2024 INEOS Grenadier Station Wagon

If you are a midsize luxury SUV influenced by a highly capable off-roader, the original Land Rover Defender is an excellent pick to emulate. Moreover, with its supplier roster reading like a Who’s Who of performance brands (Magna: chassis, BMW: drivetrain, ZF: transmission, Carraro: axles, Recaro: seats, Brembo: brakes, and so on), the Ineos Grenadier is serious indeed about mastering whatever obstacles it encounters on the trail. Making a compromise or two on creature comforts is a small sacrifice when brutalizing boulders or fording rivers. But not to worry: Such niceties as carpet, leather seating, and heated seats are available. Gutsy, capable, and looking the part, the Grenadier is the newest entry stepping up to tussle with the Rovers and Wranglers of the world.

The Ineos Grenadier is an all-new SUV for 2024. In its case, what’s new is really what’s old. Somewhat of a throwback to off-roading vehicles of the past, it intensifies its capability with a separate ladder frame, solid axles, a mechanical transfer case, recirculating ball steering, and other proven, old-school components. Bells, whistles, and frills take a back seat to off-pavement competence. Ineos is also taking North American orders for its new Grenadier Quartermaster truck, with deliveries expected late in 2024. A fully electric Ineos Fusilier is on the horizon, as well.

At present, at least, the Grenadier is a rather small player in the midsize luxury SUV class. Reportedly, its 2024 allotment to its U.S. dealers is around 8,000 units. At its starting price point, it’s among the higher-priced players in its segment. The Land Rover Defender and new-for-2024 Toyota Land Cruiser lineups start at just under $60,000, while the new-for-2024 Lexus GX kicks off around $65,000. And in case you’re wondering, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class lineup starts around $145,000.

Unless you are a committed off-roader, an intrepid early adopter, or just have a bunch of disposable income to toss around, we recommend picking the entry-level Grenadier and checking an option box or two. If you want to enhance the Grenadier’s civility, you can add leather seating, heated front seats, and carpeted flooring for under $5K. On the other hand, you can upgrade off-road capability by adding front/rear locking differentials and upgraded BFGoodrich all-terrain tires for under $3K.

Before buying a Grenadier, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. It will be interesting to see how well the Grenadier holds its value when it starts hitting the resale market as a used vehicle. Resale value is an important consideration for financially minded shoppers because recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

Thrust is by way of BMW’s 282-horsepower turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine, which is about average within the segment. Ineos says loping from a standstill to 60 mph takes 8.6 seconds, which is just fine and only about a half-second behind what’s common in the segment.

A ZF 8-speed automatic transmission hustles torque to all four wheels. The top speed is electronically limited to 99 mph. A locking center differential is standard. Front and rear locking differentials are standard on the Trialmaster (yes, that’s “trial” and not “trail”) and optional on the Grenadier and Grenadier Fieldmaster.

The separate ladder frame is a real asset when bumping along trails or pulling a load; however, such setups tend to be less welcome when ride quality is the goal. In other words, the added off-road capability is a compromise. Every Grenadier boasts 10.4 inches of ground clearance.

Fuel Economy

We suspect no one will buy the Grenadier for its fuel stinginess. It delivers an estimated 15 mpg in mixed city-and-highway driving (15 mpg city/15 mpg highway) when dressed out as the basic Grenadier or Grenadier Fieldmaster. Opting for the more capable Trialmaster drops all three mpg measures by 1 mpg. This mileage is solidly at the low end of the segment’s spectrum. More Grenadier fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

If you like the idea of hosing out your SUV’s cabin after a hard day of mud, sand, and water, you’ll love the Grenadier. The Grenadier’s control setup looks like it’s right out of an airliner, with an elaborate center stack filled with switches and knobs, as well as an overhead panel with more controls. On the other hand, unless you begin checking boxes on the options list of the base model and Trialmaster, you probably won’t be overwhelmed by access to convenience features or pampering.

Five people spread across two rows of seats reaches maximum occupancy. Most midsize rivals provide a little more front legroom than the Grenadier’s 39.3 inches. Things don’t get any better in the second row, where this SUV’s legroom is a class-last 30.4 inches. This is roughly the legroom in the Genesis GV80’s third row, for example. For cargo room, the numbers improve. The Grenadier’s maximum cargo space is 71.8 cubic feet, putting it among the segment’s top performers. With the second row in place, the cargo space is about average.

Running a tape around the Grenadier’s exterior provides a clue as to why its interior space doesn’t quite stack up to the competition: Nearly every rival is longer by about five or six inches. Characterized by primarily straight lines and right angles, the exterior styling does little to mask the Grenadier’s bromance with the old Land Rover Defender. In other words, it looks like it can take on anything.

Ladder frame
The box-sectioned ladder frame is a sturdy foundation for the Grenadier’s admirable off-roading and towing abilities.

Turbo 6-cylinder engine
Drawn from BMW’s engine fleet, this 282-horsepower turbo inline 6-cylinder engine is a proven solid performer.

Recaro Seats
Notable for their ergonomic design, these seats provide plenty of support for a day of off-roading or simply highway cruising.

Front/rear locking differentials
Being able to lock the wheels on the same axle so they rotate at the same speed enhances off-road performance. This feature is standard for the Trialmaster and optional for the other two Grenadier grades.

Safari windows
An old take on the sunroof, these are twin side-by-side windows located over the front seat area. They can be manually propped open or sealed shut. Standard on the Fieldmaster, they are an option on the other two trims.

Smooth Pack
Standard on every Grenadier SUV, this package includes front-park assist, power heated outboard mirrors, heated windshield washer jets, a lockable stowage box, and more.

BMW’s well-seasoned inline turbo 6-cylinder engine develops 282 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque in the Grenadier. We have always praised this 6-cylinder and expect it to perform well in the Grenadier’s application, too. Moreover, engine performance translates into being able to tug 7,716 pounds or cart around 1,841 pounds inside it.

5-year/60,000-mile Warranty

Ineos provides a limited bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is better than the segment average, which is four years or 50,000 miles.

Safety

Because the Grenadier is all-new, neither the government nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested it. Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and rear park assist.