You’d be forgiven for thinking the INEOS Grenadier bears resemblance to the old Land Rover Defender.
The thing is, the Grenadier is a ground-up project that shares no parts with the Land Rover.
We recently got behind the wheel of the new 4×4 to see if it shares the same honorary off-road prowess.
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We’ll kick things off by addressing the elephant in the room.
Yes, the INEOS Grenadier takes obvious inspiration from the previous Land Rover Defender.
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It too features a square design, body-on-frame construction and beam axles.
But it’s actually larger than the original Defender, and with black plastic cladding jutting out from the bodywork and off-road tires, it looks even more purposeful.
At over two meters tall, the Grenadier takes some effort climbing into.
It’s worth it, though, as you get 264mm of ground clearance and a useful high vantage point from behind the wheel.
Underneath the hood lies a choice of 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engines from BMW.
There’s a diesel (B57) with 246bhp and 405 lb-ft of torque, or a petrol version (B58) producing 281bhp and 331 lb-ft of torque, which we tested.
Whichever unit you opt for, drive is sent through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
There’s permanent all-wheel-drive with selectable low range for serious off-roading.
Then there’s the center diff, which is a mechanically locking item, with optional electronically actuated units on each axle.
That brings us nicely on to the subject of off-roading, which is where the INEOS Grenadier really is at home.
Heading off the beaten track, the Grenadier’s progressive-rate Eibach spring and Bilstein damper set-up is compliant over large bumps.
Coupled with impressive wheel articulation from the live axles, it really gives you the sense that the car is maximizing grip from all four tires.
It was hard to find terrain tricky enough to stop the Grenadier in its tracks, as it continually seems to find remarkable traction over even the most challenging sections.
Ok, there was the odd steep slope that slowed us down, but with a touch more commitment, it managed to scramble up the trickiest of inclines.
Heading downhill didn’t seem to phase it much either.
Shifting the manual gearbox control, selecting first gear, and using engine braking with both feet off the pedals, the car crawled along pretty safely without losing grip.
Thanks to approach and departure angles of 35.5 and 36.1 degrees respectively, the bodywork doesn’t catch the when it meets flat ground, too.
We could literally talk all day about how genuinely impressive the Grenadier is off-road, but equally as important is how it performs on tarmac.
Lifestyle-orientated buyers will be pleased to know it fared incredibly well.
We were pleasantly surprised by how composed it was out on the open road, but also by how little road noise there was from the optional BFGoodrich KO2 tires.
Inside
The inside of the INEOS Grenadier is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
Ok, we’ve seen the gear selector elsewhere, but there’s a distinct utilitarian feel to the bespoke cabin.
Take the boxy dashboard for example, which trades luxury for a hard wearing plastic construction, and the omission of a traditional gauge cluster.
The dashboard also features clearly labeled and purposely spaced switches for the audio and climate controls, designed for use with gloves or wet hands.
There’s also an aviation theme to the interior, with the inclusion of overhead switches controlling the ancillaries for off-roading.
Should you wish to add your own winch, lights or power accessories, there’s a row of redundant switches pre-wired into the overhead console.
Finding a comfortable driving position isn’t hard thanks to the manually adjustable Recaro seats – and there’s plenty of elbow room, too.
Depending on your intended usage, there are two INEOS Grenadier models to choose from – the Utility Wagon or the Station Wagon.
Designed primarily to carry loans, the Grenadier Utility Wagon has two seats, and is certified as a commercial vehicle.
This particular model comes with a full-height cargo barrier and a full-length flat floor capable of taking a standard Euro Pallet (1,200 x 800mm).
The standard five-seat Grenadier Station Wagon is certified as a commercial vehicle and is fitted with a cargo barrier, to provide the optimum balance between payload and passenger carrying ability.
If you have no intentions or putting the vehicle to work, there’s the Grenadier Station Wagon Belstaff Editions (Trailmaster or Fieldmaster).
Compared with the base Station Wagon, emphasis is slightly more on passenger comfort than loadspace capacity, with more knee room for second row passengers.
There’s a Grenadier double cab pick-up in the offing, too.
The Grenadier we tested was a Fieldmaster (Belstaff Editions) and, as you’d expect from the top-of-the-range model, it comes with a host of equipment.
This includes safari windows, an access ladder, leather trim with heated front seats, and even a Belstaff Fieldmaster jacket included in the sale.
The Fieldmaster also benefits from the ‘Smooth Pack’, which includes rear-view camera, park assist front (PDC), power heated exterior mirrors, heated windscreen washer jets, as well as puddle lamps and ambient door lighting.
How much is the INEOS Grenadier?
The INEOS Grenadier is priced from £55,000 ($66,000) for the two-seat Utility Wagon, £58,000 ($69,000) for the five-seat Station Wagon, and £69,000 ($82,000) for the Station Wagon Belstaff Editions.
U.S. pricing will officially be available later in 2023, as will be the ability to order.
INEOS Grenadier verdict
The long and short of it is, the INEOS Grenadier is impressively good off-road.
Its sturdy ladder chassis, beefy body protection and hard-wearing interior give it a utilitarian feel far closer to the original Defender than the new one.
Add to that how well it performs on tarmac, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a great allrounder that we think should sell incredibly well.
