2023 Ineos Grenadier review: Harnessing the Highlands | 4X4 Australia

[@coolstuff8925]

Super review, thank you for your honest and direct commentary Dan - on such a nice drive in all conditions through the gorgeous Scottish Highlands. Brilliant vehicle by all accounts.

[@duncnz9128]

I would love to see a test ,done on a production vehicle , In the Australian Outback , without lots of company reps in attendance , in other words a real world test , muddy tracks in the company of other vehicles on a company day out just doesn't cut it for me .

[@pusejugo]

I like it. Keep the competition going. 💪

[@lunamaria1048]

I respect Ineos for trying to work with Land Rover, before setting off to build a vehicle anyway! My dad has had at least 3 original Defenders and still has one. I purchased a new one when they were released and dad joined me to pick it up. I can't over stress how disappointed my father was, day one. You could feel his disappointment, like a slap in the face. He was soo quiet on the first drive home lol. I could feel the judgement lol. I only owned it for a year. I needed something that was rugged and capable to handle technical trails and not break. I already had a daily driver lol. We are both looking forward to the Grenadier☺️

[@stealthworx4371]

More "advanced" it is the more skeptical I am of durability and reliability. The beauty of the old defender and the land cruisers are their simplicity and reliability.

[@jag5695]

Any modern engine is far from simple, with the requirements to meet emission and efficiency standards and the amount of sensors, I would love to see someone try to repair a LC300 in the bush.

[@KansaSCaymanS]

It is still an order of magnitude less complex than the new LR Defender, and the reality is that no one will ever build something as “simple” (primitive) as the old Defenders, at least not if they want to sell them in Europe, North America, etc.

[@nicholaschip5820]

@@jag5695 He wrote "old".

[@mikefoster7085]

Defender and reliable aren't 2 words I'd put into the same sentence 😆

[@stealthworx4371]

@@mikefoster7085 yeah lol I just love the shape of the old defender so have a soft spot for the horrendous reliability and electrical issues. Their simplicity though means easy to fix if you are handy with cars. One of these new fangled units go tits up and you are truly on the ropes.

[@DxDOverland]

Thanks! The more I see about this vehicle, the more impressed I become. And I own and overland extensively with both a 2007 Wrangler and 2020 Gladiator. As I watched the video, I was wondering where I could mount my CB, GMRS and ham radios. I mean, Ineos has put so much thought into this design, have they considered the mechanical and electrical connections for such gear?

[@Navapex]

Great car and love it, but for $123k+on roads here in Melbourne is well outside my price range.

[@australianmade2659]

Those who ordered early save $20k

[@marineboy6033]

This is far more of a sales/promotional video than a truly objective review - the message is simply too uncritical. In comparison the Harry Metcalfe reviews of the new Defender and the Grenadier are I think are far more successful at presenting a real life perspective. However, it was nicely filmed and produced.

[@toyotahilux2]

I thought the same,not a mention of the lump in the floor that other reviews have said make the driving very uncomfortable for the left leg for 1 thing

[@rexringschott]

Great review. Exciting car.

[@babeyoulove1883]

Starting to love this more and more... Love what I see

[@Unfinished_Thoughts]

I would still buy all day long without hesitation, a 20 year old defender 90/110 with the TD5 for less than half price. Insurance will be astonishingly cheaper and even with maintenance/running costs associated to an already classic vehicle, I’ll still be on top. This car came at a time of worldwide economic recession and with an unreal price tag for North American market while being a new brand without infrastructural support.

[@MothyEmms]

I want one 😍

[@stephencharles6615]

I was looking at this vehicle to replace my current 4X4. I went to the dealership and it looked like an excellent vehicle. Then I sat in it. The seats are terrible. The top of the seat poked into my shoulders and there was no support for my lower back. The seats would probably be good for a shorter person but not for me.

[@TheTripleDubya]

Love it and I’m looking for a new tow vehicle but there seems to be a lot of pricing confusion, how does a mid range two seat wagon that has a couple of tax breaks thanks to its 3550GVM, still manage to be over $115,000 with a couple of basic options and before on roads !? We’re always getting screwed in Australia and it’s getting tiresome.

[@missourimongoose8858]

It's everywhere not just Australia, there are whole lots filled with dodge rams, Chevy Silverado, and Ford f 150 250 350 that are all close to or over 100,000 dollars and I think the market is tired of it, I just got a 2019 tacoma with 40k miles on it for 34000 and that still pissed me off

[@TheTripleDubya]

@@missourimongoose8858 since American trucks have been mentioned and we get them here in Oz, guess how much a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD costs here ? If you guessed $179,000, you’d be right ! Yes they’re expensive there but dear God, they are so expensive here now too ! They used to be around $90 to $100k here when they were $60k there.

[@missourimongoose8858]

@@TheTripleDubya hopefully this nonsense ends soon

[@wilsonmcc1]

@@TheTripleDubyathe horrendous exchange doesn’t help when talking about Euro and US imported cars

[@brunoonraedt3401]

The new Toyota Landcruiser is going to be the best purchase!!

[@dadventuretv2538]

You forgot to mention how because of the electronics under the rear seat (dumb), the rear seats don’t fold flat (dumbest for a “work” offroader). Or that having all your gauges in the center and electronic is not ideal, to put it politely, in an offroader. Or its lack of articulation for a solid front and rear veh because no disconnecting sway bar, or its ok but not great ground clearance, or its tiny tires. It has some good things going for it, like payload and towing capacities, proper body on frame, solid front and rear axles, locking front, rear and center diffs. And many of its shortcomings should be fixable in the aftermarket. But here’s the thing, it’s already going to cost more than Jeep Wranglers, Gladiators and Broncos, and then a lot of those offroad goodies that you mention are extra- just go to a configurator- for ex locking front and rear is not standard until you get to the most expensive edition. So I suspect this is going to cost about $20K more than similarly equipped Jeeps and Broncos. Then there is the whole Toyota Taco and 4Runner crowd who are never switching. I like the Grenadier a lot despite tts issues which all vehs have some and modding a veh to one’s specific needs is part of the fun anyway. But I am afraid that they are pricing themselves out of the US market and that after the initial purchases by people who will buy it regardless of cost, they are going to have trouble selling enough given the proven competition they will face here. Grenadier really need to stop with the vids and get these damn things out there. Went to the DC Auto show this year and they weren’t there. Huge missed opportunity. If they want to sell this year they need to get them out there and not only make it is easy for us to look at then but start getting some sold and in the hands of customers so we can start getting real world feed back. We’ve seen enough freaking vids. I hope they’re doing better down under.

[@mikefoster7085]

The electronics are in a waterproof "tub" under the seat, and it does actually have, in the commercial 2 version a completley flat floor 2m+. They don't want this to be another Bronco/Gladiator, they want it to be a work/overland vehicle not a rock crawler. I may not be for you, but there are plenty it is for.

[@dadventuretv2538]

@@mikefoster7085 first I’ve heard of the tub, cause, you know, here in NA, we STILL haven’t been able to see one in person. But good, although I’d still prefer the storage room and that stuff to go where it normally does, but maybe there’s a good reason to put it there. So the commercial version folds flat but non-commercial does not? 🤷‍♂️ first of all that’s dumb and defeats your entire argument that it’s for the Overlander- who would build a veh like this for overlanding without the seats folding flat? Oh and if it’s for overlanding why the relatively small fuel tank for that with nowhere to put a reserve? But I digress. Second- I hadn’t heard about that either. And this is my point. We’re supposedly months away from these being released and we can’t see them in person and all we’re getting from the press are these commercials posing as reviews that don’t tell us jack. Expedition Overland and a few others that are not press are the only people who have given us any actual, useful data on the thing. And I’m not saying they have to build another Jeep or Bronco, but like it or not they, along with Toyota, are the competitors, especially in the US market. So like it or not, if they want to sell these in the US, they better realize that. Work/overland rig ha? So how big exactly is that market? Yeah JLR sold a lot of Defenders focusing on that market and ignoring the US didn’t they. It’s why they killed it and went the route they did. And at the price we’re talking? When a business can go get a pick up for 1/3 of the cost and slap a canopy on it if they want coverage? Oh and how often is this sector going to turn over their vehs. Sorry but I doubt that sheep farmers and NGOs are going to be able to sustain this thing long term. What about the gov- military? I hope so. A couple large contracts could really help it. But problem is military doesn’t use many vehicles like these any more, although I still think something like this has a place in the military. Look face it- this thing is a great concept and awesome to see someone building a vehicle like this new. But the bottom line is that it is still a billionaire’s vanity project. Ultimately he built a vehicle he wants. So plenty? Who knows? We’ll see sales figures. And I hope so. But stop being so butt hurt because someone raised legitimate issues about some product you happen to fancy. Because it is by us raising these issues that maybe, just maybe, we’ll get them to make it better. For ex if they can make the seats go flat in the commercial version then they sure af can figure out how to do it in the non comm version as well. I can certainly tell you that a bunch of fluff videos and materialistic lemming thinking certainly is not going to.

[@mikefoster7085]

@@dadventuretv2538 I'm not being "buthurt" as you say, i was mearly informing you of the vehicles features that you were unaware of. This vehicle is not aimed at the masses and yes there are some shortcomings and maybe the crew cab may be better suited to overlanding who knows. Either way I will be happy for this to replace my current vehicle when it arrives. You seem to quite negative about the IG, so this may be not the vehicle for you. ✌

[@dadventuretv2538]

@@mikefoster7085 nah. To the contrary. My passion about it comes from my real love for it. But I don’t want to see it fail bc they seem to be failing to account for the marketplace. A lot of great engineering projects have failed because of this exact problem. Right now I think they are looking at 15,000 units a year if they’re lucky. I hope this is enough to keep it going. Also getting tired of these useless fluff pieces. A veh like this is going to be modded by its owners to fit their purpose. For ex I have a lot of rocks where I offroad. I don’t rock crawl, but rocky trails are part of life in the Appalachians. So ground clearance and protection and articulation are key. So I would need to lift it to 35s right away. What’s required? What extensions am I going to need? How high can I go before I affect steering and driveshaft angles? How big tires until a regear is needed? How can I replace sway bar for more articulation? They are far enough down the road to be putting these in the hands of select people (or doing it themselves) and showing the requirements to do this stuff. They’ve done some of these mods to a few units- I’ve seen them. So give us the damn info. I got more info from your comment than most vids or the company. Which I appreciate btw. They really need to move to the next step in the process. Hope when you get yours you make some useful vids of it. 🤙

[@mikefoster7085]

@@dadventuretv2538 I intend to make some video when mine arrives, hopefully in July when the Holland Track is at its muddiest best. Then 2024 is the Canning Stock Route (hopefully) with some like minded IG owners 👍🏼 It's a good vehicle, as they say its not perfect but what vehicle is 🙂

[@jamie_grieve]

How can an Australian review not mention a single comparison or mention of Land Cruisers? Surely the closest competition to it is the 70 series?

[@missourimongoose8858]

I wish a company would make something like this but 100% bare bones so you can add what you need with a starting cost of 25k

[@DMEU77]

As I see it, the bigest looses will take LC 70 & LR because they stopped producing the "real" Defender. But, there is always "but". This vehicel is totaly new, it will be a big risk to buy one and its NOT cheap.

[@australianmade2659]

The parts are proven

[@BigFellaGames]

has it done the simpson desert, cape york or something difficult yet?

[@nnoddy8161]

They have been testing in Australia. None production vehicles are in Australia yet.

[@BigFellaGames]

@@nnoddy8161 So did they test drive the Simpson desert or the telegraph track?

[@nicholaswirth1011]

The simpson desert is in no way difficult. remote yes, difficult no.

[@brandonbrown8653]

I want to see this vehicle do the Canning stock track, then I will start taking it seriously.

[@samhunt9380]

Came for the Toyota fan boi comments. Never disappoint....

[@garyroper7237]

when is there going to be a genuine test of this vehicle,not a course laid out by ineos,everything i see and read is all done under the guidance of Ineos.What are they worried about

[@ml33cg]

probably a really good truck but people who want a Defender will always buy a Defender over one of these even if there not as good functionally

[@duanvogel3684]

People wanted a true LR replacement for the Defender. After drove and experience this, I don’t think the legendary name matters much anymore.

[@Mixos_place]

Is this video an ad?

[@tempestv8]

I was waiting for the negative comments, but didn't hear any. Any balanced review needs to point out the flaws too, not just the positives.

[@Mixos_place]

@@tempestv8 You dont bite the hand that feeds you...

[@valdius85]

"There is no evidence they had to ask for help in virtually any area" - sorry, this is just wrong. Seats, engine, suspension, the factory itself, are all subcontracted or bought for the production of this vehicle. This is a good decision and it allowed this vehicle to be great from first day.

[@starskymedia]

This car is great, but I won't consider getting it for a few years until insurance becomes cheaper, better servicing manuals and instructions, better 3rd party accessories, better understanding of the issues that will come up over time, and better design improvements with the newer updates However, still looks awesome and very exciting addition to the 4wd community. Well done Ineos and suffer in your jocks LR/Jaguar, you are complete idiots for turning your back on the Defender community and just producing a wannabe Discovery, absolutely nothing representative of its Defender heritage

[@pjofurey6239]

The new “defender” is nowt but a handbag full of electronics ….a plastic family sized handbag . Whilst the INEOS has elements of electronics courtesy of BMW , the military would not even consider landrovers city based 4x4 .

[@bomberbolton]

I don’t see how any car could get a ten for build quality after a couple of weeks. Looks great but let’s see after a couple of decades.

[@boderick1]

After a couple of decades lol, will be scrappped. Modern electronics will fail and be obsolete.

[@bomberbolton]

@@boderick1 I’m inclined to agree, meanwhile cars from the 90’s still going strong

[@russellhulley8268]

As an old shape Defender die hard fan, Landrover let us down with the new shape Defender which is in my opinion just another Discovery. Ineos was meant to save the day and take us forward but unfortunately the cost is just a no no for me. If I was to buy a new utilitarian work horse then I would rather buy a Landcruiser pick up with a basic reliable 4.2 normally aspirated diesel power plant at half the price of an Ineos Grenadier. Personally I am rather going to invest £25k in my 2003 Defender 110 TD5. Install a rebuilt BMW M57 engine and a 6 speed automatic gearbox. Rebuild the LT230 transfer case, the front and rear differentials back to like new standards. Rebuild the front and rear suspensions back to like new standards. This will give me an old shape Defender that is mechanically sound and improved with the engine/gearbox upgrade that will give me another 300 thousand kilometers of driving pleasure.

[@GhiaTrang]

ANTHONI GHIA TRAN 😎

[@nicholaswirth1011]

Id take the new defender over one of these any day. Independent air suspension is bloody fantastic on corrugated roads. they now have a large aftermarket fuel tank which holds 174L well and truly enough for outback travel. its like driving an arm chair out west.

[@randalllawkin]

is this available to US customers?

[@DxDOverland]

Yes. I have a friend who has one on order.

[@nnoddy8161]

Yes, but no diesel.

[@KansaSCaymanS]

US deliveries scheduled to start 4th qtr this year, but most are probably already spoken for by those who reserved early with a deposit (like me). 😎

[@No-thing-ness]

Although I think this young fellow was nice; it just seemed like a advert for ineos. We need real critical analysis of the vehicle. $110k he slipped that out with a gulp. What is the warranty? 7 years if it’s that well made. $110 k is the most expensive utilitarian vehicle I’ve imagined. It has come a long way, but still that crappy little plastic screen in front of driver. No head up display?

[@orest395]

Really? This has no speed and rev gauges?

[@TAM-gz5tc]

No high range diff lock, breaking on spinning wheels, this means this truck is not suitable for crossing large soft dunes when travelling to the coast beach fishing. My 1982 V8 landrover is unstopable.

[@sirkildalot8409]

Everyone talks about ‘real world’ tests but then go on to describe playing on a man made bumpy track for no reason other than ‘because it’s fun’. Surely real world is driving equipment and hay over the countryside, mostly on rough tracks not infeasibly silly lumps…

[@yt_Ajay_]

It looks like a Bond car. I just wish it had a proper speedometer behind the steering wheel.. god dammit.. 😖

[@shubhromu]

The is the Defender Land Rover should have made. What a mistake they made.....

[@Douganchesner]

Should have made if they were stupid and didn’t want to make money. They are selling super quickly much faster than supply…

[@manojsaxena9840]

LoL...go-anywhere machine? Show it doing Rubicon Trail in stock form...I will wait

[@covak2002]

No rattles lol yeh okay they have probably glued everything down, Tech looks great but watching the drive hes always looking left and down you shouldn't have to to see speed and so on.

[@offclan2141]

Lost me at no cluster.

[@vitaliysmirnov7158]

Where is dashboard ? This is men’s car. Every men needs dashboard. Am I right ?

[@johnwilliams9710]

Efficient????? 10 -15 mpg, I don't think so 🤔

[@rajpawar9343]

But I prefer new Defender. This one is just too old.

[@scorpio8u]

It’ll flop here in Australia. Will only be a concrete cowboy car like current Landrovers

[@HuntingTime1]

Bet your wrong

[@MothyEmms]

You mean like a 200 series?

[@dalemyers119]

Or 300 series.... or 85% of Dual Cab utes?

[@ianweal3081]

Just like a V8 petrol only option Patrol was going to be a flop here in Oz. Haha. They are selling so well, just as the Grenadier will. I always thought I'd go a new L/R Defender, but the Grenadier has me truly swayed me to rethink my choice. Only reason they won't outsell any other wagon is supply and that will be unfortunate.

[@garynew9637]

Why do manufacturers feel the need to cram these things full of electronic shit?

[@dangdang8106]

Remember the days when your off road car would actually last and be reliable like was able to cross a river or actually do some off roading without having an electronic fail or some alarm chime or have to drive around with a scan tool to wipe error codes.... Can't beat the 4x4s from the 80s and early 90s. This is just over priced garbage aimed at people with more money than brains that would never use half of what's in the car.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

like the the G wagon for rodeo drive or a posh ski resort valet parking

[@MothyEmms]

Yeah, better buy a 79series ay? 😒

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

@@MothyEmms not for sale in the U.S.

[@mrbaaghi1189]

I hope you have a crash in a 80s 4x4 and experience what it feels to have some sense and progress knocked in to your head. If it's expensive then go buy a cruiser at 140k. Or a crappy troopy (your 80s halo car(80k plus) for a basic shitbox. Or a 100k for a toyota Prado with a gutless 2.8l engine.

[@Phil_McAvity]

It’s no good in Australia for “real”touring or even “normal” 4wding 👎

[@cromulentparty]

of course it is. 6 cylinder diesel with solid axles. nothing is better

[@petermills1402]

@@cromulentparty its a good engine but to have AdBlue is a retrograde step, the engine will use about 2L of adblue for every 100km range. Thats another $3-5 per 100km range in addition to fuel.

[@jag5695]

@@petermills1402 rather have adblue than dpf failure and limp mode back home.

[@petermills1402]

@@jag5695 and if the AdBlue runs out and you stop the engine because it is in low power (limp home) mode then you cannot start it until at least 3-4L of Adblue goes back in tank. AdBlue is an added expense for no increase in mileage, thats what I am saying.

[@nnoddy8161]

@@petermills1402 I would like to know where you get these consumption figures from. Source? My understanding is that the BMW B57 uses approximately 1 litre of AdBlue per 660kms.

[@shawtravis7384]

Dan Gardner 'Senior' Journalist - should I be impressed?

[@RadBunny2269]

The B58’s still its weak point. If you buy it new then sure, it may work. But unlike a Landrover or Landcruiser, you can’t own this car for ten years or buy it as a fourth user because then the BMW-esque stuff *really* shows.

[@ggale2721]

The B58 block is used in the Toyota Supra....

[@phillippereira6468]

@@ggale2721 that doesnt mean it has morphed into toyota reliability

[@phillippereira6468]

correct, especially a bmw diesel.. I have had a number of bmw vehicles, and their diesels are merde

[@ggale2721]

@@phillippereira6468 the B58 is gasoline not diesel...

[@ggale2721]

@@phillippereira6468 to be honest. I don't know much about the B57 diesel because I have never owned a car with one in.. However Toyota would not spec an unreliable or unproven engine in one of their high end vehicles... I think its a case of wait and see how it goes...