I drove the all-bells-and-whistles variant of the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster 4×4 some time back but never got to the 5-seater Pick-Up version. My fault, but better late than never. So here goes.
How could I not have tested something bedecked in a colour they described as ‘Magic Mushroom’ with Inky Black contrast roof and ladder frame, black 17ins wheels and utility trim?
That mixture got me ‘high’ alright but not in any dangerous fashion; the buzz I got was sitting way up there at the wheel of one of the tallest vehicles I’ve driven for a long time.
The five-seat double cab variant of the Grenadier Quartermaster pick-up is targeted, among others, at specialist vehicle converters and commercial body builders worldwide.
It is also reckoned to be for those needing a rugged go-anywhere 4×4 that can slug it out in conditions most others would not dare square-up to. And given it is a Pick-Up they can bring help – passengers – to where help is needed.
I didn’t try to do anything silly trying to prove a point. I could have taken it up into the Wicklow mountains but felt the rough lower regions were perfectly suitable for an easy enough sojourn. My few off-road spins were nothing compared to the big hitters.
I do know from driving rivals such as the Land Rover Defender/Discovery and Toyota Land Cruiser in seriously trying conditions in far flung America mountains to devilish routes in Europe what it takes to steer through inclines where a minor mis-judgment could have serious consequences.
The Quartermaster’s 3,227mm wheelbase is 305mm longer than the Grenadier Station Wagon, so you are looking at a huge car and driving it on-road brings its own challenges.
So much for the tough side. It tends to be the case, I’ve noticed, with these barraging behemoths that the interior enjoys a high level of comfort, as if to say the roughest thrown at them can’t put passengers off this line of duty.
Underpinning enjoyment of the grip and bite of the test car is the central differential lock and diff locs front and rear as well as a 2spd transfer case. Just in case you need help or can help others, there is a Winch Pack; options also on the test model included their Rough Pack (diff locks as mentioned).
Transferring and coping with all that power from the BMW derived engine diesel engine is the ZF 8-spd automatic transmission, heavy-duty coiled suspension, permanent four-wheel drive and full box-sectioned ladder frame chassis
Front and rear skid plates are there to protect the underside, while the overhead control panel makes you feel like you are in the cockpit of a big jet. More down to earth and well worth mentioning is the fact there is a full-size spare wheel.
Other helpful elements include a rear-view camera, park assist front, auxiliary charge points, LED headlights, the roof rails and protection strips, towing eyes front and rear, all building to a large array of stuff.
You are looking at a lot of deep-tech and cabin comfort. I should mention the presence of wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and intelligent speed assist, I suppose.
Whatever about off-road, this is an entirely different animal on the tarmac. And it is not all good.
Yes, the high driving positional feels even taller and gives a mighty overview of surroundings. In the main, though, I had to work extra hard on countering what they call understeer.
You may not notice it in a small car as markedly as in something larger. It effectively means that the car doesn’t turn in as quickly or easily as you’d normally like or expect on corners and bends. Not alone did that mean having to correct the steering to bring it back into line, I had to be instantly prepared to counter the suddenness of the correction which swung me too close to the roadside for comfort. I got the hang of it but had to be wary at all times.
It is a great bit of work in the main and, as a package, it shows how a vehicle can be constructed using various bits and pieces, such as the engine, and still come up with a strong identity – and all the while providing a base for specialist vehicle converters and commercial body builders around the world.
The sheer size of the vehicle the room in the cabin was a real boon while everyone loved the overhead controls. But I would find the understeering a nagging companion.
