INEOS GRENADIER QUARTERMASTER

Young manufacturer's hard-grafting off-roader gains a longer pick-up truck variant

- MATT PRIOR

I wonder whether, if Ineos had launched this Quartermaster variant of the Grenadier first, we would perceive the Station Wagon differently. The 4x4 is sometimes compared unfavourably with swanky SUVs, because it costs as much as them but feels less sophisticated. The pick-up, though, lives in N1 commercial vehicle land, so would a shorter passenger version following it have been cut more slack? And has the Grenadier now found its place as a purer utility vehicle?

The basics of the Station Wagon and Quartermaster are the same, as are their front two-thirds. There's a strong ladder chassis with solid axles front and rear and, as a result, recirculating-ball steering (like in a Suzuki Jimny or Jeep Wrangler), because rack and pinion tends to provoke huge bump steer and wheel kickback when mated to a live axle.

The engine is a longitudinal petrol or diesel BMW 3.0-litre turbo straight six, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, driving all four wheels permanently. There's a lowrange transfer box and a locking centre differential as standard, plus optional front and rear locking diffs.