The Land Rover Defender Classic is nothing short of an off-road icon. Born in 1948 as the Series I and evolving into the Defender name in 1990, it was the go-anywhere vehicle for farmers, explorers, militaries, and adventurers across the globe. With its boxy shape, aluminium body, and rugged ladder-frame chassis, the Defender wasn’t built for comfort; it was built to conquer everything from the African savannah to Arctic tundras with a no-nonsense philosophy.
What made the Defender legendary wasn’t just its terrain-taming capability, but its simplicity and toughness. It was a mechanical workhorse with unmatched character, beloved for its utility and honesty. Whether it was transporting aid in war zones, climbing volcanic slopes, or appearing in James Bond films, the classic Defender earned its place in automotive history as the ultimate utilitarian 4×4 off-roader and retains that reputation even today.
Ineos Grendadier – Overview
The INEOS Grenadier’s origin story begins with INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s idea for a utilitarian 4×4 to replace the original Land Rover Defender after its discontinuation. Frustrated by the lack of a suitable replacement, Ratcliffe conceived the Grenadier concept over a pint at his favourite London pub. This led to the formalisation of the project and the eventual development of the vehicle, which retains a similar appeal to the Defender while incorporating modern technology and capabilities.
INEOS set out to build a modern Defender alternative and nailed it. The Grenadier is a pure-bred, purpose‑built off‑road machine, aimed squarely at explorers, adventurers, and anyone who values capability over fluff. Born from British grit, shaped by BMW engineering and Magna craftsmanship, and made to thrive in the harshest conditions, this is 4×4 in the raw and purest form today.
Ineos Grenadier – Design
The Grenadier wears old-school boxy styling, echoing the original Defender, Land Cruiser, and G‑Wagon, yet it owns its own rugged identity. It’s built like a tank: beam axles, long-travel coil springs, steel frame, and minimalist fender flares. Its purposeful stance and chunk of a front end announce its intent, ready for almost anything you throw at it.
This is a ladder-chassis SUV, available as a five‑door wagon or a Quartermaster pickup, which is truly epic. The exterior appeal of this SUV is incredibly tasteful and would appeal to anyone who’s into this sort of rugged SUVs.
Ineos Grenadier – Interior
Inside, it’s all analogue, tactile, and washable with big buttons, toggle switches, a toggle-equipped overhead panel, and waterproofed surfaces. You won’t find gloss finishes or ambient lighting, but you’ll find Recaro seats, glove‑wearable controls, and a 10.25‑inch touchscreen with navigation. This is the cabin of an expedition-ready vehicle, not a city cruiser.
The sharp-eyed bimmer fanboys might also be able to notice the BMW gear shifter, which we’ll explain in the next part of this article, yet it looks very strange to see a sporty BMW shifter in a heavy-duty off-roader. Al things considered, this is a very convincing and rugged interior.
Ineos Grenadier – Powertrain
The INEOS Grenadier is powered by a choice of two BMW-sourced 3.0-litre inline-six engines proven to be extremely reliable and engineered for serious off-road work. The petrol version produces 286 horsepower and 450 NM of torque, delivering smooth yet responsive performance across varied terrain.
For those prioritising low-end pulling power, the diesel option offers 249 horsepower and a strong 550 NM of torque, ideal for towing and technical trails. Both engines are mated to a BMW ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, which explains the BMW shifter inside the cabin, working with a full-time 4WD system, a 2-speed transfer case, and a locking centre differential with optional front and rear locking diffs, ensuring relentless traction and durability no matter how extreme the conditions.
Ineos Grenadier – Pricing In the UAE
The starting price for a new Grenadier is AED 299,000, according to INEOS Grenadier UAE, which is a “blank canvas” for customisation, or a fancy term for base model. The Grenadier is offered in Trialmaster and Fieldmaster versions, with prices ranging from AED 299,000 to AED 300,000 with up to 5 years of warranty, putting this vehicle head to head with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Land Rover Defender, and the Ford Bronco.
Ineos Grenadier – The Perfect Durability Solution
The Grenadier isn’t for the uncommitted; it’s a tool, a warning, and a dream rolled into one chunky SUV. It doesn’t care about interior luxe or smoothed-out road manners. It cares about durability, capability, and doing what full‑blown purpose‑built machines do best. In the UAE, where desert challenges mix with luxury expectations, it hits a sweet spot with a premium utility vehicle with real teeth.
But someone living with a family of 3-5 might not be suited to live with this vehicle and would be much happier with a Nissan Patrol. The Grenadier was built as a pure successor to the Defender Classic.
