Compare the2025 BMW X5VS 2024 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 X5 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.

Both the X5 and Cullinan have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X5 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 X5 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, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The BMW X5 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Cullinan has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The X5’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 X5’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Cullinan:

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 40 miles. The Cullinan can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the X5’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 X5’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 X5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan (3). This means the X5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cullinan every 15,000 miles.

For more complete vehicle control the X5 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 X5’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 X5 has larger standard tires than the Cullinan (275/45R20 vs. 255/50R21). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cullinan (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/50R21).

The X5’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 X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Cullinan’s optional 45 series tires.

The X5 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on xDrive50e) 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 X5 M60i xDrive’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Cullinan’s (39.4 feet vs. 43.3 feet). The X5’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Cullinan’s (41.3 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The BMW X5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1400 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The X5 is 1 foot, 4.7 inches shorter than the Cullinan, making the X5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the X5 has standard flush composite headlights. The Cullinan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the X5 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 X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cullinan with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 19.8 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cullinan with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 68.2 cubic feet).

The X5’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.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the X5’s tailgate 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.

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the X5 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 X5 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Cullinan (1054 vs. 952 lbs.).

The X5 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Cullinan (1323 vs. 952 lbs.).

The X5 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 X5’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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the X5 has a standard rear variable intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Cullinan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The X5’s optional Parking Assistant Professional can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control 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 X5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Rolls-Royce Cullinan by over 57 to one during 2023.