The Ineos Grenadier is one of the more recent additions to the SUV market, inspired by the traditional ladder-on-frame construction of traditional SUVs like the Land Rover Defender. 

In fact, Ineos product designer, Toby Ecuyer, cited that the Grenadier was designed with the intent to serve as a ‘modern interpretation’ of a pre-L663 generation Land Rover Defender.

For Australia, the Grenadier comes in various configurations, which can include:

• Grenadier (entry-level)
• Trialmaster: focused more on off-road ability, with features like an external tow hitch, fender snorkel, auxiliary battery, and standard BFGoodRich all-terrain tires 
• Fieldmaster: the ‘luxury’, road-comfort focused variant, with standard alloy wheels, leather upholstery, and premium sound system 
• QuarterMaster: a four-door ‘ute’ or quad-cab pickup truck, first introduced from 2023 onwards 

But it’s important to highlight that Ineos offers almost limitless customisation of equipment and accessories from stock, meaning no two Grenadiers will exactly be the same specification on the used market. 

Under the bonnet, all variants of the Grenadier utilize some form of BMW’s B-Series six-cylinder turbocharged gasoline/diesel engines (B58/B57), paired with the familiar ZF eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. 

As more examples enter the secondhand market at very attractive prices, some may ask whether this is an SUV worth considering and what could go wrong with these, especially when compared to some of its more well-established rivals from Toyota and Land Rover? 

What goes wrong with a used Ineos Grenadier?

Exterior issues:

Being a fairly new brand, some teething issues were reported among early models, largely seals that might not be water-tight. These can include the outer door seals, the seals for the safari windows, and the drain hose for the roof. 

Ineos did issue a service bulletin for this, and many owners report not experiencing any problems since. 

A few items around the outside have drawn complaints about poor ergonomics, such as the door mirrors, which are fairly small and can make visibility a bit more difficult (though no more than in typical boxy SUVs). 

If you are towing loads or if visibility is still a concern, there are extendable side mirrors available. 

Some also report fairly delicate windshields that can be easily chipped, but they’re by no means as frequent as the internet makes it appear to be. Check owners’ groups for advice on solutions like rubber seals or protection films, or just make sure your insurance covers windscreen replacements; some owners have reported OEM replacements can cost up to $800 to $1300.

The washer nozzles are known to clog up – this was due to excessive sealant applied from the production line, but a quick replacement unit can easily resolve them. 

But these minor complaints aside about the exterior, we struggled to find any other serious issues; currently, we found far more compliments about the Grenadier, especially from owners who previously came from equivalent SUVs from Toyota, Nissan, and Land Rover – with many complimenting Ineos nailed the utilitarian character and styling, with a modernized approach. 

One thing highlight about the Grenadier when comparing it to some of the equivalent 70-Series Land Cruisers is that it comes with a lot of features that normally require aftermarket parts. Features like front/rear recovery points, rear track correction, a tow bar and tow wiring harness, and even auxiliary spotlights all come pre-installed. 

Plus, as a modern interpretation of a ladder-on-frame SUV, it comes with more up-to-date amenities within its rugged styling, such as sound deadening, a dual battery system with integrated pre-wiring (and pre-installed fuses/switches), as well as tire pressure/temperature monitors for the differentials, coolant, and transmission.  

One minor thing we’d mention is the infinite customization Ineos offers these from the factory – the sheer amount of standard equipment, along with bolt-on accessories, can be a bit overwhelming and make comparing examples on the used market time-consuming. 

Interior issues:

The inside is a perfect combination of rugged cabin construction, as you expect from other utilitarian SUVs. but with far better fit/finish and general feel over more traditional models like the 70-Series Land Cruisers. 

Even among the hard plastics and general wear of the interior trim/panels, many Grenadier owners report these are proving to be very resilient, as well as the inclusion of a lot of mechanical, physical buttons that inspire confidence to use, and that everything has a purpose. 

The only minor gripe some may have could be the electronic gear shifter design carried over from the BMW family, which feels a bit inconsistent compared to the rest of the rugged cabin design language, but this is purely a preference by-case basis. 

There are a few ergonomic weak spots that have been reported by owners, but these are largely minor inconveniences – like the positioning and support of the driver’s foot rest.

Early examples had a very lackluster air conditioning system and are the most frequently complained-about item from owners, ranging from erratic temperature settings to a lack of air flow from the vents. 

Some technicians mention that replacing a hardline seal to fix leaks often resolves this, but it’s worth noting that Eneos upgraded this HVAC system altogether for those made after 2025. 

In addition, there are reports of dampness within the passenger footwell, which is a known design flaw that causes air conditioning condensation to collect in this area (but not a leak). This can easily be resolved under warranty or by fitting better insulation for the HVAC pipes. 

Also, a source of complaints among early Grenadiers is the factory infotainment systems, which experience the usual gremlins of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/Bluetooth/GPS navigation dropping out or throwing up faults. More recent software updates, as well as a hardware upgrade, rolled out for models 2024 onwards have improved its stability. 

Just as with the exterior, be prepared to be spoiled for choice on what these headunits can offer, combined with what features and options are available on the inside – it’s a high chance no two Grenadiers will be the same specification on the secondhand market. 

Mechanical issues:

A pressing concern some may have with Ineos still being a fairly new company is after-sales support. 

Despite some initial teething issues, many owners report good experiences, citing express shipping for parts to remote areas, combined with local Ineos dealers in Australia going above and beyond to assist customers as best they can. 

Engine:

3.0L Turbocharged Petrol Six-Cylinder (BMW B58)

Compared to its application in other BMW models, it’s worth highlighting Ineos has detuned the version used in the Grenadier, meaning there’s less strain put on the engine. 

Internally, it’s quite robust, but it is a bit concerning that a lot of the ancillaries are located on the outside of the engine block. 

Oil leaks caused by the oil filter housing is a very common issue, which causes both coolant and oil to leak externally and internally, mainly on models from 80,000 km and above. 

The oil filter is also known to be especially fragile, crushing internally or disintegrating when you take it out. As mentioned with other modern BMWs, it’s worthwhile to upgrade to a good quality filter and change it at least every 10,000km.

This engine uses a heat management module, which is essentially another way to say a thermostat (but far more complex). It’s a very clever unit, but uses a lot more moving parts – including rotary valves, servo-style actuators, and various seals/O-Rings, all of which are prone to failure on very high mileage examples (~150,000 km). 

To replace these components, a lot of the surrounding engine bay parts have to be removed first, like the intake manifold. But an upside is that while you’re removing these parts, it might be worthwhile to replace them, such as the aforementioned oil filter housing. 

The cooling system is also made out of plastic, extending to components like the bypass pipes and expansion tanks. Our advice is to prepare to replace any one of these cooling system components after 100,000 kilometers. 

The VANOS solenoid (magnetic actuators) can also leak oil, or seize altogether, then not actuate as normal. These are located at the rear of the valve cover, meaning once again – access will be an issue when these need replacing, though we’re told its a bit easier to access in the Ineos compared to most BMWs. 

Also at the rear of the engine is the timing chains, which will require a full engine and transmission removal. 

3.0L Turbocharged Diesel Six Cylinder (BMW B57)

The B57 turbodiesel utilized in the Ineos is a single-turbo configuration unit, and is also detuned compared to other examples you’ll find in modern BMW models. 

So far, it is also proving to be very reliable, helped in part by the fact that they don’t use a valvetronic system (fewer items to go wrong).

Higher mileage examples can experience some known issues, namely plastic inlet manifolds collecting soot, which then lead to the swirl flap linkages and actuators failing.

As with modern common rail diesels, EGR and DPF issues are all to be expected to keep an eye out for. 

But note that usually, it’s not the DPF at fault originally – it’s usually one of the supporting systems. For example, the MAP sensors can clog up, which can lead to said DPF issues.  (which should be removed and cleaned with every other service.)

The same applies to the turboboost pipes or intercooler leaks that can also bring up  DPF complications.

Specific to the B57 diesel engines, some owners have mentioned that they are very well aware when it’s doing a DPF regen, others report smelling fumes when it’s being done, or complain the fans run permanently – you shouldn’t be too worried, regardless, as this is just how the system operates. 

As we mentioned with other diesel powertrains, to reduce the likelihood of DPF failure and to ensure the regeneration process is done properly, do occasional drives at highway cruising speeds, especially after routine oil changes/scheduled maintenance. 

Transmissions:

All Grenadiers use an eight-speed automatic transmission made by ZF – a familiar component shared with other vehicles utilizing BMW powertrains. 

As mentioned with previous vehicles, it’s quite reliable, provided it has been maintained to schedule and looked after well; in addition to not being used hard, which could lead to transmission overheating problems. 

Drivetrain:

Very early models were criticised for their steering setup; while it was made with its traditional, old-school SUV roots in mind, many complain of its vagueness and lack of feel, combined with being reluctant to self-centre and a very poor turning circle. 

Ineos addressed these criticisms for models produced after 2026, adding a variable-ratio box to improve the turning circle and steering feel. 

Also, it’s worth highlighting that unlike other SUVs like the 70-Series Land Cruiser, which operates its part-time 4WD with six gears in high range, and only four in low-range, the Grenadier has a full-time 4WD system through its eight-speed ZF automatic that can be used in both low/high range. 

Should you buy a used Ineos Grenadier?

Even though it’s still a fairly new model, you can expect prices for secondhand Grenadiers to begin from around $85,000, with more recent models topping out around $125,000. 

To drive, many praise the Grenadier for striking a great balance between genuine refinement and go-anywhere ruggedness. The ride/handling is not as truck-like as other commercial-grade SUVs in this segment, but many prefer this over a tall driving position that makes these more livable on regular roads, with a very silky powertrain that gets it confidently up to speed. 

Many converts from the familiar SUVs of Toyota Land Cruisers/Prados and Nissan Patrols even highlight that the Grenadier has proven to be one of the best vehicles they owned, uniting modern comforts to a utilitarian platform you expect of SUVs in this class. 

While these haven’t depreciated as much as their equivalent Japanese SUVs, we believe, like other niche vehicles, the secondhand values for the Grenadier could rise as more realise how well-built and solid these SUVs are, combined with a dedicated owners community and support from Ineos higher-ups. 

Hence, now might be the best time to buy a Grenadier used, before the market drives up the prices to far more premium values – provided it passes a pre-purchase inspection and history check confirming it has a spotless history.