It’s easy to get bogged down in the issues that invariably surface in a new vehicle from a new manufacturer. I have my share of them with my Grenadier. But today I found myself thinking about the things that Ineos did very right with the vehicle. Everyone probably has their own set informed by their own experience. This is my top 5:
1. The exterior design. I feel like the collaboration with Magna paid off huge dividends in the look of the SUV. It’s familiar enough to show its spiritual ancestry, but different enough to be unmistakable to my eye. I describe it as, “A G-Wagon and a classic Defender snuck off for a wild weekend, and this was born the following spring.” The flat surfaces don’t just look great, but they are useful for holding things, as pictured.
2. Selecting BMW and ZF for the powertrain. The B58 has impressed me every mile to far. Though de-tuned for longevity, it feels more than sufficiently powerful. The transmission never hunts for gears, and power delivery is smooth.
3. Analog interior ergonomics. The switches bring me joy. I feel like I’m in control of the systems because of the tactile feedback. It feels vintage and purposeful to me, and is not just eye candy but a continual joy to engage with.
4. Towing capacity. Unlock most off-roaders who sacrifice payload and towing capacity for rock-crawling ability, the Grenadier is a better-balanced workhorse for me. It gladly tows my boat loaded with gear, without breaking a sweat. This wasn’t the case with its competitors that I have owned.
5. Seating. This might be controversial, but I love the seating in the Grenadier. The leather feels premium, it’s comfortable for multi-hour drives, and there is nifty exterior seating on the front bumper corners which is also handy. All-around happiness with seating.
These are the first 5 things that come to mind that I would have them do again the same way. My list could go on (luggage capacity, rain gutters, stadium seating, etc.) but those are my tops.
Anything that you especially love about them and wouldn’t want to change right away?
1. The exterior design. I feel like the collaboration with Magna paid off huge dividends in the look of the SUV. It’s familiar enough to show its spiritual ancestry, but different enough to be unmistakable to my eye. I describe it as, “A G-Wagon and a classic Defender snuck off for a wild weekend, and this was born the following spring.” The flat surfaces don’t just look great, but they are useful for holding things, as pictured.
2. Selecting BMW and ZF for the powertrain. The B58 has impressed me every mile to far. Though de-tuned for longevity, it feels more than sufficiently powerful. The transmission never hunts for gears, and power delivery is smooth.
3. Analog interior ergonomics. The switches bring me joy. I feel like I’m in control of the systems because of the tactile feedback. It feels vintage and purposeful to me, and is not just eye candy but a continual joy to engage with.
4. Towing capacity. Unlock most off-roaders who sacrifice payload and towing capacity for rock-crawling ability, the Grenadier is a better-balanced workhorse for me. It gladly tows my boat loaded with gear, without breaking a sweat. This wasn’t the case with its competitors that I have owned.
5. Seating. This might be controversial, but I love the seating in the Grenadier. The leather feels premium, it’s comfortable for multi-hour drives, and there is nifty exterior seating on the front bumper corners which is also handy. All-around happiness with seating.
These are the first 5 things that come to mind that I would have them do again the same way. My list could go on (luggage capacity, rain gutters, stadium seating, etc.) but those are my tops.
Anything that you especially love about them and wouldn’t want to change right away?
