Grenadier vs New Defender

[Mazeman]

This video compares the new Defender with the Grenadier , as well as with the old Defenders.
He mirrors my views exactly.

 

[Lexx]

The new Defender is a plastic fantastic. And reliability won't be great. I would not want to own one out of warranty.

 

[OkGo]

Hahaha lots of people don't want to own the Grenadier out of warranty either - including the entire industry. Try finding someone willing to do an extended warranty on one. Even Ineos won't do it.

 

[Jeremy996]

Hahaha lots of people don't want to own the Grenadier out of warranty either - including the entire industry. Try finding someone willing to do an extended warranty on one. Even Ineos won't do it.

As none of them are out of warranty yet, that is not surprising - there is no data available. ( I was the Financial Controller for a warranty provider many years ago).

 

[OkGo]

As none of them are out of warranty yet, that is not surprising - there is no data available. ( I was the Financial Controller for a warranty provider many years ago).

That makes sense, but even the manufacturer not doing it ?

 

[Jeremy996]

Ineos Automotive is a minnow in car manufacturing terms - I'm sure that most of the issues around speed of response reported in this forum are down to the shortage of bandwidth within the company; too many tasks, not enough people. (And a squeeze on hiring as their burn rate is so high).

Secondary market warranties are not a priority yet, my early build truck hit the road in April 2023, so the fun will start in April 2027, to give them the outside chance of a warranty launch in April 2028!

 

[MattA]

The new Defender is a plastic fantastic. And reliability won't be great. I would not want to own one out of warranty.

New Defenders have been out for over 5 years, virtually unchanged yet still sell like hot cakes
Given the amount of problems with either Defender or Grenadier documented on manufacturer specific forums and Facebook , I and I suspect most would rather a Defender out of warranty over the Grenadier, second hand prices also strongly reflect that

 

[RB60]

I own both. Last July I bought new 25 Defender 110. So far, it has been flawless. I absolutely love the car but it’s my wife’s, LOL. Everything is done so well. As long as it stays reliable, I’ll remain super impressed with it. A lot of the issues have been related to software problems. The Meridian sound system is excellent.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

I own both. Last July I bought new 25 Defender 110. So far, it has been flawless. I absolutely love the car but it’s my wife’s, LOL. Everything is done so well. As long as it stays reliable, I’ll remain super impressed with it. A lot of the issues have been related to software problems. The Meridian sound system is excellent.

How many miles so far?

 

[PalmCoveWagon]

I own both. Last July I bought new 25 Defender 110. So far, it has been flawless. I absolutely love the car but it’s my wife’s, LOL. Everything is done so well. As long as it stays reliable, I’ll remain super impressed with it. A lot of the issues have been related to software problems. The Meridian sound system is excellent.

Which engine did you get in the 110? I’m about to buy an X5 with the S68 V8, which they’re also using in some land rovers. BMW have had an appalling run of V8’s. I feel like the S68 is likely to be the best in a very long time, but the bar is very low indeed. I also own the S58 (M3) and the B57 (Australian grenadier). So I’ll be all-in on BMW engines on 2 continents. I’ll be either lucky or stupid. PS I just sold a AMG M177 V8, which was a joy to own and had zero problems over 7 years. I loved that thing. An absolute fire-breathing beast.

 

[Tenac]

Which engine did you get in the 110? I’m about to buy an X5 with the S68 V8, which they’re also using in some land rovers. BMW have had an appalling run of V8’s. I feel like the S68 is likely to be the best in a very long time, but the bar is very low indeed. I also own the S58 (M3) and the B57 (Australian grenadier). So I’ll be all-in on BMW engines on 2 continents. I’ll be either lucky or stupid. PS I just sold a AMG M177 V8, which was a joy to own and had zero problems over 7 years. I loved that thing. An absolute fire-breathing beast.

I miss my X5 M Comp..... that S68 is amazing motor and can make some quick power with very little $ or time..... I thought just the OCTA trim got the BMW V8 and it is the N63 not the S68.

 

[Lexx]

Which engine did you get in the 110? I’m about to buy an X5 with the S68 V8, which they’re also using in some land rovers. BMW have had an appalling run of V8’s. I feel like the S68 is likely to be the best in a very long time, but the bar is very low indeed. I also own the S58 (M3) and the B57 (Australian grenadier). So I’ll be all-in on BMW engines on 2 continents. I’ll be either lucky or stupid. PS I just sold a AMG M177 V8, which was a joy to own and had zero problems over 7 years. I loved that thing. An absolute fire-breathing beast.

Wow. And yet the AMG M177 hot V is the one motor everyone who supposedly is "in the know" complains about lol. I was thinking about picking up a GLS63 and shied away after reading all the complaints about the plastic components becoming fragile and needing tons of labor to fix. It goes to show you every manufacturer has good and bad.

 

[bemax]

The warranty issues with the Grenadier will be more of this kind of questions:
- does the manufacturer still exist in five years?
- is there a reliable dealer/workshop within 100 km?
- you name it….

If the workshop information would be free and spare part procurement is possibly for any garage than the “fear” wouldn’t be that big.

 

[PalmCoveWagon]

The warranty issues with the Grenadier will be more of this kind of questions:
- does the manufacturer still exist in five years?
- is there a reliable dealer/workshop within 100 km?
- you name it….

If the workshop information would be free and spare part procurement is possibly for any garage than the “fear” wouldn’t be that big.

I feel like there’s growing momentum in sales. I saw 3 on the road in coastal San Diego yesterday. All of them looked badass with different mods. I feel like the visibility is beginning to drive cachet and that they’re becoming quite desirable in affluent US markets. I also see a few every day in regional Australia where mine is. And the 2026 has addressed some of the drawbacks so it’s just a better vehicle than it was 3 years ago. I’m cautiously optimistic that grenadiers are sufficiently ‘a thing’ now that sales will grow. That said they do need to fix access to service. I’m pretty sure the effort to lock us in to the dealer network is a deliberate strategy to grow the network and that it must be a contractual obligation. It’s the only way their behaviors make sense.

 

[C-Mack]

Starting to see more on the road as well and most are well kitted out to the point of you could call them “Catalog Cars”. It’s strange as more people customize their rigs they all start looking the same. Kind of like in High School when everyone starts copying each other styles or the big jacked up trucks craze with the same wheels, lifts, vehicle wraps and bolted on accessories.

 

[Tazzieman]

It’s strange as more people customize their rigs they all start looking the same. Kind of like in High School when everyone starts copying each other styles or the big jacked up trucks craze with the same wheels, lifts, vehicle wraps and bolted on accessories.

"Let's dare to be different , just like all our neighbours"

 

[mcdoogs]

I’ve had 2 new defenders, combine about 80k miles. My grenadier has 9k and has needed to go back to the dealer (200 miles away) more often than the defenders combined. Leaks, hvac, software updates, and a snapped transfer case cable (there is no way on gods green earth this should ever happen, but im not the only one even on this forum. Dealer said they’ve replaced a bunch).

Idk, i think grenadier owners shouldnt be throwing ‘reliability’ stones at the new Defender. It’s a great car, and especially the P300 on 18 inch steelies (rip) with the offroad pack its at least as capable offroad stock as the Grenadier while being much better in every objective driving dynamic on road. My guess is most people who are talking shit, as usual, havent actually really driven them especially offroad. The grenadier is cool but its very far from perfect and its immature and unnecessary to trash the Defender to make it look better. Us consumers benefit from having both available on the market. Who knows how long that will last

 

[vtgrenadier]

I’ve had 2 new defenders, combine about 80k miles. My grenadier has 9k and has needed to go back to the dealer (200 miles away) more often than the defenders combined. Leaks, hvac, software updates, and a snapped transfer case cable (there is no way on gods green earth this should ever happen, but im not the only one even on this forum. Dealer said they’ve replaced a bunch).

Idk, i think grenadier owners shouldnt be throwing ‘reliability’ stones at the new Defender. It’s a great car, and especially the P300 on 18 inch steelies (rip) with the offroad pack its at least as capable offroad stock as the Grenadier while being much better in every objective driving dynamic on road. My guess is most people who are talking shit, as usual, havent actually really driven them especially offroad. The grenadier is cool but its very far from perfect and its immature and unnecessary to trash the Defender to make it look better. Us consumers benefit from having both available on the market. Who knows how long that will last

I couldn't agree more! And I feel like this is a recurring (albeit defensive sounding) post: after owning two new Defenders over four years and about 50,000 combined miles, I did nothing but oil changes and basics at a local indie shop (the nearest dealer is 3.5 hours away). My P400 110 is in my top 3 favorites of all time and went further on trails than any of the dozen 'classic' Defenders/Series I've owned over three decades, likely the result of the confidence it instilled (i.e. no worry about sprained thumbs on a whipping steering wheel; diff locks; etc).

The Grenadier has 5,000 miles over the last year and the jury's still out, with all of the usual complaints (door locks need replacement from sticking, HVAC, and steering pump). No one will touch it locally and, like LR, the dealer is nearly 4 hours out.

 

[CRH]

I couldn't agree more! And I feel like this is a recurring (albeit defensive sounding) post: after owning two new Defenders over four years and about 50,000 combined miles, I did nothing but oil changes and basics at a local indie shop (the nearest dealer is 3.5 hours away). My P400 110 is in my top 3 favorites of all time and went further on trails than any of the dozen 'classic' Defenders/Series I've owned over three decades, likely the result of the confidence it instilled (i.e. no worry about sprained thumbs on a whipping steering wheel; diff locks; etc).

The Grenadier has 5,000 miles over the last year and the jury's still out, with all of the usual complaints (door locks need replacement from sticking, HVAC, and steering pump). No one will touch it locally and, like LR, the dealer is nearly 4 hours out.

Problem with the comparison is that LR have been producing, developing and refining it's vehicles for decades, Ineos are new. If anyone expected near perfection from the first attempt they were deluded. What I have is what I expected to get, ultimately underneath is a solid vehicle compared to LR products.
Nobody will touch the Ineos yet as they are still very new and they can't get access to all the required information, which is a bad move from Ineos let alone illegal in most places.
The idea is you will eventually be happy to have an Ineos out of warranty whereas you wouldn't with a new LR.
A friends boss has a new Defender. Windscreen cracked about 3 times, now it's on over 100,000 miles and had to be crane lifted onto a relay vehicle as it wouldn't move. Last time I asked it had been stuck in the LR dealer for 2 months with no idea how to fix.
1 example but it's also the only one I know