 | Home > INEOS Grenadier > Test Driven. |
 
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| Moo Member Since: 01 Oct 2021 Location: UK Posts: 1435  
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I had a deposit down on one when it was first announced but delays and confusion on specs etc. made me withdraw it. When I was lookimg at canging my L663 Defender, I did look at the Grenadier and went and had a good look around one. I liked it but there were too many flaws and the D4 still beat it on practicality and drivability.
I still like the Grenadier, but like the Defender, its too compromised for me and my needs at the moment. Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy. |
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7th Feb 2025 5:18pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2693 
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They seem very varied in the steering, I have driven four over various test drive events and they’ve varied from ‘acceptable’ to ‘terrible’. The worse ones are exactly like a Defender with loose swivel bearings.
Lots of people are keen to claim it’s not an issue and normal for a live-axled vehicle with a steering box but that simply isn’t true. It’s just poor geometry on the steering. I would expect them to resolve it on the first major model refresh, when or indeed if they get to that stage. I should note that the issue would not stop be buying one, but I’d make sure I got a ‘good’ one. The one I drive round the off road circuit at Glen Tanar was nice, as good as my 90 and quite acceptable for a big 4x4 of that type. The one I drove round the road route later the same day was borderline dangerous above 40mph. |
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7th Feb 2025 5:19pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2937 
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There's a company produces a different front grille and replacement for the huge front bumper, without the massive bumper or extra lights and it look so much better.
l think the standard front end looks like an old British Leyland car. l'll try to find the picture of the aftermarket grille/bumper. |
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7th Feb 2025 5:37pm |
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| Julie Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: Nantes Posts: 547  
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But the Grenadier actually is a modern car : small cabin, screen as dashboard, auto gearbox, electronics - only its design plays on the Defender design. It's stylish for Defender owners. So it's even found its way in this forum Toyota, Isuzu, Mercedes are not that stylish for Defender owners but perform better than the Grenadier and similar features. |
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7th Feb 2025 8:27pm |
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| NMBRPL8 Member Since: 07 Jul 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 150 
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Steering seems to be an issue but I can't consider an auto box for my needs.
Put a manual in and I might be able to handle the steering issue. |
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8th Feb 2025 10:07am |
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| steveww Member Since: 05 Jan 2022 Location: Malton Posts: 577 
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I had a similar experience on my test drive. Before the going out in a Grenadier I had really wanted one to replace my Defender 110 TDCi. There are a number of niggles with the Grenadier, none of them individually a show stopper but added together mean it's a no from me.
In no particular order: The strange steering The bump in the driver's footwell No instruments directly in front of the driver The load bay is not flat with the rear seats folded down The load bay sides slope, flat ledges are so much better for packing on camping trips The BMW gear lever Light grey on darl grey dashboard signage is difficult to read No dedicated roof rack mounting points, most vans have these The complicated way to engage/disengage the diff locks The price The fuel economy or lack thereof The weight, same as a small moon Finally, the new Toyota Landcruiser. |
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9th Feb 2025 2:15pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2937
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The Land Cruiser looks great but you can't even order one at the moment because Toyota have closed the order books due to demand.
There's not even a suggestion as to when it will be available. lt's been like this since late last year.  Click image to enlarge |
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9th Feb 2025 2:41pm |
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| jim4244 Member Since: 13 Apr 2014 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 847  
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Steveww - I forgot about the bump in the drivers and passengers footwells.
At the last off road demo day I was invited to I once again questioned why the instrument binnacle / screen was in the center of the dash (reminded me of a Mini dash..) as was told that many potential buyers had already said that they preferred their instruments behind the wheel like in the majority of cars these days. It looks as if Ineos didn't take this onboard? Jim |
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9th Feb 2025 2:54pm |
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| mwestcrew Member Since: 09 Dec 2019 Location: South Warwickshire Posts: 275 
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The lump in the floor was one thing I didn’t have an issue with. 2011 130 Utility Body
2005 110 Van |
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9th Feb 2025 4:43pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3554 
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Like a Tesla 
Maybe that was homage to the Series 1 / 2 instruments? |
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9th Feb 2025 5:12pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2937
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Maybe a central instrument binnacle makes it cheaper to produce RHD/LHD options as there's not as much to change?
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9th Feb 2025 6:10pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3554
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I wondered that also.
The wife has a Tesla (no affiliation with Mr Musk’s personal views, just a willingness of her employer to be carbon neutral) and I think the central screen on that would have been greatly improved by being able to tilt it slightly towards the driver. I mean it can’t take too much engineering ingenuity to do something like that and let it tilt a few degrees either way depending whether it is a left or right hand drive car. The screen would have been greatly improved by the addition of some basic controls without having to scroll through different pages / menus. I actually quite enjoy driving her car but the screen controls are just properly nasty. The satnav in the centre is not where you need it. I really don’t think screens like this are safe. A switch can be operated without looking. A touch screen isn’t as easy. Sorry, that’s completely off topic but I really hate large all inclusive touch screens in vehicles. |
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9th Feb 2025 6:49pm |
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| pjm-84 Member Since: 12 Apr 2021 Location: Hampshire Posts: 668
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I read the Topgear long term review last week and that put me off the Grenadier.
https://www.topgear.com/long-term-car-revi...o/report-1 |
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9th Feb 2025 7:35pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3554
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Thanks for sharing that pjm-84
I thought that was quite a well written article giving both positives and negatives. I think the journalist has one thing spot on. For what it is, it costs too much. |
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9th Feb 2025 8:12pm |
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