INEOS Grenadier (2026 – ) review

The Grenadier isn’t cheap to buy, but then nor is the modern Land Rover Defender 110 or a Mercedes G-Class. Also available as a commercial vehicle for farmers and in Quartermaster pick-up form, passenger versions of the Ineos start at about the same money as the modern-day Defender 110 but that and the shared inspiration are about the only things they have in common, the Grenadier putting its more into tough, off-road ready engineering more than fancy touch-screens and luxury interior fittings. Buying it is just the start of the expense, the plan to build an electric version seemingly shelved leaving the choice of conventional petrol or diesel power from BMW-supplied engines. Both are thirsty – our petrol test car could barely hit 20mpg - and crippling in terms of tax and all the rest. But you don’t hear supercar buyers complaining about such things, and while their tastes may be different the hardcore off-roaders the Grenadier is aimed at likely don’t care either.

The Grenadier was engineered from scratch by a brand-new company, and there have been a few bumps in the road along the way. But Ineos has been quick to address issues and, fundamentally, the engines and all the other bits have been carefully chosen for their toughness and dependability in the harshest conditions, and are all from respected specialist suppliers. And if that doesn’t give you confidence the five-year warranty just might.

This depends on your definition of safety. In terms of physical toughness anything the Grenadier hits is going to come off second-best, given it feels built more like an armoured vehicle than a passenger car. Which isn’t especially charitable but is all part of the image. If the weather or terrain get tough you know the Grenadier will keep going where others won’t, too. When it comes to modern ideals of safety Ineos is openly scornful of modern driver aids like lane-keeping, drowsiness alerts and speed warnings it has been “forced” by regulations to add to this updated Grenadier, and proud to point out how easily they can be switched off. Which fits with the brand’s rebellious image. But these and the expected airbags and rear ISOFIX points are there if you need the reassurance.

Everything in the Grenadier comes second to off-road prowess, comfort and practicality included. But you know what you’re getting into by the looks of the thing and there are plenty of spanglier SUVs in the market if you want something more civilised. The running boards on our test car at least made the climb up into the cabin a little less of a stretch, the manually adjustable front seats comfortable enough and the rear bench wide enough for three if not especially generous in legroom. For a big car the boot isn’t all that huge but if you want to carry more Ineos offers many and various ways to attach it to the outside of the vehicle, whether it be on a roof rack or clipped to the nifty ‘tool belt’ along the sides. On the road the Grenadier feels reassuringly solid and well screwed together, with none of the structural shuddering or wobbles you might associate with traditional 4x4s of this type. Even on off-road tyres refinement is actually reasonable, the heated seats and improved climate control are fearsomely effective and the suspension impressively controlled for a vehicle built more for scrambling over rocks and splashing through muddy ruts than it is city streets and motorways. For this update Ineos has also improved the steering, which by necessity of the way it is engineered (that’s the short version) was criticised for being too light and vague on the previous model. It’s still more trad 4x4 than modern SUV, and the lack of self-centring takes some getting used to. But it is at least a little more precise than before, and you feel the Grenadier will at least go vaguely in the direction you point it now.

You’ll be getting the gist by now but if the ‘features’ you crave in your SUV are things like big screens, ambient lighting, massage seats and all the rest you’re best looking elsewhere. For all that there is some charm in the distinctive and very functional look of the Grenadier interior, the large, rubberised switches designed so you can use them without having to take winter gloves off and the operating system powering the small central screen actually impressively logical in its menus and operation through its BMW-style control wheel between the seats. If you prefer the familiarity of your CarPlay or Android Auto you can run that as well, the built-in navigation system more geared to expedition-style route finding in the wilds. And that’s your lot, beyond a small binnacle for warning lights in front of the wheel. Beyond the base model there are two main versions of the Grenadier, the Fieldmaster the relatively more luxurious ones (emphasis on the ‘relatively’) while the Trialmaster comes with the optional Rough Pack of off-road optimised tyres and mechanical upgrades. The new Black Edition tested here is based on the Fieldmaster and – clue in the name – goes all black for paint, exterior trim, wheels, leather upholstery and other interior bits. It looks mean and moody but we rather prefer some of the earthier tones of the regular car. In terms of accessories the Grenadier is basically a blank canvas onto which any number of expedition-ready extras can be added, be that roof tents, winches, spotlights, side awnings, racking for extra kit or whatever your heart desires.

Camo-clad off-road types will find plenty to get excited about in the depths of the Grenadier’s technical specification, with every last component chosen for its toughness and dependability out in the wilds. Back in the real world the choice of proven BMW engines is a smart one, with an option of petrol or diesel six-cylinder motors driving all four wheels through a conventional automatic gearbox connected to a selectable low-range transfer case for a total of 16 forward gears if you need them! None of which need concern you in regular driving, given you just select D from the familiar BMW gear selector, put your foot down and go. We tested the petrol version, which has a gruff but pleasing growl and plenty of power to get the Grenadier smoothly up to the kind of speeds you’d be happy driving it. There are faster SUVs out there but that’s not really the point, and nor would it be much fun trying to rein it in on a twisty road if you were going any quicker. Previous experience of the diesel version suggests this might be the better pairing with a vehicle of this size and weight, and while still thirsty you might just get a little better than the 18mpg we scored over the course of a week’s driving on- and off-road. Ouch and, indeed, ouch.