2023 Ineos Grenadier price and specs

Ineos Automotive has delivered on its promised $84,500 (before on-road costs) price point for the new Grenadier 4×4 – a clean-sheet spiritual successor to the original Land Rover Defender.

It has also kept its promises to charge a modest $1000 premium for the five-seat Station Wagon over the two-seater Utility Wagon, and remains committed to helping owners who prefer DIY maintenance.

UPDATE November 10 at 12.51pm: This story originally ran on April 29, 2022, but prices have since jumped by up to 14.8 per cent or $13,000, with the company saying it’s had to pass on spiking energy, materials and transport costs. The price table has been updated with the latest.

There will be three spec levels: the base entry point, more hardcore Trailmaster, and more luxurious Fieldmaster. There’s also an options and accessories list as long as your arm.

Order books open from May 18, with Australia currently a top-three global market for reservation holders. When first models arrive in late 2022, they’ll line up against the iconic Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series family, its closest contemporary.

2023 Ineos Grenadier price and specs — Base

The Grenadier is the brainchild of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire engineer and chairman of multinational petrochemical giant Ineos. No expense has been spared on his passion project.

The official story says Ratcliffe was hanging out in London’s Grenadier pub in 2017, bemoaning Land Rover’s decision to kill the old Defender and replace it with the more modern and luxurious new SUV model.

Ineos Automotive Australia will be a factory-backed operation rather than an independent licensed distributor, with Australia considered an important launch market with a large audience of “hand-raising” workers and recreation lovers lining up and engaging already.

The company will support the launch of its rugged 4×4 in Australia with 28 retail sites, many of which will fittingly be based in areas beyond the city limits. Among the launch partners are dealer groups, but also 4×4 specialists and even agricultural equipment dealers.

The company has appointed Justin Hocevar to head up its Asia-Pacific operations, who previously ran Mini Australia and Renault Australia, and was a senior executive at Jaguar Land Rover and BMW Motorrad.

Production Grenadiers are going to be built at an old 210,000 square-metre Mercedes-Benz (Smart) plant in Hambach, France, since purchased by Ineos. Since 2019 the plant has received a claimed $770 million AUD in upgrades, funded by both Mercedes-Benz and Ineos.

The bespoke development vehicles were built by Magna in Austria, and underwent a widely covered and public torture-testing program.

Pricing

There’s no haggling, with Ineos using an ‘agency model’ with set pricing. The company will control inventory and pricing, and pay dealer partners with a “straight-forward commission”, much in the style of Mercedes-Benz and Honda.

A deposit payment of $5000 – refundable until the vehicle contract is signed – secures a build slot.

Ineos Grenadier Utility Wagon

Base: $97,000 (up 14.8 per cent or $12,500)
Fieldmaster Edition: $107,400 (up 12.5 per cent or $11,905)
Trailmaster Edition: $108,525 (up 13.6 per cent or $13,030)

Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon

Base: $98,000 (up 14.6 per cent or $12,500)
Fieldmaster Edition: $109,525 (up 13.5 per cent or $13,030)
Trailmaster Edition: $109,525 (up 13.5 per cent or $13,030)

All prices exclude on-road costs, and the Grenadier is exempt from luxury car tax

Engines

Ineos will charge the same for the straight-six diesel and petrol options, both of which have been sourced from BMW and are codenamed B57 (diesel) and B58 (petrol).

Ineos says these engines, in use across BMW sports cars and SUVs since 2016, have been tested in the Grenadier across 1.8 million kilometres and diverse climates. Effort was taken in the tune to unlock torque down as low as possible, the company adds.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel six makes 183kW of power (3250-4200rpm) and 550Nm of torque (1250-3000rpm) and is capable of moving the Grenadier from 0-100km/h in 9.9 seconds.

The 3.0-litre single-turbo petrol six makes 210kW of power (4750rpm) and 450Nm of torque (1750-4000rpm) and is capable of moving the Grenadier from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds.

Both engines come mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission (codenamed 8HP51 for the petrol, 8HP76 for the diesel), with what Ineos calls a new “heavy duty” torque converter.

All Grenadiers come standard with permanent four-wheel drive (4WD), with low-range accessed through a 2.5:1 Tremec two-speed transfer case.

Matching the class-leaders, the Grenadier will also have a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity.

Fuel efficiency

The WLTP combined-cycle fuel economy for the diesel is a rated 10.3 to 11.8 litres per 100km, while the petrol uses between 13.2L/100km and 15.3L/100km.

Both engines have stop/start, and the diesel also has a 17L AdBlue tank. The standard fuel tank with both engine options carries 90 litres.

Dimensions and mechanicals

The Grenadier is 4856mm long, 1930mm wide sans mirrors, 2036mm tall, and rides a long 2922mm wheelbase. Payload varies by grade between 810kg and 906kg (the ladder for the base two-seater Utility Wagon).

The starting point is a box-section ladder frame chassis with a 12-year anti-perforation warranty.

There are heavy duty Carraro beam axles at each end, paired to five-link coil suspension supplied by Eibach offering nine degrees of front axle articulation and 12 degrees at the rear, and anti-roll bars for road handling.

It also uses traditional hydraulic power steering (13.5m turning circle).

All-terrain tyres supplied by Bridgestone (Dueler AT 001) and BFGoodrich (AT T/A KO2) depending on spec, and Brembo disc brakes, come standard.

Electromechanical Eaton diff lockers front and rear are also available either as standard or an option depending on grade.

Ground clearance is listed as 264mm, wading depth 800mm, approach angle 36.3 degrees, breakover 28.2 degrees, and departure angle 36.1 degrees. Powder-coated skid plates and a fuel-tank plate are standard.

An Off-Road driving mode disengages parking sensors, seatbelt reminders and start/stop, and from a regulatory standpoint we’d imagine this function is only accessible in low-range. The hill-descent control function can brake each wheel independently.

Servicing and warranty

The warranty cover is five years with unlimited kilometres, and roadside assist.

Ineos Automotive recommends a 12-month servicing interval for the Grenadier, or six-month servicing “for continuous use in tough environments”.

As well as servicing Grenadiers at its retail centres, Ineos has cut a global deal with Bosch Car Service centres to cater to more remote operators. “Flying Spanner” techs based in the Australian HQ are also said to be available, if the service network needs help.

For owners who want to carry out work on their Grenadier themselves, Ineos is taking a novel approach by providing online 3D interactive manuals with support from the technical team at HQ a call or a click away.

“The vehicle has been deliberately designed and engineered to be easy to work on inside and out,” the company claims. It bills its “open source” approach, without trying to “ring fence” buyers into its own ecosystem, as a point-of-difference for enthusiasts.

It’s not yet clear what conditions will be placed on DIY owners, from a warranty perspective.

MORE: Ineos plans to support independent mechanics and the 4×4 aftermarket

Safety

Standard safety features include:

Front, side and curtain airbags
ESP with trailer-sway control
Tyre-pressure monitor
Reversing camera and sensors
ISOFIX and top tethers (five-seat versions)

There’s no mention of driver-assist active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking or lane-keeping aids, meaning a five-star NCAP or ANCAP rating looks impossible.

Standard equipment

Base grades

17-inch steel wheels
Full-size spare wheel
Bridgestone AT tyres
LED headlights
LED daytime running lights
LED tail lights
30/70 split rear doors
Roof protection strips and rails
Hydraulic jack and toolkit
Immobiliser/alarm

Cruise control
Recaro cloth and vinyl seats
Tilt and telescoping wheel adjust
Climate control AC (second-row vents for five-seaters)
Heavy duty flooring with drain valves
Loadspace locker and tie-down rings
12.3-inch touchscreen display with rotary controller
Pathfinder off-road navigation system
Wireless Apple CarPlay
Wired Android Auto
Bluetooth audio and phone
Digital radio
USB and 12V sockets
Overhead control panel
Auxiliary switch panel and electrical prep (3 x 10A)

Option packages on base models in two- and five-seat forms include the:

$2875 Rough Pack: Front and rear diff locks, BFGoodrich tyres
$2875 Smooth Pack: Front parking sensors, powered and heated side mirrors, a lockable central stowage box, puddle lamps, door lighting, auxiliary charge points, Thatcham Cat. 1 immobiliser/alarm