2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge SUV

The new Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is available as an exclusive trim for an even more exclusive price, starting at $382,000 excluding additional charges. The Black Badge trim adds more power and darker interior and exterior design elements to lend the already exclusive Cullinan a distinctive appearance. It faces competition from the likes of Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, and Aston Martin DBX. 

The Black Badge trim itself is a super exclusive trim of the standard Cullinan SUV. The Cullinan Black Badge is more subversive as compared to the standard Cullinan and takes everything on the Cullinan to a higher level and amplifies it, giving it a more superlative styling and interior detailing. It gets many differentiating features like the red-colored brake calipers, shooting star headliner, enhanced magic carpet ride sensation, additional power, carbon fiber interior trim elements, forge yellow color interior accents with many other colors to choose from, and signature black exterior color to match its Black Badge moniker.

Which trim should you buy? 

The Black Badge trim is a super-exclusive trim and comes with many additional features as compared to the already loaded standard Cullinan. It is equipped with the same engine as standard Cullinan but is tuned to produce more power. It gets an updated suspension system and transmission system to handle more power and deliver better performance. It gets carbon-fiber trim elements and gets a viewing suite as well in the cargo area which can be had in your choice of color. With the Rolls-Royce Bespoke feature, you can further enhance the Cullinan Black Badge with customized options that are unique to your Cullinan and you might not find another one like your car. 

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is equipped with a monstrous and super-refined engine under the hood. The engine is a 6.75L twin-turbo engine producing about 592 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a super slick and responsive 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. It sends the power to all four wheels and makes it more off-road capable than any Rolls-Royce car ever produced. Despite its enormous mass, the Cullinan performs very well and can easily give some of its well-established rivals a run for their money. It does a 0-60 mph sprint in about 4.8 seconds and a quarter-mile drag is done in about 12.9 seconds. Although no one might use their Rolls-Royce for towing purposes, it comes with a towing capacity of about 7275 pounds. 

The Lamborghini Urus is equipped with a smaller engine in comparison but offers much better performance as compared to others. It does the fastest 0-60 mph sprint within 3.1 seconds, followed by Bentley Bentayga, Aston Martin DBX, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge. All the cars in the comparison offer a top speed in the range of 190 mph which is pretty mind-boggling considering their mass and size. The Cullinan offers better torque output at lower rpm and is easily tactile in the city as well. It offers very good performance despite being heavy compared to its competitors. 

How well does the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge handle? 

Like many other Rolls-Royce cars, the Cullinan Black Badge offers superior comfort and performance at the same time. The NVH levels are super refined and you are insulated from the outer world. The Cullinan is a bulky car and it’s not meant to be thrown around the corners. The steering is light and accurate as well. You won’t feel the bulk while driving the car especially when you are driving in an urban environment 

The enhanced air suspension system on the Black Badge trim along with the magic carpet ride makes this SUV super comfortable. The front double-wishbone suspension and a five-link independent rear suspension ensure smooth drive over undulations. When the off-road mode is triggered, the car lifts up by 1.5-inches, making it more off-road-worthy. The all-wheel-drive system and traction control system make it ready for an all-terrain drive 

2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Braking Performance

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a big and brawny SUV by Rolls-Royce standards and weighs about 5,864 pounds. Surely at high speeds, it will generate a higher momentum and it becomes imperative to stop that momentum quickly under panic braking situations. So, Rolls-Royce has equipped the Cullinan with 15.55-inch rotors on the front end and 15.6-inch rotors at the rear end. 

The Cullinan is equipped with ventilated rotors, an anti-lock braking system, emergency brake assist feature to provide a confident brake pedal feel and stop the bulky SUV within the shortest distance. When braked at 60 mph, the Cullinan stops within 110-111 feet of stopping distance which is great considering its mass and size. 

The Lamborghini Urus is the lightest SUV in the comparison and comes equipped with larger rotors especially on the front end. The larger rotors help the Urus to provide a very short stopping distance of just 107 feet. It is followed by Cullinan and Bentayga with 110 feet and 114 feet of stopping distance respectively. The Aston Martin DBX is a lighter vehicle and is equipped with large rotors as well. So we expect it to offer better or on par braking performance with the Cullinan. 

When comparing super-premium SUVs like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge with other state-of-the-art SUVs, fuel economy doesn’t matter. Even with all the bulk and performance, the Cullinan Black Badge offers similar fuel efficiency as other SUVs in the segment. It offers 12 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highways, and about 15 mpg in mixed driving conditions. With a fuel tank of 26.4 gallons, it can travel up to 317 miles in the city, 528 miles on the highways, and 370 miles in combined driving conditions. 

* As per reported data

The Aston Martin DBX is equipped with a smaller engine and produces less firepower, resulting in better fuel efficiency. In addition to it, a fuel tank of 19.7 gallons helps it to deliver the best range in the comparison. It offers about 415 miles in combined driving conditions followed by Cullinan Black Badge with 370 miles, Bentley Bentayga with 337 miles, and Lamborghini Urus with 277 miles in combined conditions. The Cullinan Black Badge offers a good range owing to a larger fuel tank.

The interior of the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan exudes opulence with the epitome of handcrafted perfection. The Black Badge trim offers the same level of comfort and luxury as the standard Cullinan and adds some very distinctive styling elements. The dashboard is laid out in an ergonomic fashion and feels sturdy to touch, being trimmed in leather. A central infotainment screen sits right in the middle of the dashboard. The three-dimensional carbon fiber is used on the dashboard and center console for a hint of modernity and unique textural design.

The forged yellow color interior accents on the dashboard, trim pads, and seats add a zing of youth to the cabin. The color of accents can be chosen depending upon your desired taste from a palette of 41 colors. The steering wheel is chunky and covered in leather as well. It also gets mounted controls for added convenience. The power-adjustable front seats are comfortable and trimmed in premium leather as well. They offer heating and massage functionality as well while offering decent under-thigh support as well. The rear seats are super comfortable as well and leg space is more than adequate.

The overall profile of the SUV suggests better headroom and legroom across both rows. The quad-zone climate control system helps in maintaining ambient conditions in the cabin. The Cullinan provides a cargo capacity of 21.2 cu-ft. You can also opt for the immersive seating option that will insulate the boot and cabin with a glass partition for better NVH levels and refinement inside the cabin. The tilting and retracting sunroof gives a clear view of the sky and can improve airiness in the cabin. Some optional features like two mini-refrigerators, massaging and ventilated rear seats, leather-trimmed dashboard, and doors, etc are a must-have. 

Looking at the profile of the Cullinan, it is clear that it will offer sufficient headroom, legroom, and shoulder room across both rows. The Aston Martin DBX might not offer the same level of comfort as the Cullinan Black Badge but offers a marginally better cargo capacity of 22.5 cu-ft followed by Lamborghini Urus with 21.8 cu-ft, Cullinan Black Badge with 21.2 cu-ft, and Bentley Bentayga with 17.1 cu-ft of space. Some of the standout interior features are: 

• 12-way power-adjustable front seats
• Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heads-up display
• Keyless entry 
• 3D carbon fiber trim elements 
• Electro-chromatic rear-view mirror
• Tilting and retracting sunroof 

What’s there to keep you entertained? 

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is equipped with a state of an art infotainment system. The interface is quite similar to BMW's iDrive system. It gets a 10.3-inch touchscreen display that offers high resolution and sits in the middle of the dashboard. You’ll also find some buttons below it and a rotary knob on the center console to control it. It comes with usual features like Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM services, WiFi hotspot, USB ports, AUX input, etc. 

For smartphone connectivity, you get access to Apple CarPlay but sadly there is no support for Android Auto, which is a bummer. It supports navigation and voice recognition works well The 18-speaker Rolls-Royce Bespoke audio system is class-apart and bliss to listen to. The clarity is unmatched and both the highs and lows are clearly well-defined with adequate bass. You can also opt for a rear-seat entertainment system that comes with two large entertainment screens. Some of the standout infotainment features are:

• 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display 
• Apple CarPlay
• WiFi hotspot 
• USB ports 
• AUX input 
• Rolls-Royce Bespoke audio system 
• Optional rear-seat entertainment system 

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is a typical Rolls-Royce from any angle you look at, albeit in an SUV avatar. The front fascia gets the signature rectangular darkened chrome grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy standing proudly over the top of the long hood. The two LED headlamps might look conventional but are one of the most technically advanced setups that you’ll find on an SUV. The side profile is super boxy and looks elegant for an SUV. The chrome handles look premium and the legendary suicide doors are very much a part of Cullinan too. 

The doors provide easy ingress and egress to the most luxurious cabin that money could buy in an SUV. The uniquely styled 22-inch forged alloy wheels with unique self-righting wheel caps look super chick and the red-colored brake calipers lend it a subversive look. The rear profile gets super minimalistic and vertical LED tail lamps that are reminiscent of many other Rolls-Royce cars. The two dual black tip exhausts on both sides of the rear bumper blend well with the overall design language. We prefer the black exterior paint scheme for a more menacing look that does justice to the Black Badge label. 

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is definitely the king in the premium SUV segment when comparing it with other SUVs. It is the bulkiest SUV in the comparison while being taller, wider, longer as compared to its rivals. It sits on a longer wheelbase as well, aiding with better rear legroom. The Lamborghini Urus is the lightest SUV in the comparison followed by Aston Martin DBX and Bentley Bentayga. Some of the standout exterior features are: 

• Adaptive LED headlamps
• LED taillights 
• Red-colored brake calipers 
• Signature suicide doors
• 22-inch forged alloy wheels 
• Power liftgate 
• Heated windshield 

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is a ridiculously expensive car. It has not been tested by the NHTSA and IIHS. We doubt it would ever be tested considering its exclusivity and low volume. However, knowing that it's coming from the house of Rolls-Royce we expect it to be super safe as it is a well-built car. In addition, Rolls-Royce offers many passive and active driver assistance features to ensure the safety of its passengers. Some features like side collision door beams, vehicle stability control, airbags, traction control, anti-lock braking system, adaptive cruise control, night vision assist, automatic braking system, etc. Some of the standout safety features include: 

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Lane keep assist
• Tire pressure monitoring system 
• Rolls-Royce Emergency assist SOS
• Parking assist 
• Night vision assist 
• Forward collision warning system

2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge vs 2021 Bentley Bentayga 

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga is the arch-rival of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge. It is priced less as compared to the Cullinan and offers better performance as well. Both of them offer similar fuel efficiency. However, the Cullinan Black Badge looks more menacing and offers better cargo capacity as well. The intricately handcrafted elements in the Cullinan are super exclusive and the magic carpet ride feature can give even the super-premium Bentley Bentayga a run for its money. You can also customize the Cullinan Black Badge with the help of the Bespoke team and make it unique. If pricing doesn’t hurt you, go for the Cullinan Black Badge.

2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge vs 2021 Lamborghini Urus

The 2021 Lamborghini Urus is targeted towards a different audience and offers superior handling along with aggressive styling. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is no slouch and offers great performance but it is more off-road capable and comfort-oriented as compared to the Urus. The Urus clearly can’t beat the Cullinan in terms of its interior comfort and exclusive list of features. The Urus definitely handles better, thanks to its lower curb weight and a more agile chassis. The Urus is also less expensive than the Cullinan Black Badge. If you need her performance then Urus is better and if comfort is your priority, go for the Cullinan

2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge vs 2021 Aston Martin DBX

The Aston Martin DBX is the brand’s first attempt in the SUV segment and a very successful one. The Aston Martin DBX comes with superior handcrafted interiors, handling, and sassy styling than Aston Martin cars are known for and takes it a step further with better practicality on board. However, the Cullinan is unmatched in terms of interior comfort and super-exclusive interior appointments. The Aston Martin DBX offers better aerodynamics and efficiency than the Cullinan Black Badge. The Aston Martin is premium as well but can’t exactly match the finesse of this exorbitantly priced car.

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan was already a super exclusive and desirable SUV. The Black Badge moniker makes it even more desirable and expensive as well. It comes with a vast array of creature comforts and offers superior performance as well. It also has a high safety quotient, thanks to many advanced driver assistance features. The Bespoke features offer innumerable customization options for the Cullinan Black Badge to make it truly unique and second to none. In our opinion, you drive a car or you drive a Rolls-Royce, acknowledging the fact that the epitome of luxury is none other than a Rolls-Royce and the Cullinan Black Badge proudly takes ahead its heritage.