Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Fieldmaster (2024 - )

The Ineos Grenadier has been making a statement for some time now with its rugged design and go-anywhere ability. Now, there is a Quartermaster version that brings open-back, pick-up practicality to the mix. It’s 545mm longer than the station wagon and can only be sold as a five-seater double cab.

While there’s no mistaking its identity, this version is ideal for any busy building site with an open-back payload area that can accommodate a standard-sized Euro pallet.

Customers can choose between petrol or diesel powertrains, and as well as the entry-level Quartermaster, there are additional trim levels called Fieldmaster and Trialmaster. But one thing is guaranteed whichever model is selected – the price. That’s because the Grenadier Quartermaster is anything but cheap with prices starting from £66,230 and increasing to £73,730.

We opted for the top-of-the-range Ineos Grenadier Fieldmaster for our test drive and, with options factored in, the cost crept up to £84,028.
 

The Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster is a vehicle that’s hard to ignore. It’s big, it’s loud and it’s quite unique in its styling too. There are circular headlights, chunky wheels, privacy glass, side steps, grab handles, pop-out Safari windows, a snorkel, along with an interior like no other vehicle.

Climb aboard, with the aid of those side steps and grab handles if necessary and you are met with an interior that would be more suited to a fighter jet cockpit. While most modern day cars are ditching physical controls in favour of touchscreen-based technology, Ineos has adopted the absolute opposite approach.

There is a bank of switches and dials on the centre console, along with further controls on the aircraft-inspired overhead panel.

There is a compass, along with dials for the heated seats, climate adjustment, fans, audio volume, plus a large gear selector with a separate lever for off-road settings, with additional terrain modes controlled by overhead switches. 

There is a ‘toot’ button designed to warn cyclists of your presence rather than scaring the living daylights out of them with the standard horn. And a 12.3-inch touchscreen offers access to the on-board features. There is no sat nav as Ineos believes users connect smartphones these days for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – an assumption we agree with. But you do get Pathfinder off-road navigation included as well as a premium sound system, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and lots more.

The black and grey leather seats not only look great, but they also offer good support and can be heated against the winter chill.

But on a more practical note, the interior can be hosed down with a plug in the floor for the dirty water to drain away.

Powering our Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Fieldmaster was a 3.0-litre,  six-cylinder petrol engine sourced from BMW. With 286PS and 450Nm of torque, the vehicle, which weighs in at 3.5 tonnes, can complete the 0-62mph dash in a most impressive 8.8 seconds and maxes out at 99mph.

The acceleration through the eight-speed automatic transmission is well-timed, but it’s worth mentioning that this vehicle is far from refined. It’s loud, bouncy and not the smoothest to drive.
But it does have its own individual charm and is unique in its looks and the way it drives, which certainly takes some getting used to. That’s because this permanent all-wheel drive model has a steering set-up that takes forever to re-centre and it isn’t helped in the slightest by the 3.85 turns lock-to-lock and quite woeful 14.5-metre turning lock. A three-point turn is out of the question unless you are on an airfield!

So, that’s the moans and groans done with, let’s get to something positive about this Ineos, and there is a lot to be fair. Although we didn’t venture off-road on this occasion, we have experienced the Grenadier’s capability away from the Tarmac and it matches Land Rover’s most robust models.

Our road route incorporated fast-moving dual carriageways, where the vehicle cruised with ease at 70mph, but it also proved capable and well-balanced when faced with twisting country lanes. The steering is unusual but, after about 10 minutes, it almost becomes natural(ish).

Then with work away from the Tarmac in mind, there are all the traditional off-road drive modes such as Lock, Low and High range at your disposal.
 

The Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster is a big old beast designed to conquer the roughest, toughest terrain. It stretches 5,440mm in length, 2,146mm wide (including mirrors), 2,019mm tall with a wheelbase of 3,227mm. But the important stats to would-be buyers is its wading depth of 800mm, approach and departure angles of 35.5 and 22.6 degrees respectively and it has a ramp breakover angle of 26.2 degrees. 

The Quartermaster is a four-door pick-up with a payload area that is 1,564mm long and has a weight limit of 835kg. Our test model featured 18-inch alloys that added £1,690 to the final price-tag along with chunky BFGoodrich tyres that looked like they could carry this vehicle almost anywhere.

Cabin space inside the Quartermaster impresses with ample room up front for a couple of taller occupants. Rear space has been slightly compromised though in order to maximise the payload length. Taller passengers will find the leg room is a tad limited and the vehicle has a large transmission hump that any middle seat passenger will have to straddle. Additionally the seat backs are quite hard with zero padding, so rear passengers could end up with sore knees.

Back doors are replaced by a drop-down tailgate and the spare wheel has been moved to the side of the payload area as a result. If you do intend on carrying a pallet, the spare will need to be removed though as it impacts on the storage width.

Elsewhere, there is a glovebox, wide door bins, a deep central cubby, trays, plus front and rear cup holders to store bits and pieces.
 

The entry-level Grenadier Quartermaster costs £66,230, while the Trialmaster and Fieldmaster versions are both priced at £73,730. Our vehicle featured numerous options such as 18-inch alloy wheels, an Inky Black contrast roof, a HALO Red Ladder frame, full LED exterior lighting with high beam, Safari windows, locking wheel nuts, a pick-up bed liner, a load bay mounting bar, heat reflecting tinted windows, a fixed tow ball and electrics, raised air intake and Rough Pack that included front and rear differential locks plus BFGoodrich tyres. These options saw the final cost climb to £84,028.

So, anything but a budget vehicle and the news doesn’t get any better when it comes to the day-to-day running costs either. The combined fuel economy of just 18.9-19.6mpg will mean regular trips to the petrol station, plus the carbon emissions figure of 325-336g/km is not exactly for the environmentally-conscious.

Luckily, as a Light Commercial Vehicle, the tax rate is fixed, so the first-year cost would be £345 plus a £55 first registration fee.

But the news is not quite so good for anyone looking to buy the vehicle for work purposes as it is in the highest 37 per cent Benefit in Kind tax bracket. And it will prove expensive to insure too as it also sits in the highest group – category 50.

For added peace of mind, the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Fieldmaster comes with a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty package as standard.

Ineos is definitely a brand that divides opinion and the addition of a pick-up to the line-up will gain lots of attention, especially as it still possesses all the off-roading ability. The interior certainly has a marmite effect on users – if you despise vehicles that are too touchscreen dependant when accessing on-board tech, this could be worth exploring - it’s the complete opposite with physical switches everywhere.

Then, there’s the driving experience and, in particular, that steering set-up. Don’t expect to get to grips with it quickly, it takes time. But the system has been designed to improve off-roading performance.

And then there’s the price. Will people realistically shell out in excess of £70k and then use the vehicle as a workhorse? We doubt that.

So, that leaves us wondering where Ineos will get its sales from. Only time will tell., but we liked the vehicle and hope it is given a fair shot at success.