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By Jonathan Crouch

The Ineos Grenadier Commercial might well be the ultimate 4x4 van. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 31

We like the Ineos Grenadier SUV. But we can't help thinking that the car is actually at its best in this Commercial van form. Here, we're going to tell you why.

Backgroundword count: 170

For some van customers, only the very toughest kind of workhorse will do. These are people like farmers - or builders who work in the muddiest and most extreme kind of construction. For them, even a 4x4 pick-up might not really be tough enough. But this model might well be; the Ineos Grenadier Commercial. You might be dimly aware of the Ineos Grenadier. A luxury SUV inspired by the original Land Rover Defender and built by a company created by UK entrepreneur Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ineos always knew it wanted to build a commercial version of this design and at the launch of the SUV model in 2023, also introduced a 'Utility Wagon' version - essentially a five-seat crew van. In 2024, the brand bought us a proper two-seat van version, this Grenadier Commercial. It's built in the same French Hambach factory as the SUV, but then gets shipped to the UK where the commercial conversion is carried out by British engineering firm EDC Ltd. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 235

Nothing's changed about the drive experience with this Grenadier Commercial of course, compared with the usual SUV version. Which means that there is the usual choice of BMW-sourced straight six cylinder 3.0-litre engines - a 286hp petrol unit and the 249hp diesel that all customers of this LCV will choose because it offers more torque (550Nm vs 450Nm). These powerplants are marshalled by eight-speed auto transmission and you can switch between 2WD and 4WD on the fly, with High and Low range available in 4WD mode. 0-62mph in the diesel we tried takes an academic 9.8s, but of much more significance are the off-road stats, aided by a hefty 264mm of ground clearance, which allows for 800mm of wading depth. The approach angle is 35.5-degrees, the departure angle is 36.1-degrees and the breakover angle is 28.2-degrees. There's 9-degrees of front axle articulation and 12-degrees of rear axle articulation. Off-road traction is outstanding, but the knobbly BF Goodrich K02 all-terrain tyres that partly facilitate that make an awful din on the highway. And the lack of self-centring steering at the heavy helm and the restricted turning circle are things you might initially struggle to adapt to. Towing capacity is the legal maximum of 3,500kg, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Maximum Gross Train Weight is a class-leading 7,000kg - which allows this Ineos to be loaded to its maximum, but still tow a 3.5-tonne trailer.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227