'Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore'
Andre Gide
We owned a Land Rover Discovery 4 and loved it but when choosing our upgrade we opted for the much discussed and awaited Ineos Grenadier Fieldmaster - Why?
For many, the development of this new 4x4 by Sir Jim Radcliffe has been controversial attracting lots of media attention and even from Jaguar Land Rover. This has been well documented elsewhere and we don't intend to revisit any of this here.
Our post is all about why we chose the Ineos Grenadier as our 4x4 of choice and what we think after taking delivery of our Donny Grey Fieldmaster 18 months ago, then covering 26,000 miles across the UK and Europe. This is not intended to be a professional or expert opinion review of the vehicle.
Why change?
We owned a Landrover Discovery 4 which we bought second hand after I (Michael) early retired (at 62 years) and no longer had my company car. We loved the Disco 4 as it was rugged in external looks and interior design but was so adaptable for using as a family car or as a work horse for all those DIY jobs and trips to the tip š.
We loved to travel and whilst we were both working we had opted for the easier trips either flying or sailing and after owning this great car for 4 years Karen was then approaching early retirement too. We now wanted to be more adventurous and drive to places we hadn't visited before. We could keep the Disco, upgrade to the new model or opt for something completely new.
As a mechanical engineer I was aware that our Disco would start to need some more TLC but in truth I had been following the vision of Sir Jim Radcliffe online and his desire to build a 4x4. I had been following the development of the Ineos Grenadier for 5 years with interest.
Would this provide us with the vehicle we needed to travel long distances, to wild camp and not get stuck in far out places and to still be used as a work horse for those at home jobs? Could I part with our much loved Disco and take the plunge?
What Research did we do before buying the Ineos Grenadier 4x4?
In the early days I subscribed to the Ineos newsletters which was fascinating to read how the 4x4 was developing and being tested using various components.
As soon as invites went out to enable potential future customers to road test the prototype we jumped at the chance and took ourselves off to Glanusk in Wales to meet the team and to give our feedback on the early version. We were not able to drive the prototype ourselves but were able go off road with an experienced driver and give our feedback. This was already offering something different to when we booked an old Landrover Defender off road experience day and was potentially very exciting for things to come.
We had the chance to actually drive and road test the Grenadier off road again a couple of times but this was after we had purchased one and decided this was the car for us. We did take a leap of faith buying a car still in development however, we did feel we had enough information to make our decision. We were not disappointed thankfully.
We were able to place a deposit for a new car way in advance of them being ready which secured us a place in the production queue so to speak whilst still watching the developments and ultimately agreeing the specification for our new build. One of the advantages for being an early subscriber was the price we had agreed was maintained and we did not suffer the consequence of any market changes. We added on the smooth and rough packs to the base model plus a few additional items. The day we collected our Donny Grey Fieldmaster we took the train and walked to the dealership so we could drive back together. It was a gorgeous day and the end of a 5 year wait. We celebrated with a drive through the country and a meal at Peckforton Castle sat in the sun - idyllic!
Why an Ineos Grenadier as our 4x4 of choice? - Here's what we think
As an admirer of the Landrover Defender shape and utilitarian interior I wanted a vehcle offering something similar but definitely with more comfort for touring as well as off roading. I recognise that no one single car will offer us everything and there will be somethings we would change, however, we are really pleased with our purchase.
The following points are my opinion only as an owner and driver. This is not a professional review of the Ineos Grenadier.
These are my likes having owned a Fieldmaster Grenadier now for 18months:
Body Shape - the square, rugged, solid looking exterior with its prominent bumpers and circular lights make it a distinctive vehicle easily identifiable from a distance. Although you don't see huge numbers on the road when you do see one you get ready to let on to your fellow driver as you know you are in an elite club at this time.
Head on View Space - The interior is definitely spacious so there are no awkward knocks into the side doors when you are driving off road which you can get in other off roading vehicles. The slab sides and dual opening rear doors mean the loading room is huge with no loss of space due to a sloping roof. We have tested this numerous times whilst on tour with our tent and bed etc but also taking a full size gardening truck and baked goods to market
Front and Rear Diff Locks - The vehicle comes standard with a central diff lock but we opted for the additional front and rear diff locks to enable us to navigate more difficult terrain off road when needed.
Roof Control Panel Side Steps instead of Rock sliders- this means getting in and out of the Grenadier is easier especially for the more mature but still mobile person (Me š). Using the grab handle is useful too and we now feel we have developed muscle memory so getting in and out we are like a gazelle! Having loaned a Grenadier without either it almost feels like you have to jump out and need a stepladder to get in!
Tinted Windows- these are so beneficial for wild camping, temperature control and privacy. Although when the interior lights are on they negate this privacy you can at least know that when you are sleeping in the back of the car you are not seen and also a security feature for all your personal belongings when camping
Safari Windows came with the Fieldmaster and are great for ventilation and letting in additional light. We've even used them to see when the traffic lights change when they are above the car!
Safari Windows BF Goodrich All Terrain Tyres - These are definitely needed not just for off road driving but when you are driving up mountains, taking hairpin bends or in the ice in Norway you feel confident you will maintain grip and traction
BF Goodrich Tyres Recaro Seats - these add a touch of luxury to the utilitarian style of the car and are much needed on long journeys. We drove for 3500 miles around Europe, many hours a day and didn't get out on any one day feeling saddle sore or tired through sitting.
Recaro Seats Heated Front Seats- a godsend for those early winter mornings or touring Northern Europe at high altitudes
Mechanical switches - I prefer these to the touch screen options but I think thats just me! and yes it has a lever handbrake - Thank You!
Central Console BMW 3.0L engine - coupled with the ZF Gearbox makes for a silky smooth ride and touring a breeze
Social Interaction - It doesn't matter which country we are in or where we stop we regularly have people coming up to us to ask about the car. We've had some really great people come out of their house, stop us in the Aldi Car Park or even in the campsites in Switzerland being very interested. We love this and are always huge advocates for this car.
Robust and Surefooted - Driving the Grenadier gives you confidence in handling different terrains and road environments. We have only touched the surface with ours and know it has a lot more capability than we have tested it for. This was tested in Denmark during a storm crossing the bridge at high wind speeds, our Grenadier remained surefooted
Wild Camping is no problem as the back is large enough to install a 6' removable double bed with under bed storage and still have room to sit up and have our morning coffee. If you would like a pdf plan of how to make the bed please subscribe with your email and add the comment 'BED' below. We make the bed up before we set off and load everything either underneath or on top so its easier when we arrive on the first night ready to sleep.
Car partially loaded with the bed and tent
What are my less liked elements?
Buying an early production model means you may be more likely to have early adopter issues which need resolving. We have had our share of these and have been back to the dealership for fixes. This included the low range gear selector cable, the warning lights on the infotainment screen kept returning false positives requiring computer remapping.
The Steering Lock on my particular model is similar to the old defender and so you have to adjust to it.
The Rear View is very limited due to the spare wheel so you rely on the side mirrors. To improve this some owners are having a dash cam fitted which improves this rear view and acts as a recorder. I also found the side mirrors have a blind spot which is easily resolved using inexpensive adhesive blind spot mirrors purchased through Amazon.
The Firm suspension - means you feel every bump in the road more acutely but remember this is an off road vehicle
The Rear Seats - these do not fully fold to make a flat bed and so this does reduce the available height in the rear which could impact on how the car is used for sleeping in. We have managed to allow for this and have a brilliant space for sleeping in.
Is Our Ineos Grenadier the Adventure Car we Wanted?
Hell Yes!
We have driven now aound Europe and the UK covering 26,000 miles. We have camped at high altitudes in the mountains in sub zero temperatures, by the coast in 60mph winds, in the blazing sun, the pouring rain and our Grenadier has never missed a beat. We have loved every minute spent in the car and will share with you the road adventures we have been on with more to follow.
Look out for our tours to:
Norway
21 days visiting 10 countries in Europe
The Outer Hebrides
The South Coast of England.
I agree we are havng just the best time with lots more planned this year
What a great looking car being used fully for adventures, work and play.