"The Cullinan has a majestic presence, though in photographs devoid of street furniture and other vehicles, it doesn't look quite as imposing as expected. Even up close and personal -- we were given a sneak peek at the Rolls-Royce factory at Goodwood a few weeks ago -- it's difficult to comprehend how big the Cullinan is, a tribute to the confident, precisely proportioned sheetmetal styled under the direction of Rolls-Royce design director Giles Taylor.
"At 210.3 inches, the Cullinan is a quarter inch longer overall than a Lincoln Navigator and 2 inches lower, and it rides on a 129.7-inch wheelbase that's a massive 7.2 inches longer than the big Lincoln's. From the front, there's no mistaking it's a Rolls-Royce. That famous grille stands proud, well forward of the headlights and fenders. The bustle tail -- a nod to the trunks literally strapped to the rear of Rolls-Royces in the 1920s -- and an elegant sedanlike C-pillar give the Cullinan a more carlike demeanor than regular two-box SUVs."
-- Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend
"The Cullinan stands six feet off the ground -- four inches taller than its closest competitor, the Bentayga. At 5,864 pounds, it's more than 500 pounds heavier than the Bentayga, too. Angular sides and that high, flat top make it look more imposing than the rounded Bentayga or even Lamborghini's crouching, super-sporty Urus.
"Its front grille has the same steel vertical slats and flat, stark form as the one on the new Rolls-Royce Dawn, but it's elevated to regal height in the new SUV."
-- Hannah Elliott, Bloomberg
"The front end's layout is similar to the eighth-generation Phantom's, but the character lines are exaggerated. Everything is blockier, bulkier. The Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, a Rolls-Royce staple since the Bronze Age, is right where it should be. The chrome grille is a bit more understated than the Phantom's, but the latter is still head of the family, after all.
"Out back, the Cullinan's D-pillar is as beefy as the Phantom's, but whereas the super-sedan's tuchus has more of a curve to it, the Cullinan again takes the blockier approach. The spoiler out back is very obviously for slipping through the wind, but it's a silly thing to see on a Rolls-Royce, even though it'd look weird without it."
-- Andrew Krok, Roadshow by CNET
"It's a Rolls, so obviously the inside is an opulent den, stitched from the buttery hides of only the least fly-bitten cows. But in the back, there is actually a three-seat configuration, making the Cullinan an absolutely family-friendly, five-seater SUV.
"Rolls-Royce says that it is the most 'practical' vehicle it makes. To prove that point, the rear seats also fold down, proving ample storage space for the cases and cases of aged champagne that a Cullinan driver would certainly need to haul around."
--Kristen Lee, Jalopnik
"The design language of ultraluxury sedans does not translate easily to the taller dimensions of SUVs, yet Rolls-Royce's styling team -- under the leadership of Giles Taylor -- has managed to make the Cullinan look nobler and classier than the towering gin palace that is the Bentley Bentayga. The presence of the brand's trademark Parthenon grille is no surprise, although the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament now sits at chest height for most observers. The decision to give the Cullinan the same suicide-style 'coach' doors as Rolls sedans is a braver one. The back door finishes ahead of the rear wheel arch, with the lack of a trunk altering the proportions of its profile and making the rear aperture appear slightly short. Although it is a hatchback, the upper part of the Cullinan's split tailgate has a stepped design that hints at the missing third box."
-- Mike Duff, Car and Driver