The poshest SUV of them all: Rolls-Royce Cullinan first drive

So when presented with an unexpected opportunity to take a Rolls-Royce Cullinan for a spin down desert highways and an off-road course, I leapt at the chance. Since 1998, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been part of BMW, so there was a pair of Cullinans available for brief excursions down to the shores of the Salton Sea or up into the San Bernardino Mountains. You can play media, check out a map of where you're going, and even control the radio.Later in the day, I was a passenger in the Cullinan as Gerry Spahn, Rolls-Royce North American director of corporate communications, put it through an off-road course that was there to show off the capabilities of the BMW X5 and X7 (more on those cars at a later date). Front camera view on the HD display made it possible to see when we would hit the summit of the steep hill on the course, and the Cullinan's 21.2 inches of clearance made crossing a massive puddle a breeze.The ride wasn't smooth, but it was impressive nonetheless: a posh SUV normally associated with country clubs and polo grounds getting down and dirty on a course designed to tax any car's off-road capabilities.Chances are none of us is going to be shopping for ultra-lush, ultra-expensive SUVs any time soon. But if you're in that tiny category—maybe the one percent of the one percent—that wants the combination of an impeccable luxury ride with solid off-road credentials, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is there for you.You must login or create an account to comment.Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox.