We’ve ridden shotgun in a prototype and then again for a guided tour of the brand’s Cape Town off-road course. It’s finally our time to get behind the wheel of the highly anticipated Ineos Grenadier.
Photography: Peet Mocke
Location: Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve
Ineos Grenadier 3.0TD Trialmaster Edition Fast Facts
- Price: R1 862 100
- 0 to 100 km/h: 10.00 seconds
- Top speed: 160 km/h
- Power: 183 kW @ 3 250 r/min
- Torque: 550 N.m @ 1 250 – 3 000 r/min CAR
- Fuel index: 11.16 L/100km CO₂: 247 g/km
Looking for a used Ineos? Find it here with CARmag!
It’s an enviable position to be in; the ability to decide to start a car company while enjoying a few beers with your friends. Yet, seven years after this well-documented social gathering at The Grenadier pub outside London, British billionaire, and chairman of multinational chemical company Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe now has an automotive brand to add to his growing portfolio. Set to be joined by the Quartermaster double-cab and a chassis cab offering, as well as a forthcoming all-electric Fusilier compact SUV, the first product to arrive courtesy of Ineos Automotive’s headquarters for its Sub-Saharan operations, in Cape Town, is the Grenadier station wagon.
While it’s obvious from the outset which iconic adventure-focused vehicle the Grenadier was created to replicate, most testers agreed that the Ineos boasts an altogether more resolved, sturdier stance compared with the admittedly dated original Defender. A non-negotiable in terms of the new vehicle’s exterior packaging was the ability to retrofit any number of accessories. To this end, together with flat surfaces and myriad mounting points, the Grenadier package is highly customizable.
Ineos does, however, offer two specification grades beyond the “blank canvas” model to assist with your purchasing decision. Named after sought-after Belstaff jackets from the ‘40s, the Trialmaster (as tested here) is packaged to appeal to customers serious about off-roading – including front and rear diff locks and beefy BF Goodrich all-terrain T/A K02 tyres – while the Fieldmaster adds touches of luxury, including heated leather seats and two removable “safari windows” in the roof. Accessories fitted to our test units include side runners (R15 930) for easier access to the cabin, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels (R10 655) in place of the standard steel items.
Related: The Quartermaster Chassis Cab is the Ineos Workhorse Ready for the World
If the Grenadier’s exterior takes inspiration from the since-discontinued original Defender, the interior is inspired by way of its originality. There’s a lot to take in, particularly in terms of the layout of buttons and switches on both the centre console and roof panel, but our inner child rejoiced at the prospect of navigating this beautifully crafted setup. The doors close with a precision that even a modern Land Rover might struggle to match, and the look, feel and functionality of this vehicle’s switchgear highlights impressive levels of perceived build quality. The barn-style rear doors open in two stages for ease of use in tight spaces and accommodated a high-mounted spare wheel that affects rear visibility.
Altogether less successful in its execution is the Grenadier’s instrumentation. We’re not completely against the absence of a traditional instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel in favour of a digital readout incorporated into the main menu of a 12.3-inch infotainment display. Most, however, felt this display should be sited towards the driver – and feature a less cluttered home screen – for improved legibility on the move. The inclusion of wireless smartphone mirroring technology is a boon in terms of navigation, particularly while running any number of the system’s installed trail-focused map routes.
While we were initially able to find a comfortable position on the Recaro-sourced driver’s seat – rake and reach movement is offered on the steering column to complement height adjustment on the seat – it soon became apparent that the presence of a large footrest (necessary in right-hand drive models to accommodate the engine’s exhaust manifold beneath) requires you to sit with one knee more bent than the other; something that could prove uncomfortable on longer journeys.
Available with a choice between two BMW-sourced turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engines, petrol or diesel, it’s the latter that presently accounts for up to 75% of local orders. A member of the B57 group of engines, installed within our 2 727 kg Grenadier Trailmaster its 183 kW and 550 N.m of torque available from a low 1 250 r/min offered admirable progress around town (0-100 km/h in 10 seconds), but also impressive shove in an off-road environment. It’s complemented by the refined workings of a familiar ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission. That weight did, however, see the Grenadier frequently drawing around 13.0 L/100 km from its 90-litre fuel tank.
Feeling very much at home in the off-road setting, the Grenadier features live axles, front and rear, as well as a low-range transfer case, a centre-locking differential, hill descent control, 264 mm of ground clearance and wading assist up to a depth of 800 mm. Fitted with its heavy-duty tyres, the Ineos made light work of the sand obstacle used for our cover shoot, and as evidenced elsewhere in this test, its ability to manoeuvre over particularly rugged terrain is a testament to its impressive wheel articulation and proven, back-to-basics make-up – including the fitment of a recirculating ball steering setup.
This steering system (which is also featured in the Suzuki Jimny and Toyota Land Cruiser 70) forgoes respective levels of on-road precision and responsiveness in favour of durability and more forgiving characteristics when the going gets tough. While the Ineos’ off-roading ability is unquestionable, the on-road trade-off is steering that requires focus. This presents itself in terms of constant corrections to maintain a true course and a lack of self-centring action that requires some sawing at the wheel when seeking out a straight-ahead position after a turn.
Another upshot of this steering setup is the significant 3.5 turns required to achieve lock-to-lock on the steering wheel, as well as a 13.5-metre turning circle. Slow steering aside, the Grenadier’s well-engineered (and Magna Steyr-sourced) underpinnings offer surprisingly good resistance to body roll and impressive bump absorption on gravel surfaces. Tested braking times were also admirable considering Ineos’ relatively basic architecture and mass.
The continued popularity of products like the Suzuki Jimny and Toyota Land Cruiser 70, despite the inherent flaws associated with their dated respective packaging, shows many paying customers are willing to forgo creature comforts and relative levels of refinement in favour of novelty, character, capability and underlying charm. While the Grenadier ticks these boxes, factors such as the absence of a track record in terms of reliability, aftersales support, and resale values; as well as a mostly exchange rate-driven price point positioning it uncomfortably close to established rivals, are valid concerns.
As a first attempt at creating a back-to-basics, adventure-focused vehicle in the spirit of the original Defender, the Ineos Grenadier is impressive. Like a Suzuki Jimny, if you only drove this vehicle, you’d quickly get used to the caprices of its steering setup, while the novelty factor associated with its interior deserves praise.
Crucially, as highlighted during our interview with the leadership of Ineos Automotive in our December 2023 issue, this is a brand that’s keen to listen, learn and adapt to what its customers have to say. Consequently, we eagerly anticipate a future updated Grenadier that’s even more polished.