Insert linkWhat do you do if you are a billionaire and think there is a car missing on the market? Yes, you build it yourself. Such was the case for Jim Ratcliffe who felt that the market for rugged off-road vehicles was gaping. The result? Brand new Ineos Grenadier.
When the old Land Rover Defender went to the grave on January 29, 2016, Ratcliffe felt a replacement was needed.
The goal was to launch a utilitarian, functional, and robust off-road vehicle that was as reliable as a Toyota Land Cruiser but as fierce as a Defender.
The idea for the Grenadier came in 2017 and in July 2022 the first production car was unveiled. The similarities with the Defender strut are obvious.
Ratcliffe had asked Jaguar Land Rover to buy the presses for the Defender from the factory, but had been refused.
Then he instead took matters into his own hands and the result is, after spending 17.2 billion kroner, a car whose main task is to take you exactly where you want, without breaking down.
They usually say that you take a Land Rover somewhere if you want to get there. But if you want to get home again, you should take a Land Cruiser instead. The idea with Ineos Grenadier is that it should be included in the latter category.
Ineos Grenadier is inspired by the Land Rover Defender. (Photo: Marcus Berggren) Functional design through and through
When it comes to functional design, the recipe has long been tried and tested. A boxy design means more space, cheaper panels, and a better ability to estimate where the car starts and ends.
That’s why cars like the Mitsubishi Pajero, Mercedes G-Class and Land Rover Defender all follow that recipe.
The functional spirit permeates the entire car, and every single detail is thought out, all in the name of functionality. It is something that is reflected in the decidedly robust interior.
All controls feel solid and the knobs are designed to withstand water. Grenadier is watertight up to the upper edge of the gimbal tunnel – roughly at the height of the center console. There are also drainage plugs in the floor to let water out.
The controls, including the gear selector, are recognizable from BMW. It’s no coincidence, but the engine is sourced from the Bavarian marque while the gearbox is an eight-speed ZF story that has been beefed up for Ineo’s tougher purposes.
Currently, it is possible to choose between two powertrains – a diesel straight-six with 242 horsepower or a petrol engine with 278 horsepower. We were given the opportunity to drive the diesel, an option that is much more suitable for the type of car.
The design is straight through functional. (Photo: Marcus Berggren) Old school cool
The first thing that strikes you when you start driving the Ineos Grenadier is how the steering feels. It does not return to neutral on its own, requiring significantly more input from the driver. The reason is related to off-road driving, as the steering wheel should not spin wildly when driving over logs and rocks.
It takes almost four turns for maximum steering wheel travel from one side to the other, which means that every single maneuver, not least of the type you experience in city driving, for example, requires a lot of work.
It is to some extent a matter of habit, and although the system is definitely beneficial when moving beyond the tarmac, it is a pain to deal with during ordinary driving.
It adds a level of ruggedness to the driving experience that certainly makes it more special, but intrudes on everyday driving.
The cabin is quiet and the solid soles mean that the comfort level is high and longer trips are thus unproblematic.
Our test drive took place in Åre and off-road driving was limited to logging and hunting roads in the immediate area. In off-road mode, all safety systems are switched off – including the seat belt reminder.
Of course, a low gear is also available, a must when driving across the African continent.
A calf button can be advantageously used when crossing water (up to 80 centimeters) which turns off the fans so as not to wear them out unnecessarily.
Our off-road drive was only an amuse-bouche of what the car is capable of, but there’s no doubt that the Ineos Grenadier is functional right down to the wheel studs. The feeling of driving the straight track from Åre to Djibouti presents itself badly, and nothing we threw in its way led to the slightest problem.
Ineos Grenadier makes you want to drive around the world. (Photo: Ineos) A car with a single task
Ineos Grenadier is a breath of fresh air on four wheels in these times when car manufacturers want all cars to act as multi-tools.
By that, it means that Grenadier has been developed with one purpose in focus – to be able to take you where you want, regardless of where in the world it is. It bets wholeheartedly on being a freedom machine and unsurprisingly excels at that point.
The crux is that the car’s off-road skills interfere with its ability to be a car suitable for everyday use. While cars such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Mercedes G-Class have become more suitable for everyday use in some versions, the Grenadier focuses exclusively on maximum accessibility, with all that that entails.
The result, however, is a car that fulfills a function that continues to be awarded worldwide. It places itself in the same segment as, for example Toyota Land Cruiser 70. If a car for you means freedom, the Ineos Grenadier manages to add another dimension to that.
Ineos Grenadier is available with both petrol and diesel. (Photo: Marcus Berggren) Rating of Ineos Grenadier 4/5
Ineos Grenadier 3.0 TD 4×4 (2023)
Engine: 3-liter straight six, diesel, 242 horsepower, 550 newton meters
Power transmission: Eight-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 9.9 seconds.
Top speed: 160 km/h
Vict: 2,644 kg.
Dimensions: (length/width/height): 4896/1930/2036 mm.
Award: from SEK 869,900