Compare the2023 Audi SQ8VS 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 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 SQ8 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available night vision systems.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ8 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cullinan has not been tested, yet.

The SQ8’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 SQ8’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ8 gets better mileage than the Cullinan:

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ8’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 SQ8’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 SQ8 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 stopping power the SQ8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Cullinan:

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger tires than the Cullinan (285/45R21 vs. 255/50R21).

The SQ8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cullinan’s standard 50 series tires. The SQ8’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Cullinan’s optional 45 series tires.

The SQ8 has a standard 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.

For better maneuverability, the SQ8’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Cullinan’s (41 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Audi SQ8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1050 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The SQ8 is 1 foot, 2.3 inches shorter than the Cullinan, making the SQ8 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the SQ8 has standard flush composite headlights. The Cullinan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume than the Cullinan with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 19.8 cubic feet).

The SQ8’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 SQ8’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 SQ8’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.

The SQ8 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 SQ8’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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Cullinan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The SQ8 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.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the Rolls-Royce Cullinan by almost 10 to one during 2022.