FIRST OFF-ROAD DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: INEOS GRENADIER 4X4

Ineos Grenadier First Impression: UTV Action got a preview of an off-road capable 4×4 SUV that’s  coming to America later this year. The Ineos Grenadier is already in world-wide production, and the Ineos Group is nearing production of Grenadiers for the American market with air-bags and all of the safety and emissions requirements for DOT certification.

 

Grenadiers will come in a base version; a Trailmaster off-road overland 4×4 with three locking diffs, BFG tires on alloy rims, high intake snorkel, and hose-out interior; and a Fieldmater with some off-road capabilities via one locking diff and high-end luxury interior with leather seats. Grenadiers are body-on-frame machines with turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six BMW B58 engines and bodies that replicate the Magma Steyr/Mercedes Benz G-Wagon.

 

Project Grenadier has been developed over six years and tested in Iceland, Africa, Australia, Scotland, Scandinavia, and the USA. As you’ll hear in the UTV Action video, Ineos is the third-largest oil, gas, and chemical company in the world, and majority owner Jim Ratcliff is an avid off-road enthusiast. When the Land Rover Defender went out of production in 2016, Ratcliff decided to start the Grenadier project. Grenadiers came to being in the 17th century, and the soldiers’ job was to hurl hand grenades in battle.

 

Ineos bought a Mercedes Benz plant in 2021 and has 1600 employees producing Grenadiers for the world-wide market. The factory produces around 20,000 Grenadiers a year. They brought 20 prototypes to America and split into two groups to cover the east and west coasts. The west-coast tour started in Houston, Ineos’ home base, to let reservation holders (7,500 have put down a $450 deposit) try out the Grenadier. Rowher Flats was one of the 18 stops the team will conduct in North America.

 

DRIVING THE PROTOTYPE GRENADIER

UTV Action drove a Fieldmaster around a short off-road loop, and the performance was impressive, even with street tires instead of BFGs. Most impressive was the sure-footedness on steep hills, and especially the Hill Descent mode. Flip a switch on the roof panel, and Hill Descent takes over throttle and brakes, leaving the driver to steer and pick lines. It eases down steep hills effortlessly, and speed is controlled by the cruise-control on the steering wheel. Up-down buttons vary speed in 1-mph increments. Grenadiers also have Low-High ranges, and top speed in Low is 35 mph in eighth gear. Approach and Egress angles are very impressive, too.

 

On flatter ground, Grenadiers continue to impress. Power is massive with peppy acceleration, and the EPS assist is excellent with no kickback through the steering wheel when slamming rocks. Ride quality over rocks and mud ruts is very good as well. We had no problems with traction on the moderate obstacles, even with only one locking diff. Grenadiers are super stable and sure-footed on off-camber slopes. Grenadiers have a 45-degree tip-over, and the tie-rods are in front of the Carrara axles, like with trophy trucks. Steering is light because of the EPS and Bosch light-duty truck steering box.

 

 

Inside the cabin, the Fieldmaster is luxurious with super-comfortable heated and air-conditioned leather seats, and the dash panels and over-head controls give an aeronautical feel. Traversing rock gardens at 20 mph, there were no rattles due to lots of insulation and body bushings. Grenadiers also have glass sunroofs over the driver and co-pilot, and they open to vent the cabin, or they can be removed and stowed in compartments in back. Ineos dismissed using air suspension for more luxury, wanting to keep electronics and complexity low.

 

We didn’t get to pop the hood to see the turbo engine, and specs prices will come when Grenadiers see production for the American market. All too soon, our test ride was over, leaving us wanting more. We would love to spend the whole day in the Trailmaster on Rowher’s black-diamond 4×4 trails. Ineos even enlisted guides from Overland Experts to conduct the Grenadier rides. Overland Experts train Navy SEALs, special ops groups, and civilians on off-road and recovery techniques, and the Grenadiers we drove had ignition and fuel cut-off buttons on the console in case a customer lost control. Our guide was impressed with our throttle control and off-road technique, and we were impressed with the Grenadier experience and refined ride.

 

As for future plans, there are none for two-door Grenadiers, but there are plans for a pick-up truck version with a foot longer wheelbase. The BMW B58 inline six produces 235 horsepower via an eight-speed transmission with High and Low ranges and a manual mode, and there are plans for an all-electric and/or hybrid version.

 

See the First Impression video here: https://youtu.be/j__7uEFcB1w