First Drive: The Ineos Grenadier is a mod- ern-day successor to the ‘original’ Land Rover Defender By Jack Evans, PA Motoring reporter
What is it?
When Land Rover took the original Defender out of production, it left quite a gap. Fortunately, Jim Ratcliffe – billionaire CEO of chemicals firm Ineos – decided that this space couldn’t be left unplugged and set to work creating an off-roader that would deliver the same kind of rough-and-ready experience as the original Defender, but with a few more creature comforts and fewer rough edges.The result? The Grenadier. It’s an uncompromising go-anywhere vehicle designed to give an option to drivers who want a car that’ll go here, there and everywhere while bringing a little extra charm than you might find in the current crop of largely road-focused SUVs.We’ve been testing it out to see what it’s like.
What’s new?
The Grenadier is a heady mix of old and new. Underneath, we’ve got a traditional ladder chassis to help with rigidity and outright assuredness off-road, while optional lockable differentials should ensure that it can drag itself out of the stickiest of situations. Sitting on top is a boxy body with a rough exterior that is designed to be fixed easily and quickly if things get damaged. And despite its British-ness, the Grenadier isn’t a product of these shores; built in Hambach, France, using largely German components, it’s been co-developed by Austrian specialists Magna Steyr which counts the legendary Mercedes G-Class among its list of car-building accomplishments.
What’s under the bonnet?
Ineos hasn’t wasted time developing its own engines for the Grenadier, instead turning to BMW for two of its trusted powerplants.While a petrol version is available, we’ve been driving the diesel which, for many drivers, will be the go-to option thanks to its plentiful 550Nm of torque.You’ve got 248bhp, too, sent to all four wheels via a smooth-shifting ZF eight-speed gearbox – again, a trusted choice in the market. Our Trialmaster-specification car rides on chunky BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres as standard, too, while differential locks front, middle and rear are equipped from the off on Grenadier, too. In terms of efficiency, Ineos claims 23.3mpg for the Grenadier while CO2 emissions of 310g/km are pretty high.
What’s it like to drive?
If you’re stepping out from a modern, road-focused SUV – or any other modern car, for that matter – then it’s quite the adjustment process driving the Grenadier. It uses a classic recirculating ball-hydraulic steering system which, at low speeds, is wayward and pretty loose. Even turning into a junction or navigating a roundabout takes more concentration than you’d expect. It’s better with speed, however, and on the motorway the Grenadier bowls along nicely with a surprising lack of wind noise.The chunky tyres don’t generate too much roar, either, and the engine has a pleasantly robust noise to it.
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