RECENTLY, I was lucky enough to be invited to the annual Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace in Perth. Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) it’s 3 days of gundog displays, terrier racing, equestrian skills, Highland ponies, falconry, shooting, food markets and everything countryside related.
Of course, there are vehicle displays too – mostly of the 4×4 variety. Most interesting among these was the INEOS Grenadier stand with a variety of vehicles to either simply look around, or take for a test-drive on the site’s off-road course.
I say most interesting because the Grenadier story is one of those British success stories that is as engaging as the product itself.
In 2017, INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a motoring enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for a stripped back, utilitarian, hard-working 4X4 engineered for modern day compliance and reliability.
The idea to manufacture a vehicle from scratch was developed by Sir Jim and some friends in their favourite pub, The Grenadier in Belgravia, London, which inspired the vehicle’s name. INEOS Automotive Limited was formed and a senior team of automotive professionals assembled to bring the vision to reality with a fresh perspective of 4X4 development and manufacturing.
Since then, the Grenadier has come to life, combining rugged British design with German engineering rigour. The team has not wavered in its razor-sharp focus on remaining true to Sir Jim’s original vision. The Grenadier line-up provides best-in-class off- road capability, durability, and reliability to those who depend on a vehicle for work, adventure or leisure.
Depending on the market, the Grenadier is available as a five-seat Station Wagon, a Utility Wagon with the choice of a two-seat or five-seat layout, and as a five-seat Quartermaster double cab pick-up.
The standard variants of each model are a blank canvas ready to be configured for the exact needs of customers. They are built for those needing a stripped back, no-nonsense workhorse, but still with the comfort, safety, refinement and standard features that today’s drivers expect.
The design is all about being clear, simple and straightforward. The result is a timeless and instantly recognisable form – yes, the word “Defender” springs to mind when you first clap eyes on the front of the Grenadier, but that’s not a negative, it’s simply substance informing style.
It is an honest design, evocative of the iconic 4X4s of the past: boxy to maximise space efficiency; wheels positioned at the corners of the chassis to minimise body overhang for improved approach and departure angles; straightforward, simple lines punctuated only by practical features and no superficial styling. It is also very striking.
The flat front wings are ideal for resting kit. The 30:70 split rear door on the Utility and Station Wagon models makes loading easy, with the smaller 30 door giving quick and easy access for smaller items and unrestricted loading of larger items with the larger 70 door opened.
The beltline along the bodysides has bump strips included as standard, or the optional Utility Belt can be added for attaching a raft of after-market accessories. The roof bars and roof strips enable loads to be mounted and secured directly, without a Roof Rack.
The interior of the Grenadier is no less striking and certainly has a wow-factor when you first climb aboard.
INEOS Automotive has gone back to basics to create an interior that’s functional, intuitive, and comfortable. Where possible, the Grenadier remains analogue and mechanical. Benefiting from both clearly labelled and well-spaced buttons and chunky dials that can be confidently used while wearing gloves, the centrally located controls offer simple and safe operation for both driver and co-driver – not something you can say about any of the Grenadier’s rivals.
All driving information is located in one place on the Grenadier’s Central Control System: speed, gear and fuel level, through to tyre pressures, maps, media, phonebook, current bearing, co-ordinates, steering angle, vehicle attitude, and more are all displayed on the easy-to-control 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Designed specifically for INEOS Automotive, the Central Control System screen can be operated using either the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel, the rotary controller located on the centre console, the menu buttons on the central control interface and of course through the touchscreen itself.
A unique design feature of the Grenadier is its overhead control panel. Inspired by the layout of controls in aircraft cockpits, this houses all off-road switchgear and functions such as the Off-Road and Wading Modes, the (when optioned) axle differential lock buttons, Downhill Assist, as well as both standard and optional prewired auxiliary switches which can be used for options or accessories such as winches or light bars.
It all looks rugged and satisfyingly “professional” for an off-roader, yet at the same time managing to look luxurious and like nothing else you’ve seen outside of a small aircraft. My only criticism would be that it’s a bit “blokey” in its styling. But, being a bloke with a failed ambition to gain a pilot’s licence, I love it.
The everyday vehicle controls are logically positioned on the centre console, and this logical separation of key functions ensures both driver and front passenger can select the correct switch or function.
All information is displayed on the Central Control System’s large 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Removing the typical instrument cluster from behind the steering wheel declutters the dashboard and provides unimpeded visibility through the front windscreen allowing the driver and co-driver to see where the front corners of the vehicle are, crucial not only to offroad driving when you need to accurately drive your line but also in day to day driving from narrow city streets to parking.
Tipping its hat to the INEOS Grenadiers professional cycling team, the Grenadier features a Toot Button – the red circular button on the right-hand arm of the steering wheel. This emits a friendly tone that’s quieter than the regular horn. This can be used to notify cyclists, walkers, horse riders or any other road users of the vehicle’s presence in a friendly, polite way. A long way from the red “Gun” button on the joystick of the WWII Spitfire, that I’m told was the inspiration behind this button.
The Grenadier is built to get muddy and it can easily be washed down, inside and out. Five interior drain valves mean owners can hose out the floor without concerns of damaging interior materials. An official IP54K rating for critical cabin components –giving them protection from dust and water ingress – ensures the odd splash of mud or water will not damage the switchgear or electronics.
The highly supportive, eight-way manually adjustable Recaro front seats have been specially designed for the Grenadier. Optimised lateral back support keeps the driver and passengers comfortable and secure, while low profile cushion bolsters mean it’s easy to get in and out.
The standard seating upholstery is a combination of hard-wearing tough cloth and vinyl that is stain, dirt and water-resistant, and is easy to clean. Supple full-grain leather seats – in black, or in two-tone black-and-grey – are available as an option. Leather front seats are heated as standard, with heated front seats an option for the standard cloth and vinyl Utility Trim.
Safari Windows located above the driver and co-driver come as standard on the Fieldmaster Edition, or as an option on all other variants. Closed, ventilated, or removed completely, these windows allow additional light and fresh air into the cabin. When removed, they can be safely housed in a dedicated storage bag.
Parking sensors, standard at the rear and optional at the front, enhance the Grenadier driver’s urban situational awareness, and simplify manoeuvring in and out of tight spaces.
Colour choice is good and includes the standard “Scottish White” – a reference to a number of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s close Scottish friends who have very white legs. There is also “Donny Grey”, named for Andy Currie, INEOS co-founder who hails from Doncaster, where the skies are invariably grey.
Magic Mushroom, Eldoret Blue, Sela Green, Shale Bue, Britannia Blue, Inky Black, Queen’s Red and Sterling Silver make up the rest. I assume Magic Mushroom is for those buyers who like a vehicle to sit particularly high . . .
I didn’t get much time to drive the Grenadier – but that will, hopefully, change in the next few months. However, after traversing the off-road course at Scone Palace I can confirm that the INEOS Grenadier is extremely capable on the most challenging of surfaces – and wades through rivers very easily too. It was a massive amount of fun (but maybe not for Mrs. B, sat in the rear) and even managed to make a novice like me look competent.
I was surprised by just how comfortable the ride was over the large ridges and plummeting descents. The combination of a rigid, full box-sectioned ladder-frame chassis and excellent suspension, along with Recaro seats meant I wasn’t being thrown around like I was expecting. It all felt smooth and very well controlled.
The Grenadier has been developed to be refined not just off-road but also on-road, too with reliable and gutsy engines and a robust ZF transmission. It is powered by a choice of two BMW 3.0-litre turbo-charged inline six-cylinder engines – either petrol or diesel. Both engines meet diesel and petrol emissions standards in all markets. Every Grenadier variant can be powered by either the petrol or the diesel engine, and the selection doesn’t affect the vehicle price (depending on markets).
I look forward to spending more time with a Grenadier in the future and to delve even further into its capabilities both on-road and off. Is it a substitute for the family SUV? Probably not, but neither is it meant to be. This is an all-out adventure vehicle which doubles as a reliable workhorse with immense ability and refinement. You may think there are similar off-roaders out there but as soon as you experience the INEO Grenadier you realize it’s unique – and for all the right reasons.
- TECH SPECS – INEOS Grenadier Station Wagon (petrol version):
- Engine: BMW B58 straight 6
- Power: 286 PS
- Max Torque: 450 Nm
- Transmission: ZF 8HP51 8-speed Auto
- Max Speed: 160 mph
- 0-62 mph: 8.8 seconds
- Fuel Economy (combined): 18.9 – 19.6 mpg
- CO2 emissions: 325 – 336 g/km
- Cost: From £76,140 (Petrol or Diesel)
