpm 140 Nm @ 4200 rpm
Engine Size 6749 cc 1496 cc
Claimed Mileage 5.95 km/l 14.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 173 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 290 l
Airbags 8 6
Kerb Weight 2725 kg 1085 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 4 years; regional conditions apply 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Cullinan holds a noticeable edge over Urban Cruiser, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cullinan +67 pts
Efficiency Urban Cruiser +32 pts
Safety Cullinan +7 pts
Practicality Cullinan +17 pts
Ownership Cullinan +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cullinan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Urban Cruiser

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
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
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Urban Cruiser

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cullinan Urban Cruiser
Model Introduced Year 2018 2022
Generation Cullinan Series II, the current evolution of the marque's five-door super-luxury SUV First generation Urban Cruiser for South Africa
Facelift History Cullinan was introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its most extensive evolution as Cullinan Series II in May 2024 New model in South Africa
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
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
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1085 kg
Spec Cullinan Urban Cruiser
Drivetrain Layout All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering Front Wheel Drive
Transfer Case ATC 13 transfer case Not Applicable
Differential Lock No lockable differential Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters No Not Applicable
Gearbox 8-speed ZF automatic CVT Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 2.81:1 Not Applicable
Number of Gears 8 4
Transmission Type 8-speed ZF automatic Continuously Variable Transmission
Clutch Type Torque converter Not Applicable
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 Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8-speed ZF automatic CVT 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 FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 4
Gear Shift Type Satellite Aided automatic gear selection CVT Automatic
LSD Available - Not Applicable
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Gear Shift Indicator - Not Applicable
Differential Type Front - Not Available
Differential Type Rear - Not Available
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 16 points

Cullinan holds a noticeable edge over Urban Cruiser, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 73 /100
Lead 16 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 16 points
57
#2

Urban Cruiser

85% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 32
Performance 32
Efficiency 60
Safety 92
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cullinan +67 Efficiency Urban Cruiser +32 Safety Cullinan +7 Practicality Cullinan +17 Ownership Cullinan +1

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

Urban Cruiser

Performance 32/100
Efficiency 60/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Cullinan wins with 73 pts vs 57 pts for Urban Cruiser

In structured scoring, Cullinan emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Urban Cruiser 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 Urban Cruiser 60. 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, Urban Cruiser 92. 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, Urban Cruiser 43. 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, Urban Cruiser 58. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cullinan 99, Urban Cruiser 32. 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 Urban Cruiser in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cullinan scores 99 vs 32.

Efficiency: Cullinan scores 28 vs 60.

Safety: Cullinan scores 99 vs 92.

Practicality: Cullinan scores 75 vs 58.

Ownership: Cullinan scores 44 vs 43.

Final structured scoring gives Cullinan the advantage in this comparison.