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View Car InsuranceJames Batchelor puts a determined, utilitarian towcar offering through its paces
What do you do if you want a car that is rugged, utilitarian and prioritises off-road prowess over fashion? Well, you could consider one of these – the Ineos Grenadier. Rivals include the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the recently revamped Toyota Land Cruiser, the Jeep Wrangler, and a whole swathe of cheaper, workmanlike but no-less-able pick-ups – but let’s see how it fares.
There’s a certain blockiness to the design, with the bluff front end, stepped bonnet and rain guttering around the roof’s edge. The bumper confidently juts forwards (allowing for a 5.5-tonne winch to be fitted), while there are ‘Utility Belts’ on the doors and rear wings (which cleverly allow you to attach a whole manner of items to the car, from racks to jerry cans), and the rear doors split 70/30, which is great when you’re hitching up and still need access to the boot.
But that’s just the start. Ineos will sell you a Grenadier in basic specification, giving owners the opportunity to really spec their car to their wishes. An options catalogue – one of the largest I’ve ever seen – contains a whole manner of extra gadgets and includes everything from dog carriers to roof racks that can carry 400kg; you can even spec electrical sockets on the outside so aftermarket winches and light bars can be connected. Aside from the basic spec, there is a handful of other models (all named after Belstaff jackets), that either offer extra luxuries, or, in the case of this Trialmaster, additional off-road equipment. A fixed towbar is £630.
The Grenadier is a proper, old-fashioned off-roader. It has a box-section ladder chassis, beam axles, and a centre diff lock. Go for the £2,370 Rough Pack (which comes as standard on the Trialmaster) and it adds knobbly BF Goodrich KO2 tyres and additional front and rear diff locks. Suspension is coil springs, and there’s recirculating ball steering – more on that later.
Even if you opt for the posher trim levels, the Grenadier has an interior that’s a nice balance between utility and quality. There are a few scratchy plastics dotted around the cabin but there’s also a healthy splash of plusher materials, while the interior certainly feels sturdy. It can also be hosed out, should it get muddy, thanks to several drain plugs in the floor.
If you’re used to the minimalist, touchscreen-heavy interiors of some SUVs, the Grenadier’s button-fest will probably shock you. There are knobs, buttons and switches everywhere – even in the roof, where the bulk of the car’s off-roading functions and auxiliary electrical switches are located. It’s like the flight deck of a Boeing 747!
There’s a sturdy lever for the low-range gearbox and a gear lever sitting in the centre console, while atop the dash is a touchscreen. This 12.3in display works well, has smartphone connectivity, and houses speed and driving information you’d normally find in a cluster behind the steering wheel.
Cubby space is limited, although there is a handy lockable box under the central armrest, but it’s a roomy interior thanks to those boxy dimensions. Back seat passengers sit higher than those in the front, while the boot is huge – 1,152 litres to be precise. As there’s no air suspension to lower the car, loading items takes a bit of effort, and the 60/40 split folding rear seats don’t fold flat.
It won’t surprise you to know that the Grenadier is outstanding off-road. It has the measure of any rival, but while in some cars you might wince as you forge a path through the undergrowth, the Grenadier’s less costly plastic exterior trim (which can be replaced cheaply) gladly bears the brunt of such excursions. The Grenadier is beautifully engineered for off-road life.
On the road and it’s a different story. The off-road focus makes normal driving compromised – that recirculating ball steering, which is so brilliant when rock-crawling, translates into slow responses and next-to-no self-centring. The ride is bouncy and noisy (you can blame that square shape, knobbly tyres, and little sound insulation for this), the rear visibility via the central mirror is poor, and it’s generally a little cumbersome to drive. The turning circle is not great (13.5m lock to lock compared to a new Defender 110’s 12.8m), and the driving position is uncomfortable thanks to a raised section that covers the exhaust outlet.
And yet there is a charm about it. Anyone used to driving an old Defender will find some of these annoyances to be normal, and after a while there’s a strange enjoyment to be found in its driving characteristics.
No complaints about the power, though, as Ineos has bought off-the-shelf BMW 3.0-litre straight-six petrol and diesel units, and eight-speed ZF automatic gearboxes. The engines are smooth and torquey, and, in the case of the diesel, reasonably efficient – I averaged 25mpg over 900 miles and just under 20mpg when towing.
The Grenadier is designed for a working life; indeed, I have seen numerous Grenadiers pulling horse boxes, trailers and other farming machinery in my area. It has a maximum 3,500kg manufacturer’s braked towing limit with a gross train weight of 7,000kg, naturally meaning it can tow the heaviest caravans you’re likely to own. There are no complaints when it comes to hauling weight as that 246bhp diesel is punchy low-down, and keeps on supplying torque pretty high into the rev range.
Despite its dimensions, the Grenadier isn’t put off course alongside high-sided vehicles, and tows straight and with huge confidence. And while the view from the central mirror isn’t great (you can blame the thick pillar between the doors and the spare wheel for this), visibility when reversing while cornering is excellent – the only problem is as a result of the slow responses from the steering and large turning circle, there’s a lot of arm twirling when manoeuvring.
During faster driving trials in Towcar of the Year 2025, the steering’s slow responses did unsettle a little. But back off and work ‘with’ the steering and overall the Grenadier is a pleasant and hugely capable hauler.
If you need a vehicle that is majestic off-road and can tow pretty much anything,, the Grenadier is outstanding. It’s pricey, though, and some rivals deliver a more rounded and easier-to-live-with driving experience. It’s a niche vehicle that won’t appeal to everyone, but for some it’ll be utterly perfect.
Photography by Nathan Morgan