This next statement might make the rest of this review seem unnecessary, but I’ll say it anyway: The 2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is arguably the finest luxury SUV in the world. In fact, one of the challenges in reviewing the Cullinan — or any Rolls-Royce built at the company’s Goodwood factory — is finding anything that truly compares. When it comes to build quality, and fit and finish, Rolls-Royce operates at a level that few (if any) manufacturers can match. No, the Bentley Bentayga is not as good; nor is the Mercedes-Maybach GLS600. They are great SUVs, but do not even approach the quality of the Cullinan.

I was loaned the Cullinan during this year’s Greenwich Concours. It was finished in Midnight Sapphire Metallic, a deep blue, with a two-tone Navy Blue and Charles Blue leather interior, the latter considered one of the most distinctive and sought‑after shades in the brand’s bespoke palette. On paper, this might seem like too much blue but, in person, the multiple layers of blue are absolutely stunning. This example was completely loaded with massaging seats, Rolls-Royce’s leather Starlight Headliner with a “shooting star” effect, and the Bespoke Audio System (what I feel is a must-have option). All these features made the usually stressful and tiresome 90-minute drive from the Hartford area to Greenwich — one filled with stop-and-go traffic, people driving box trucks 15 mph under the speed limit, and idiots in various economy cars trying to break some speed record while switching lanes with no clearance — serene and effortless. All I had to do was settle in behind the wheel and point the Cullinan in the right direction, relaxing in what may be the finest seats ever fitted to an SUV.

One of the more interesting things about driving a modern Rolls-Royce is the reaction it gets from other people. Rather than attracting resentment, the Cullinan seemed to generate exactly the opposite response. Drivers in everything from economy cars to luxury vehicles would smile, wave or give me a thumbs-up as they passed. At a service area just past New Haven, I returned to the Cullinan to find a small crowd gathered around it, eager to ask questions. I’ve experienced very different reactions while driving cars from Ferrari or Porsche, but there is something about a Rolls-Royce that seems to make people genuinely happy simply to see one.

I arrived at the Concours show field, picked up my media credentials, and then headed to the hotel to change for the opening night party. Being loaned a Rolls-Royce for Greenwich Concours weekend has become something of a tradition for me, so a few friends asked if I could give them a ride to the party. Naturally, I said yes. A car as special as the Cullinan is an experience worth sharing, particularly with fellow enthusiasts who appreciate what makes it so remarkable.

Over the weekend, I used the Cullinan to run errands with friends, go to the auto parts store to help exhibitors out, and served as the unofficial Concours judge shuttle. Everyone who experienced the Cullinan was as blown away as I was. While merging onto the interstate on the way from the hotel to Saturday night’s Reverie party, I flattened the accelerator to demonstrate the Cullinan’s performance. The acceleration does not hit with the drama of a supercar or even something like a BMW M5, which is essentially a four-door supercar. Instead, there is simply a seemingly endless wave of torque that carries the Cullinan forward with remarkable ease. It never seems to disturb its occupants, yet it can still cover the 0-60 mph sprint in a little over 4 seconds. Yes, the Bentley does it in 3.5 seconds but, again, the difference in quality between the two is as vast as the distance from New York to the U.K.

While on the way back from our party, enjoying the Rolls Bespoke Audio system as it played Massive Attack’s “Mezzanine” and looking for shooting stars in the Starlight Headliner, my friend Jeff (also a Concours judge) asked, “Does the feeling of just how special this vehicle ever wear off?” I thought about that a bit, having had different Rolls vehicles for as long as a month. “No, Jeff, it doesn’t,” I replied. “If anything, it just gets better the longer you have it.” The problem is how quickly I became used to driving a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. After returning the vehicle, I immediately found myself looking forward to the next time I would get behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce. With the Cullinan carrying a price tag of $489,350, putting one in my own garage sadly isn’t in the cards anytime soon. If I’m fortunate enough to have another Rolls-Royce at Greenwich next year, I’ll make sure Jeff is once again in the passenger seat. Perhaps then he can discover (as have I) just how extraordinary it feels to be behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce every single time.