Ineos has given the tough Grenadier SUV its biggest update yet, clearly listening to critics saying it drove like farm equipment with number plates. The good news, according to early reviews, is that it is better. The bad is that it still feels closer to an old Defender than a new one.
From launch, reviewers loved the Grenadier’s unstoppable off-road ability but were less kind about the on-road manners. Slow, vague steering and a harsh, work-truck ride were common complaints. For 2026, Ineos engineers have gone straight at one of those weak spots with a new steering setup.
The headline change is a new variable-ratio steering box. Around the straight-ahead position, the steering is now tighter and more direct, aimed at improving confidence during high-speed cruising, lane changes, and sweeping road bends. This should make Grenadier drivers feel less like they’re guessing where the front wheels are pointing.
Early UK drives by local media suggest the changes do help a bit. The Grenadier is said to feel a bit more precise on tarmac, though it still has that slightly odd lack of strong self-centering through the wheel. In other words, there’s progress, but don’t expect Cayenne levels of sharpness.
This thing still rides and steers like a serious all-terrain utility vehicle, because at heart that is exactly what it is. Other updates are more about comfort and compliance. The climate control has been improved to make cabin temperatures more predictable, and the driver assistance systems have been updated to meet the European latest safety rules.
Thankfully, Ineos added a shortcut button to mute some of the more annoying alerts. Also new is the Black Edition, available on both the Grenadier SUV and its Quartermaster pickup brother. Based on the plush Fieldmaster trim, it piles on dark exterior trim, black wheels, and an all-black theme inside and out, presumably in an attempt to court Mercedes G-class fans.
0-liter engines, are entirely unchanged. That’s not something we get to say very often. In the UK, both the MY26 Grenadier and Quartermaster start at £62,495 (around $86,200), while the Black Edition jumps to £71,995 (about $99,300).
In the US, Ineos is sticking with the same approach. Prices remain unchanged, with the SUV, officially called a station wagon, starting at $72,995, and the pickup at $86,395. The Black Editions start at $84,990 and $90,390, respectively, including the $1,995 destination fee.
While Ineos has made some positive changes to the Grenadier's on-road manners, it still feels like a utilitarian workhorse rather than a refined luxury vehicle. The updates are a step in the right direction, but they don't quite match the level of sophistication found in more mainstream SUVs.
