Ineos Grenadier SUV Many Want in the U.S. Is Finally Here: Would You Buy One?
Many U.S. fans of the British Ineos Grenadier SUV have been hoping that somehow, some way, it would come here. Well, that time has finally come, and the first Grenadiers will hit our shores by Thanksgiving. Now that it’s here, are there really that many ready to actually buy one? There are reasons why they may not, starting with the price.
There are 18 Ineos dealers in the U.S. ready to accept and sell the first batch of Grenadier SUVs to customers. The company says it has over 7,200 firm orders so far. Made in Hambach, France, those 7,200 have spec’d their vehicles and are waiting with bated breath. Today, Ineos dealers are contacting customers to finalize sales.
How much is an Ineos Grenadier SUV?
“Back in May, we announced pricing and opened up the order banks,” executive vice president Greg Clark told Automotive News. “We’ve had a really positive response as we moved from reservation to pre-order. Each one of those customers has not only built their Grenadier, but they’ve elected when they’d like to take delivery.”
Being a commercial vehicle built outside of the U.S. means the 25% chicken tax applies. And that pushes up the price to $73,100 for the base model. Stepping up to either the Trialmaster or Fieldmaster ups the price to $80,790, which includes shipping.
Does the Ineos Grenadier look identical to an old Land Rover Defender?
That’s $60,000 less than, say, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, but the Grenadier isn’t close to being a G-Wagen. Comparing it to a new Land Rover Defender, prices start at $53,500 but can go past $115,000 for the top 110 V8 Carpathian Edition.
The draw for the English SUV is its boxy upright body signaling the much-loved body-on-frame Land Rover Defender 4×4 of yore. Restored Defenders cost far more than the Grenadier’s $80,000 price tag. And though there are differences in the overall proportions between the two, it is obvious that the Grenadier design is pretty much a direct copy. Those differences fall mainly with the body being not as tall as a Defender’s and a few other smaller details.
What engine powers the Grenadier?
Underneath, it relies on a solid ladder frame with live axles front and rear and progressive coil springs. But under the hood is where things go in a different direction from the Defender. A BMW six-cylinder replaces the four-banger oil burner of the Defenders. So it’s a complete Euro affair with the parent company in the U.K., built in France, with a German powertrain.
The BMW 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder can be had either as a gas- or oil-burner. In diesel form, it features 245 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. The gasoline version packs 281 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Both spin a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. The low range comes through a Tremec two-speed transfer case.
Besides the price, there is also an issue with service. At 18 dealers in the entire U.S., buyers will need to be within a certain range when it comes to warranty work or recalls, not to mention general service. But we expect that for most buyers, this inconvenience won’t sway their purchase intentions.
