The Ineos Grenadier is the Best New SUV You’ve Never Heard Of
Love the look of a classic boxy SUV that can do it all? Thoughtful details and specialized off road capabilities of the Ineos Grenadier are an SUV fan's dream.
Its classic looks and capability are already winning hearts – and pre-orders.
If you haven’t heard of the Ineos Grenadier yet – you will. Nearly 10,000 buyers have already placed reservations to be the first to own and drive this new $71K off roading phenom when it arrives in the US by the end of 2023.
The Ineos Grenadier merges the best off-road capability of the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen with the comfort of a luxury sedan into a purpose-built SUV that’s equally at home on treacherous mud tracks or taking the kids to school.
Related: We Simply Adore the Land Rover Defender 130
The Genesis of the Ineos Grenadier
The vehicle was born – literally – in a London pub named Grenadier. Adventurer and off-road enthusiast Sir Jim Ratcliffe was lamenting to friends a few years ago that the legendary tough-as-nails Defender was going out of production, and decided to buy the rights to continue its production. He tried, but Jaguar/Land Rover wouldn’t sell, so he decided to build his own.
As chairman of Ineos, one of the largest chemical corporations on the planet, Sir Jim, as he’s known, had the money, connections and drive (pardon the pun) to build his own dream off-roader. He gathered designers and engineers from Britain, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe and bought a modern factory on the French-German border, built originally by Daimler to produce the Smart car, to build it.
“We started with a blank piece of paper,” EVP Greg Walls told me. That allowed the new car company to choose the best of each possible component, from gearing to tires, without worrying about what he described as the “legacy constraints” of manufacturers like Land Rover or Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler.
Related: Why Building a Car is Super Cool
The Ineos Grenadier Eats Rocky Roads for Breakfast
We went to a rocky, muddy off-road track facility in the mountains of upstate New York, to test drive a pre-production model. It was the kind of trail where 3MPH feels fast.
I was impressed by its sure-footed handling, especially through tight trees that left a blink of space between the super-sized sideview mirrors and the tree trunks.
Its Controlling Features Give You Confidence
There’s a tough mix of three locking differentials, solid beam axles, a ladder-frame chassis, and recirculating ball steering, which is more responsive and heavy-duty than the traditional rack-and-pinion steering on most cars and SUVs. And a tough 3-liter, 282hp turbo-charged engine from BMW.
There are dozens of dashboard and overhead controls for various on-road and off-road functions, but none to turn in the mirrors against the chassis, including when the engine is shut off. It seems to be the only feature the Grenadier is lacking.
Appealing Attributes of the Ineos Grenadier
My favorite features are the comfy leather seats that cushion the bumps and a split 60-40 back door that allows you to open one side to grab the grocery bags, or both to haul a stroller, skis or golf bags. Multiple tie-downs in the cargo area keep things from shifting on a steep or bumpy slope. The smaller door has a ladder for easy rooftop access.
The cargo bay on the super-rugged Trail version has a “hose out” design for quick and easy cleaning up muck. And, of course, there’s a multimedia screen and system with all the bells and whistles expected these days.
Both brakes and steering had more “play” than I expected in such a rugged vehicle, but then responded firmly in another split second. Walls explained that actually allows for more control, such as in panic braking or steering.
“The more specialized a vehicle is, the more time it takes for familiarization. But once you know the characteristics, you have more control,” he explained. For me, it took just once or twice to understand and adapt.
Don’t Desire Gas? The Electric Ineos Grenadier is Coming
Now that you’ve read about the Grenadier, do you think you’d be an ideal Ineos customer? Walls says the Grenadier customer ranges from what he describes as “utilitarians,” who are serious off-road adventurers like Sir Jim, to outdoor lovers who need a vehicle capable of packing camping gear and towing a boat, snowmobile or ATV.
Ineos also is testing an EV version, planned for 2026. Since chemical production often creates hydrogen as a byproduct, Walls said the company is thinking about “capturing” that to propel a hydrogen fuel cell version.
The Ineos Grenadier will be available in North America in Fall 2023, at a starting price of $71,300. It will be sold at a combination of independent dealerships and online and soon won’t be the off-road SUV you’ve never heard of.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Ineos for this test drive; opinions and muddy tires shared here are my own.
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Categorized:Car Reviews SUVs
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