Compare the2026 Rolls-Royce CullinanVS 2026 Audi Q8

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Cullinan and the Q8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 night vision systems.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan weighs 1213 pounds more than the Audi Q8. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Cullinan comes with a full 4-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q8’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

Rolls-Royce pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cullinan for 1 year and unlimited miles longer than Audi pays for maintenance for the Q8 (4/unlimited vs. 3/30,000).

The battery on the Cullinan is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Cullinan’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Q8’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Cullinan’s standard 6.8 turbo V12 produces 228 more horsepower (563 vs. 335) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cullinan Black Badge’s standard 6.8 turbo V12 produces 256 more horsepower (591 vs. 335) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cullinan Black Badge is faster than the Audi Q8:

The Cullinan has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q8 (23.8 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Cullinan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q8:

The Cullinan stops much shorter than the Q8:

The Cullinan’s standard 285/40R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cullinan has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 21-inch wheels are standard on the Q8.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Cullinan can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Q8 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Cullinan has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Cullinan uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Q8, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Cullinan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q8.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cullinan’s wheelbase is 11.8 inches longer than on the Q8 (129.7 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Cullinan has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (6.8 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Cullinan to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Cullinan has 4.8 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more rear headroom and 2.7 inches more rear legroom than the Q8.

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Cullinan when its optional tailgating rear seats are deployed, allowing people to sit facing out of the tailgate. (Do not use while vehicle is in motion.) The Q8 doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

The Cullinan has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 with its rear seat folded (68.2 vs. 60.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Cullinan easier. The Cullinan’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

The Cullinan’s cargo area is larger than the Q8’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Cullinan’s rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Cullinan’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Q8’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Cullinan’s power side reverse swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The Q8 doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The Q8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Cullinan’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Cullinan has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Q8 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cullinan has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Q8.

The Cullinan has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats are only available on the Q8 Prestige. The Cullinan also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the Q8.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan retains 55.58% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 41.69% resale value of the 2026 Audi Q8 after five years, which can save the Rolls-Royce’s owner.