Tim Pitt takes the wheel of the updated, Series II Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge — a machine that raises an inevitable question: is this the pinnacle of luxury SUVs?
Carbon fibre in a Cullinan may sound surprising. Typically the domain of razor-sharp supercars, the material feels almost out of place in a 2.7-tonne SUV. But Rolls-Royce isn’t chasing weight savings here. This is carbon fibre as haute craftsmanship: each of the 23 interior pieces is woven into a precise geometric pattern, layered with six coats of lacquer, left to cure for three days, then painstakingly hand-polished to a flawless sheen.
Still skeptical? If any vehicle can transcend practicality and silence inconvenient realities, it’s this one. Step inside the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge, where excess becomes an art form.
Rolls-Royce’s “high-sided vehicle” first debuted in 2018, and the moment has come for a mid-cycle refresh. The updates for the Cullinan Series II are largely aesthetic, beginning with new vertical LED running lights that frame a reshaped and now subtly illuminated Pantheon grill, you’ll notice more sculpted bumpers, larger and more assertive front air intakes, and imposing 23-inch alloy wheels (an inch up from before). On the Black Badge version, the sills now match the body colour rather than being finished in gloss black, and all exterior brightwork including the grille, door handles, and window surrounds is rendered in darkened chrome for a moodier, more purposeful look. inside, a full-width glass dashboard dominates the cabin, incorporating a beautifully executed analogue “clock cabinet” complete with a miniature Spirit of Ecstasy. New materials such as Duality Twill a bamboo-based, vegan alternative to leather broaden the customisation palette, while the BMW iDrive-derived infotainment system has been upgraded. Among the standout additions is Whispers, an integrated, members-only concierge app designed exclusively for Rolls-Royce owners.
Sticking with a V12
If you were anticipating hybrid assistance, you’ll be disappointed. The Cullinan Series II remains mechanically untouched, still relying on the majestic 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 found in both the Ghost and Phantom.
In the standard Cullinan, this engine delivers 571hp and 627lb ft of torque, launching the sizeable SUV from 0–62mph in 5.3 seconds. The Black Badge version turns up the wick slightly to 600hp and 664lb ft, trimming a tenth off that time and adding a touch more urgency.
Pressing the ‘Low’ button on the Black Badge’s gear selector adds a welcome bit of theatricality, sharpening the eight-speed automatic’s shifts and coaxing a deeper, more resonant growl from its bespoke exhaust. It’s the closest thing a Rolls-Royce offers to a sport mode — understated, intentional, and undeniably effective.
