Hankering for a modern Defender? Not that one. Now there’s another European alternative. Conceived by a billionaire and said to have cost a billion pounds to develop, the Ineos Grenadier is a seriously accomplished off-roader that’s not bad on road either. Think: last century’s Defender resurrected in the new millennium.
The history is well known; Jim Ratcliffe, the chief of Ineos, felt there was a niche for a hardcore offroader after the new Defender lost its way. This would be a clean sheet development, though body-on-frame chassis, rigid axles front and rear, and permanent four-wheel drive with two-speed transaxle weren’t up for discussion.
The project was actioned by the newly formed Ineos Automotive team, and soon involved experts in the field, Magna Steyr, who developed the fixed steel suspension for the Grenadier (Eibach progressive coil springs, Bilstein dampers, five-link suspension, antiroll bars). During development, Ineos Automotive bought and updated the Mercedes-Benz Hambach production facility so everything was set.
To the finished product then, the Grenadier Station Wagon. It comes only in five-door guise (actually six, as the rear door opens 30:70). The SW is set to be joined next year by a double-cab ute version, the Quartermaster.
The overriding Grenadier premise was that it had to be reliable, capable, and therefore as simple as possible but not without creature comforts. So it comes as a base model with a large list of accessories (40 pages, avoid alcohol while choosing) or as a hardcore Trialmaster (front and rear diff locks, off-road tyres, raised air intake) or more generalist 4×4 Fieldmaster (alloy wheels, heated leather seats, premium sounds).
Back in 2021 the predicted price was under $100,000 but the latest update has it kicking off at $119k for the two-seat Utility Wagon and $120k for the five-seat Station Wagon. Folk who opt for the Trialmaster or Fieldmaster will be paying $134,500. That’s in new Defender territory.
To behold there are definite old Defender cues, though up front the bonnet shape is visibly different, and the headlights are more technical (LEDs). Inside is modern with a premium feel, but it’s also business-like. Behind the wheel, there are no instruments, just a small readout with warning lights. The speedo and rev counter are in the top right of the infotainment touchscreen, like in a Tesla, minus the revs part.
Below this is a series of controls for HVAC while up above, aircraft style, is another console for off-road controls, like downhill assist and diff locks, off-road and wading modes etc. You don’t really need to engage with the touchscreen to drive the thing. There’s no adaptive cruise control (although this is evidently coming), and no nav (via wireless Apple or wired Android Auto). No drive modes either, just go or not. There are two horns, one for morons, the other gentler to let horses, cyclists or pedestrians know you’re coming without scaring them.
Visibility out the back window isn’t flash but external mirrors are fine. And you will use these because turnarounds take 13.5m, while there’s 3.5 turns lock to lock. The engineers opted for recirculating ball steering because it works better in off-road conditions and this machine prioritises that over on-road demeanour. Which also means it steers a little different on tarmac – there’s some freeplay about centre, and nothing in the way of self-centring. But ride and handling are laudable considering its off-road ability, and a far cry from old Defender, by comparison. Moreover, the engines don’t roar at you, road and wind nose are well contained and acceleration is far from glacial (0-100 in 8.6-9.6sec), not bad for something weighing 2.7 tonnes. Brakes are by Brembo and rein in the momentum well. Braked towing is rated at 3500kg.
There’s a choice of BMW-sourced engines; both are turbocharged 3.0L inline sixes. Petrol or diesel, there’s no cost difference. The diesel makes 183kW and 550Nm, the petrol 210kW and 440Nm. They both haul solidly from low revs. Average fuel use is 14s for the petrol, in the 11s for the diesel. For mainly town running you might choose the petrol as there’s less lag off the line while for the off-roading focus you might opt for the additional low down grunt of the diesel. Both are fine, and each is attached to a strengthened ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
Riding high with 264mm of ground clearance you have to clamber up to the driver’s seat through not especially big openings. But the doors shut with a reassuring clunk. Moreover, we noticed not a rattle or a buzz in either vehicle we drove.
The seats are wonderful, supportive, Recaros, finished in cloth or leather and operation is fully manual so less to go wrong when you’re washing out the interior. Always with simplicity, reliability and longevity as the guiding principles. And a five-year warranty for back-up. Littl’uns in the back will appreciate the optional sidesteps, adults the hand holds.
The Grenadier despatches the bumps well considering the body on frame architecture and while not as smooth or absorbent as air suspension the drive vehicles coped well with the pothole-strewn metal roads we plied, and up the rocky (and coincidentally named) Ratcliffe Track we tackled. Sometimes we’d hit deep potholes and expect a thud but it never arrived.
It’s at its very best where it was designed to be, properly off road. Ratcliffe Track has a bit of everything. Some tricky ascents over rocky terrain were testing, well for us at least; I’m not so sure the Grenadier was troubled. In the petrol we drove with central diff lock only, this inched its way up inclines without any hesitation, aided by the off-road rubber. Later on the return trip in the diesel, up a more serious incline we selected rear diff lock and while it wasn’t scrambling for traction it was even more secure once activated.
The articulation is supreme on this too, helping to keep all four wheels on the ground and the vehicle inching forwards in tricky going. Minimal front and rear overhangs mean generous approach and departure angles of 36 degrees. Along with generous ground clearance we didn’t touch down all day.
Want a truly unstoppable wagon that’s purpose built for your off-road family adventures? Fancy becoming a grey nomad? Add Ineos Grenadier to the list. Just avoid the bevvies while ticking the accessory boxes. You might end up with two instead of five seats.
This will close in 8 seconds
