Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster

FIRST UK DRIVE Pick-up adds an intriguing new bodystyle to line-up, but lack of commercial vehicle status limits its appeal

- Dean Gibson

IT has been a tough 12 months for Ineos Automotive. Supply chain issues meant production at the off-road firm's Hambach plant in France was halted for a period, while uncertainty about legislation has seen any plans to introduce new models put on hold. So it remains for the original Grenadier to meet sales targets, which are quite modest in the UK, but have expanded globally thanks to the addition of new markets.

To help boost the car's appeal, the Grenadier Station Wagon is now also being offered as a two-seat commercial model in the UK, while the Quartermaster pick-up adds a second bodystyle to the line-up. It's not a direct rival for models such as the Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok, because it doesn't have a payload of more than a tonne to qualify as a light commercial vehicle (LCV). Think of it as an alternative bodystyle for the 4x4, similar to Jeep's Wrangler-based US market Gladiator pick-up.

The Quartermaster's lack of LCV status is less of an issue now that double-cab models are subject to emissions-based Benefit-in-Kind calculations, but it still means it isn't a VAT-friendly buy for business users - look towards the commercial Station Wagon if that's what you need.