At the turn of the millennium, traditional sports car manufacturers like Porsche and BMW introduced a new breed of luxury performance SUVs. But other luxury brands remained adamant about joining the SUV boom, claiming that the concept would water down their brand value. Eventually, they caved in, and now we have several luxury SUV offerings from Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce. Unsurprisingly these SUVs are among the best-selling options from these brands. Rolls-Royce's own Cullinan slotted nicely alongside the Phantom, Ghost, Wraith, and Dawn in the brand's ultra-luxury lineup.

Like all the vehicles adorned with the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem, the Cullinan represents the highest levels of pampered luxury and exclusivity within the automotive sphere. While it is unmistakably different from anything the brand has ever offered, the massive signature rectangular front grille helps it stand out as a Rolls-Royce. Also, you can feel the brand's DNA all over the opulent interior and powerful underpinnings, and now the Cullinan has added a new strand with its all-terrain capability. Here's why the Rolls-Royce Cullinan impresses us.

10 The Cullinan Features A Smooth And Powerful V12 Engine

Rolls-Royce has a love affair with massive engines, and all their current models feature V12 power plants under the hood. The Cullinan comes with a 6.8-liter twin-turbocharged V12 generating 563hp and 627lg-ft of torque, with the Black Badge model making 592hp and 664lb-ft of torque.

It offers smooth power delivery and can launch to 60mph in 4.5 seconds, which is incredible for a mammoth weighing close to 6,000 pounds.

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9 The Cullinan Features Imposing Looks

Some say the Cullinan looks like a presidential London taxi. In all fairness, the styling does little to hide its colossal silhouette, and perhaps they should have borrowed a trick from the Bentley Bentayga. Still, the Cullinan has imposing looks, and you won't see another SUV like it on the road.

The British automaker managed to distill its luxury salon core values and styling into the larger and modernized SUV. It is unmistakably Rolls Royce boasting the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, the massive trademark Pantheon radiator grille that you can order in silver, plated gold, or carbon fiber, and the rear-hinged suicide doors for dramatic egress.

8 The Cullinan Comes With A Palatial Cabin

In true Rolls Royce fashion, the Cullinan scores full marks for its palatial cabin. It is incredibly spacious and features box-grain leather lining, elegant wood trim, lamb-wool carpeting, and milled aluminum tones. The interior offers unparalleled comfort and cossets its occupants from the elements in unadulterated luxury. Another break with tradition is the inclusion of a digital instrument cluster which isn't as classy as the traditional analog.

You can configure the cabin with the practical Lounge seats, which feature three rear foldable seats, or Individual seats, which replace the central rear seat with a drinks cabinet with a fridge, champagne flutes, and Rolls-Royce whiskey glasses.

7 The Cullinan Is A Hand-built SUV

Rolls Royce handcrafts all their vehicles, and the Cullinan is no exception, as it benefits from the automaker's uncompromising attention to detail. The welding and assembly of its parts are done entirely from the ground up by hand at the Goodwood facility in England.

It takes close to 900 hours to put the Cullinan together by a team of highly skilled craftspeople and designers, and the result is unrivaled refinement and build quality.

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6 Highly Customizable To Personal Taste

For the asking price, we expect nothing less than unrivaled freedom to tailor your ride to your taste. It is the case with every Rolls-Royce vehicle enabled by the Rolls Royce Bespoke service that features a range of bespoke services and options for every vehicle.

Each Cullinan is practically unique from the next and can personalize subtle features from door handles, tread plates, and driver's dials to paint color and veneers. Also, you don't just buy a new Cullinan but commission them to build it like all Rolls-Royce vehicles.

5 The Cullinan Is The Most Practical Rolls-Royce Ever

It is no surprise that Rolls-Royce's first-ever SUV is their most practical vehicle ever. Its expansive exterior dimensions provide plenty of interior room, enabling an unrivaled amount of adjustability for optimum comfort. It comes with a massive boot with 19.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which increases to 66 cubic feet if you opt for the foldable Lounge bench seats.

There are many more practical and flexible SUVs on the market, but none fits the niche the Cullinan fills; that of wealthy customers who need an extra toy to suit their adventurous and family-oriented lifestyle. Now, these lucky few don't have to sacrifice luxury for utility any longer.

4 The Cullinan Offers An Incredibly Quiet And Smooth Ride

The Cullinan offers the smoothest and quietest ride on any SUV ever sold. 220 pounds of sound-deadening material, double thick glass, and foam-filled tires help isolate the V12 engine's roar and any other noise outside the vehicle.

There is little road noise reaching the cabin since the self-leveling air suspension provides a cushioned ride dubbed the Magic Carpet Ride. Also, the Cullinan takes the feel off-road thanks to the massive air struts and electronic control that will leave you gliding along the road or dirt.

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3 The Cullinan Is Surprisingly Agile And Easy To Drive

While the Cullinan comes in intimidating proportions, it is much easier to drive than expected. Even easier than the Chevy Tahoe, which has a similar length and is four inches narrower. It has an excellent driver position, light but responsive steering, and four-wheel steering, making for effortless maneuverability.

Also, the suspension enables more control alongside the comfortable cushioned ride. Intelligent cameras scan the road, and the Cullinan completes millions of calculations in real-time to adjust the suspension to acceleration and steering cues to ensure excellent body control. The double-wishbone front axle and five-link rear axle provide incredible agility and stability for the bulky vehicle.

2 The Cullinan Is An Off-Roadable Rolls-Royce

Most Rolls-Royce Cullinans will spend their lives patrolling the high streets of the Hamptons, Telluride, Billionaires Row, or Knightsbridge. Few will ever see any off-road action besides a few inches of snow. Still, it is the most capable Rolls-Royce ever created and can handle any adventure you throw.

The Cullinan comes with a go anywhere button that unleashes its full off-road capabilities by engaging all-wheel drive and sending uninterrupted torque to all four wheels. The suspension raises the ride by 1.57 inches for additional ground clearance. Rolls-Royce partnered with National Geographical and took the Cullinan on a 12,000 miles Final Challenge tour across three continents to showcase its capability.

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1 The Cullinan Is The Most Luxurious And Exclusive SUV

The Cullinan is a vehicle with no peers in terms of luxury. While it isn't as fast as the sporty Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga Speed or as off-road capable as the Range Rover, it delivers the V12 power impressively and offers big luxury in off-road form. It is more conspicuous than all its rivals and will attract more attention.

Also, the Cullinan is the most exclusive SUV standing outside all rival price ranges, with the base trim starting at $341,500.