Compare the2026 BMW X6VS 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the X6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the BMW X6 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan has not been tested.

Both the X6 and Cullinan have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X6 has Cross Traffic Warning with Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Cullinan’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the X6 and the Cullinan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The X6’s corrosion warranty is 8 years longer than the Cullinan’s (12 vs. 4 years).

There are over 9 times as many BMW dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X6’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Cullinan isn’t in the top three in its category.

On the EPA test cycle the X6 gets better mileage than the Cullinan:

Regenerative brakes improve the X6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the X6’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Cullinan doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X6 higher (4 to 6 out of 10) than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan (2). This means the X6 produces up to 27.7 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cullinan every 15,000 miles.

For more complete vehicle control the X6 has Steptronic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. Steptronic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

The X6’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Cullinan doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the X6 has larger standard tires than the Cullinan (275/45R20 vs. 255/45R22). The X6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cullinan (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. F:255/40R23 & R:295/35R23).

The X6’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cullinan’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

The X6 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Cullinan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Cullinan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X6 is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Cullinan.

For better maneuverability, the X6 M60i xDrive’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Cullinan’s (39.4 feet vs. 43.3 feet). The X6’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Cullinan’s (41.3 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the X6 has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Cullinan (8.5 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the X6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The BMW X6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1050 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The X6 xDrive40i is 1 foot, 4 inches shorter than the Cullinan, making the X6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the X6 has standard flush composite headlights. The Cullinan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the X6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Cullinan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X6 has a much larger cargo volume than the Cullinan with its rear seat up (27.4 vs. 19.8 cubic feet).

The X6’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Cullinan w/Executive Rear Seats doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The X6’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Cullinan’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the X6’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Standard Trailer Stabilization Control on the X6 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Cullinan doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The X6 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Cullinan (1082 vs. 1012 lbs.).

The X6 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Cullinan (1272 vs. 1027 lbs.).

The X6 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The X6’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Cullinan’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The X6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Cullinan’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the X6 has standard extendable sun visors. The Cullinan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The X6’s Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Cullinan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The BMW X6 outsold the Rolls-Royce Cullinan by over 10 to one during 2024.