--- title: "The Toyota Century SUV Is a Budget Rolls-Royce Cullinan With Sliding Rear Doors" description: "The new Toyota Century SUV is a $170,000, four-passenger luxury car that packs Rolls-Royce-like opulence in a more affordable package." date: "2023-09-06" modified: "2023-09-06" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-toyota-century-suv-is-a-budget-rolls-royce-cullinan-with-sliding-rear-doors" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Toyota News" tags: - "luxury" - "suv/crossover" - "Toyota" --- # The Toyota Century SUV Is a Budget Rolls-Royce Cullinan With Sliding Rear Doors ![]() The Toyota Century has been one of Japan's most popular luxury sedans for decades. Now, [Toyota]() has its sights set on the [Rolls-Royce Cullinan](), with the new Century SUV that comes with seating for only four, sports a lavish interior, and is even available with trick sliding doors. Based on Toyota's modular TNGA platform, the Century SUV looks eerily similar to the Cullinan. Its boxy shape, upright front end, and chunky C-pillar are all reminiscent of Rolls' only SUV. If you only showed me the silhouette of the Century SUV, I would immediately guess it was a Cullinan. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Two model variants will be on offer when the [Century SUV]() launches: a standard one and a sporty looking GR-badged version. Both come exclusively with four seats, and there isn't a five-seat option. If you don't like rear captain's chairs, the Century SUV isn't for you. However, since both rear seats slide and recline like first-class plane seats—and feature massive armrests with dual Windows-based tablets and entertainment screens—no one's going to complain once inside. Front passengers will be happy, too. The Century SUV gets Toyota's nicest non-Lexus cabin to date, with a multi-tiered dashboard, slick-looking trim, and a big touchscreen infotainment system. The driver will be happier than the front passenger, though, with a 406-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain at their disposal. Toyota claims it can also do 33 miles of pure electric driving. ![]() ![]() ![]() However, the neatest part of the Century SUV isn't its first-class rear seat setup, nor is it the potent hybrid V6. Instead, the most interesting thing about Toyota's Cullinan-fighter is its optional sliding rear doors. If you spring for the sportier GR model, it comes with doors that slide back and out, like a minivan for CEOs. If Rolls-Royce thought its rear-hinged doors were luxurious, wait 'til it gets a load of these sliders. There's a reason minivans have sliding doors—it makes getting humans inside easier than any other design. If you get the standard model, the rear doors open normally but up to 75-degrees, allowing rear passengers to enter and exit without ruffling their perfectly tailored suit jackets. To keep those rear passengers extra comfy, the Century SUV features a laminated glass partition that separates the rear cabin from the cargo area, much like the Cullinan. That way, when the chauffeur gets bags out of the trunk in harsh weather, rear passengers aren't subjected to the elements. There's even a "Rear Comfort" driving mode that the driver can select, which tailors throttle, braking, and suspension responses to rear passenger comfort specifically. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Century SUV isn't replacing the sedan but will be sold alongside it. Only certain Toyota dealers will sell the SUV, and customers should be able to personalize it like its British competitors. When it goes on sale, it'll cost around the equivalent of $170,000 in Japan. (U.S. sales aren't in the cards, at least not yet.) That makes it less than half the price of a Cullinan to start, while packing comparable rear-seat luxury—and of course, much cooler rear doors. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()