2024 INEOS Grenadier

How does the Grenadier drive? We weren't expecting much from the off-road-focused Grenadier when we subjected it to our battery of road tests. But even by that standard, the results were disappointing. At our test track, the Grenadier needed 8.8 seconds to get to 60 mph, which is well behind the V6-equipped Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender. There's enough power that the Ineos never feels sluggish, but we were hoping for more out of the BMW-sourced powertrain. Emergency braking performance was poor too. It needed 152 feet to come to a stop from 60 mph, which is similar to what we see from a heavy-duty pickup. And that was on the first run; on subsequent runs, that number kept jumping up 10 feet at a time.

Handling is not good. There isn't much grip (0.61 lateral g) and the stability control intrudes frequently. The Grenadier's steering has a big dead spot at the top where you can turn the wheel and nothing will happen. Then when you do get the SUV turned, there are times it won't unwind the wheel and it makes the steering feel unpredictable.

Things improve off-road, where the Grenadier's copious ground clearance (10.5 inches) and good approach and departure angles make it easy to get over many obstacles. Our test vehicle also had locking front and rear differentials that helped provide better traction on a pockmarked hill climb. Still, there's room for improvement. The powertrain can be a bit jumpy while in 4-Lo and upshift too quickly while driving at high speeds on sand.

How comfortable is the Grenadier? The front and rear seats are sourced from Recaro. Though they are only manually adjustable, they are are pleasingly supportive and comfortable. Ride comfort is also good considering the off-road tires and long suspension travel. The Grenadier is unbothered by potholes or road imperfections and sorts them out without transmitting those efforts to the interior. The Grenadier's fixed roof means it doesn't suffer from the same wind noise issues as the Wrangler and Bronco. There's a decent amount of tire roar and coarse engine noises at times, but it's a cabin you can have a conversation in even at highway speeds.

How’s the interior? There's plenty of room for passengers in both rows. Even 6-foot-plus adults will have enough space in back. First-time passengers will likely geek out on the Grenadier's overhead switches that make the front of the SUV feel like an airplane cockpit. They are fun and charming to play with, and functional too.

The Grenadier's touchscreen is mounted high on the dashboard because it has to do double duty as the speedometer, but it remains easy to reach from the driver's seat. There is a panel of warning lights in front of the driver, but it's a mess and if there are a bunch of lights on it becomes hard to decipher quickly.

When driving off-road, the commanding seating position is a huge help. You can see all the way down to the corners at the front of the hood with ease, and there are large glass windows all around. We do wish the side mirrors were larger or shaped differently because there are pretty big blind spots on both sides.

How’s the storage? The cargo area has an innovative opening, with a split gate that allows you to access the back without having to open a giant, wide tailgate like you do in the Bronco and Wrangler. Behind the second row, the cargo room is expansive, with 40.6 cubic feet that expands to 71.8 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The cargo area's load-in height is high but not egregiously tall like it is in the Land Cruiser. Car seats are easy enough to install, with easily accessible top and bottom LATCH anchors and plenty of room.

What the Grenadier lacks is storage for small items. Outside of the glovebox or the smaller center console storage bin, there is no covered storage in the vehicle. The tiny space in front of the shifter isn't sunk, so items you put there will fly around the cabin while you drive around corners. Your phone needs to go in one of the cupholders, unless you have drinks in there, in which case it's going back in your pocket or purse.

Is the Grenadier a good value? The Grenadier's price can seem like a lot to pay for a machine that is so simple by nature and design. Its lack of modern amenities provides a lot of its appeal, but it also means that you're going to be sacrificing some of the stuff that makes competing SUVs more comfortable and capable. That being said, its build quality is a big highlight. We're used to startups struggling in this regard, but Ineos is building the Grenadier at a former Mercedes-Benz plant and it seems to be a very solid machine. And underneath, the protection is robust so you can take it off-road without worrying too much about damaging hanging parts.

Ineos offers a competitive warranty with both basic and powertrain coverage at five years/60,000 miles. At the time of publishing, neither roadside assistance nor free maintenance coverage was offered.

The Grenadier is a vehicle that could only be built by a startup. No established automaker would dare to build a vehicle with either the exterior (an old-school Land Rover Defender clone) or interior (a take on a jet cockpit) that this old-school off-road SUV shows up with. The driving experience is just as old-school as its looks suggest, with its vague steering and lack of modern driver aids. But that's the point! You buy a Grenadier for its undeniable British cool factor that gives it a deep well of charm from which to draw.