Compare the2023 Audi Q7VS 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q7 and the Cullinan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, available night vision systems and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q7 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 235 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cullinan has not been tested, yet.

The Q7’s corrosion warranty is 8 years longer than the Cullinan’s (12 vs. 4 years).

There are almost 8 times as many Audi dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q7’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the Q7 gets better mileage than the Cullinan:

Regenerative brakes improve the Q7 55 TFSI’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 Q7’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.

For more complete vehicle control the Q7 has a manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic 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.

For better traction, the Q7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cullinan (285/45R20 vs. 255/50R21).

The Q7 Prestige’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cullinan’s optional 45 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Q7’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Cullinan’s (41 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Audi Q7 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1250 to 1500 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The Q7 is 11.6 inches shorter than the Cullinan, making the Q7 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Q7 has standard flush composite headlights. The Cullinan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Q7 has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Cullinan can only carry up to 5.

The Q7’s cargo area provides more volume than the Cullinan.

The Q7’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 Q7’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 Q7’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by waving your foot, 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.

The Q7 has a standard 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 Q7’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.

Laser headlights, optional on the Q7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Cullinan’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q7 Prestige offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Cullinan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Q7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Cullinan doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the Q7 (except Premium) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Q7 55 TFSI Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q7/SQ7 outsold the Rolls-Royce Cullinan by over 20 to one during 2022.