Introduction
The INEOS Grenadier has been making waves in the automotive industry, specifically it goes up against Mercedes G Wagon and the Land Rover Defender luxury vehicles. One of the key features is the diesel engine which delivers 245 hp and a maximum torque of 550Nm from the powerful BMW 3.0L Twin-Turbo Diesel.
Special mention : Comes pre-wired with aux switches in the cabin for multiple powered uses, not many out there have that. Easy to clean, durable surfaces, loads of character, what the Defender could have been.
Needs work : Touch screen a bit laggy, comfort over long motorway distances could be weary, size not suited for cities, cost represents niche presence.
| 245 HP / 4WD | Diesel / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 9.9 seconds | Road Tax €2,400.00 |
| Price: €138,495 | Boot Space 1,152 / 2,035 litres |
Event Director at Orange Works Automotive, Oran Masterson, invited us to a private off road course in the 5 Seat Trialmaster where over the duration of an afternoon we could drive the Grenadier off-road just as intended.
BMW 3.0L Twin-Turbo Diesel Straight-Six Engine
The heart and soul of the INEOS Grenadier is undoubtedly its BMW sourced Twin-Turbo Diesel. This engine combines raw power, efficiency, and refinement. With a displacement of 3.0 litres, this straight-six engine delivers a staggering amount of torque and horsepower. Thanks to advanced fuel injection technology and clever engine management systems, the diesel engine delivers decent fuel economy figures considering its size, weight and daily heavy duty carrying tasks.
The system ensures that the engine produces power evenly across the rev range, eliminating turbo lag, meaning there’s plenty of pull and responsiveness when needed. The smooth and linear power delivery adds to the overall driving experience, making that power delivery smoother and more refined during on-road driving. The only adjustment you’ll have to make is to the steering, where on-road it won’t self centre, it comes into its own off road. This feature is intended to keep your digits safe when steering across uneven and rocky terrain which might whip the wheel quickly, taking your fingers with it. The Grenadier’s recirculating-ball hydraulic steering system takes some getting used to, especially if you haven’t been driving a Series 2 Land Rover for the last 4 decades. The steering needs constant monitoring and at 3.85 turns from lock-to-lock you’ll need to use all of the available steering angle.
Servicing in Ireland is carried out in their Airside location in Swords, Co. Dublin which happens to be close to a major airport if you’re thinking of killing two birds with one stone. It’s conceivable you could drop off the vehicle for its yearly service (or every 20,000 kms whichever comes first), fly out on a business trip and then pick it up on your return. The handover of this giant 4X4 is also just as bespoke, one that is carried out in a Safari style tent on private grounds away from prying eyes where you can spend hours pouring over every detail in peace.
Performance and Capability
The Grenadier conquers steep inclines, effortlessly navigates muddy trails, and has the capability to tow heavy loads without breaking a sweat. Low range gearing is selected via a second gear lever next to the main shifter, it can be ordered with a full complement of 3 locking diffs controlled by an overhead panel of switches and buttons that give full control.
The combination of the engine’s power and the Grenadier’s rugged chassis and suspension system ensures that this off-road beast can cover tremendously difficult terrain and still lets you have plenty of fun with it. Whether you’re crossing rocky terrain, wading through deep water (up to 800 mm), or crawling over challenging obstacles, the Grenadier’s BMW engine provides the necessary grunt to keep you moving forward. The advanced four-wheel drive system further impresses, showcasing its capabilities, distributing power to the wheels with the most traction, ensuring maximum grip and control in all conditions and best of all making an inexperienced off-roader feel confident.
Refinement and Comfort
The five-seat Grenadier Trialmaster offers the most passenger space in the range. There’s 1,255 litres of cargo space on offer and this makes it suitable for family use as well as heavy load duties. It offers a refined and comfortable driving experience, it may not be as refined as a Land Rover Defender but this is the whole point, for it to have a more raw experience, to be a multi talented vehicle in harsher environments than the environs of Dundrum. To add a more sporting experience, there are Recaro seats (heated front seats are a sub 500 euro option) and if you want to carry children on-board, there is ISOFIX in place to keep them secure, and the trim is tough and easy to clean.
When it comes to trim levels, the standard model in its most basic form comes with an equipment list including LED lights, 17-inch steel wheels, climate control, remote central locking, a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a ‘water-resistant’ interior. Which means you can hose it out after a good day spent jumping in and out of it into mucky and dirty trails. It has a raised snorkel air-intake for the engine to easily access oxygen when at the maximum wading depth of 800mm and the Rough Pack, which includes front and rear differential locks in addition to the standard centre one, plus BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres. This model also has the Smooth Pack which means a rear-view camera, extra charge points and heated mirrors.
Interestingly Ineos has developed its own off-road (Pathfinder) navigation system that allows the use of GPS waypoints, you can also save routes and share them in GPX formats. They’ve added a touch of old school with the option of a compass and altimeter. The 12.3” infotainment combines information from the stereo and sat-nav, also the speed, current gear, fuel gauge and tyre pressures. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, too. You can access the settings a number of ways, via rotary controller between the seats, touch screen or buttons on the steering wheel.
The engine’s smooth power delivery and low levels of noise and vibration contribute to a comfortable cabin environment, allowing occupants to happily use it as intended with hard wearing and robust materials and switches. It has been designed primarily to carry heavy and awkward loads, Grenadier quotes enough space in the two-seater version to fit a standard Euro Pallet. For those who may want to accommodate a few more people on-board, the five-seat Grenadier Trialmaster here offers the most passenger space of the range.
The Grenadier’s suspension system, combined with its well-insulated cabin, enhances the raw comfort levels. Whether you’re driving on rough off-road tracks or cruising on the motorway, the suspension absorbs bumps and imperfections, ensuring most of it reduces the harshness inside the cabin. The well-designed seating and ample legroom add to the comfort levels, making the Grenadier a practical and enjoyable vehicle for outdoor adventures.
Conclusion
The BMW 3.0L Twin-Turbo Diesel Straight-Six engine in the INEOS Grenadier is a powerful 4X4 that combines performance, efficiency, and refinement. With impressive torque and horsepower, the engine provides the Grenadier with the grunt to tackle difficult terrain with ease. It’s made for someone who needs to work with a comfortable and capable vehicle which can easily be adapted to a multitude of environments from which to work. It feels very different to other modern 4x4s and this is the whole point.
It’s designed to be a rugged and powerful off-road vehicle, built to cope with extremely harsh environments, and so there are some ‘standard’ items missing such as keyless entry, soft-touch materials, dual touch windows, electronic driver aids, big expensive windscreen wipers (there are wipers but they’re kind of skimpy). You do have the option to customise it as it comes pre-wired for external power sources which you can set up for a multitude of things such as extra light bars or equipment. The overhead panel in the cabin contains the auxiliary switches from which you can easily power on/off your bespoke add-ons. Not many can or do offer this. In the end you pay handsomely for your individuality and rustic powerhouse which ensures it won’t be confused on the school run for your friend’s mum’s whip.
As much fun as it was to take the Grenadier for an afternoon’s fun off road, who is it aimed at? The online trolls who give out about where the new Defender has ended up, or those who are a little more savvy and genuinely would use a winch with a 5.5-tonne capability on a daily basis. It has modernised those traditional Defender elements without making them secondary to the 4×4 itself. It holds onto the past while using powerful and emissions compliant engines paired with utilitarian interiors. The doors of the 20/80 split tailgate open wide to access the 1,152 litres capacity of boot space, pull the 60/40 seats down and you get 2,035 litres but the seats don’t fold entirely flat. A heavy-duty interior means the floor can be hosed down and the water can then dissipate out through a drain hole.
The dash just in front of the driver is solely for warning lights, where the central display is used to show your speed, fuel, gear, temperature and road speed, which is a little confusing as you still tend to look first ahead and then remember all of the useful information is to your left.
Is it perfect for hardcore enthusiasts? If they’re well healed and die hard rugged off-roading fans that need a reliable workhorse, it’s close. It comes ready for you to add many customisable options, it’s characterful and has buckets of off-road capability yet may not be slick enough for the masses who would ensure it’s comfortable survival.