If your weekend in the Hamptons is mostly about the people riding with you, take the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. If it’s all about the drive, take the Lamborghini Urus. If the Urus is a jet plane, the Cullinan is a cruise ship.
The Cullinan enters the super-SUV arena with a rather laid-back kind of confidence. It’s not the most invincible-looking SUV in the world, nor is it the most outrageous in appearance or behavior. Rather, it’s a calm, cool, confident luxury SUV. The Lamborghini Urus is the opposite. It enters the market screaming and tearing around corners.
The Rolls is powered by a 6.7-liter twin-turbo V12 that is whisper-quiet and silky, passing no vibrations through to the passengers. It sends 563 hp to the all-wheel-drive system, and there’s 627 pound-feet of torque available. Because this is a Rolls, all you really do is ask for acceleration, rather than wait for it. Big bumps in the road approach silently, the air suspension absorbs them like a boxer taking a punch, the impact never felt or heard inside the car. A panoramic camera ahead of the car scans for road aberrations and communicates them to the suspension, which makes adjustments before you even reach them.
The handcrafted Cullinan cabin features open-pore wood, box calf leather, and lambswool carpets. Everything you see and touch is as expensive as it looks and feels. The mostly digital dash is clean, save for an analogue clock behind a glass panel. The Cullinan looks a bit odd from the outside, though.
The Cullinan offers acres of room and amenities, and nobody does acres better than Rolls. The rear bench heats, cools, and massages its occupants while two seatback screens stream two different shows simultaneously, each passenger listening via their own Bluetooth headphones. With all seats raised, cargo space comes in at a respectable 21 cubic feet - enough to fit eight carry-on suitcases. Fold down the seats and there is room for 28 carry-ons. “The best seats in the house” takes on new meaning when applied to the Cullinan. An available viewing suite offers two leather-wrapped seats and a small table. That turns the Cullinan into the most luxurious way to watch a polo match.
Massive Acceleration
The Urus SE doesn’t want to be driven casually; it goes from a standstill to 62 mph in less than four seconds. With 800 CV from its plug-in hybrid system, there’s massive acceleration on tap to reach the top speed of 312 km/h. Regardless of how quickly you can use that acceleration, what’s impressive is how composed it all feels.
The Cullinan accelerates effortlessly, even though it weighs about 3 tons. The Rolls-Royce engine is capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in about 5 seconds.
The Cullinan is huge. At 210.3 inches long, the physical presence is inescapable. You’re always aware of it when pulling into a parking spot, and it’s pretty difficult to reverse or do much of anything in a hurry if you’re not used to it. The Cullinan manages 12 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg combined. In real highway driving, though, the Cullinan outdoes the EPA, returning 21 miles per gallon.
It’s the end of the weekend, work tomorrow. The Cullinan’s highway range is about 490 miles, and with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and night vision, it can be an enjoyable trip home.
If you rent either one in New York, note that the daily price of the damage waiver is capped on cheaper cars, but not on cars with an MSRP over $50,000. So both the Cullinan and Urus are not covered by the cap. Your liability if the car is damaged or totaled is limited to the lesser of the cost to repair or lost value. You will also not be charged for loss of use, which is the time the car will be in the shop. Also, a rental company can’t refuse anyone 18 or older just for their age, if insurance for that age is available; however, they can pass on the actual extra insurance cost.
Which one to rent depends on your trip’s goals. Given its subdued, genteel character, the Cullinan is perfect for a long day of doing low-key things with good people. The style on the outside says I’m here, but the style on the inside says we’re all here together. Within a few miles of driving both super-SUVs, it’s apparent that the Rolls is a relaxed car that wasn’t intended to reach the edges of its abilities, while the Urus wants to be pushed and punished. If it’s just you in the front and it’s all about having fun, get the Urus. It’s aggressive and very conspicuous, which can be good or bad, depending on what you’re into. You can’t go wrong with either, but if it’s luxury you’re after, go Cullinan. The sports-oriented Urus is the best bet for a day of wild adventure.
