2026 Ineos Grenadier Review: Small Changes Make a Big Difference

Plenty of Americans still might not even recognize an Ineos when they see one on the road. But the off-road and overlanding crowd should know this upstart automaker well by now.

Surprisingly, Ineos can report with pride that after two model years on sale, over 12,000 vehicles now roam the United States. That’s out of 30,000 sold globally after originally launching the Grenadier worldwide for model year 2023.

Now, for 2026, Ineos wants to show that a new automaker believes in listening to customer feedback. For this model year, a new “Black Edition” joins the lineup with the same aesthetic treatment that so many other companies offer.

But more importantly, key mechanical revisions to the whole lineup include a changeup for the ungainly power steering system. The HVAC also received attention, along with a range of other small details, including the driver assistance suite.

Amid news of layoffs and reliability concerns, I attended a media program for the 2026 model year updates in Malibu, curious to gauge whether reps thought this new OEM might even survive. But also, to test whether the anticipated changes will be enough to guarantee a significant uptick in customer appeal.

In short: Ineos made a number of updates to the Grenadier SUV and Quartermaster pickup truck for 2026, most notably by overhauling the steering box in a bid to attract a wider swath of potential customers. The revisions do help, but Ineos also left a few other key areas for improvement on the table.

2026 Ineos Grenadier Review

The origin story of Ineos still sounds hilarious to this day. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe sat in a pub and essentially decided to start a car company out of spite — and a love for the classic Land Rover Defender. To keep that spirit alive, Ineos developed a retro off-roader with minimal concessions to urban life and daily driving.

Now, a few years and billions of dollars later, Ineos stands as the only British OEM founded this millennium. But Ratcliffe also apparently now wants to attract a wider swath of the car-buying public.

Critically, Ineos needs to cater to urban customers, not just the 4×4 enthusiast community. To that end, a facelift for 2026 makes sense. The revisions apply to both the Grenadier SUV, or what Ineos calls the Station Wagon, as well as the Quartermaster pickup truck. However, even off-roaders like myself will understand that plenty of decisions on the original models deserved attention.

Most importantly, that infamous steering system. Ineos originally went with a peculiar recirculating ball steering box that didn’t return to center on its own. The strange sensation works well for most off-roading, but definitely takes some getting used to, regardless of terrain or scenario. And in reality, my own vintage Mitsubishi trucks also use recirculating-ball steering boxes that definitely work much better.

Steering Revisions for Daily Driveability

The 2026 Grenadier and Quartermaster change both the physical hardware and software programming. The power steering box itself still comes from Bosch (which typically sells it to commercial truck companies). But a new worm gear inside the box creates a variable steering ratio.

Envision the 90 degrees around top-dead-center on the steering wheel, or 45 degrees in either direction. Here, the tighter ratio creates a more direct feel and resistance to turning. Ineos then ramped up the power steering assist, so once the driver turns the wheel further, the effort goes down significantly.

In addition to the new worm gear, the steering knuckle receives a smaller stop. This reduces the space for heavy-duty snow chains, which explains the wide turning radius of the original Grenadier and especially the longer-wheelbase Quartermaster.

But Ineos realized how few customers ever used chains. Reducing that clearance space in the name of better maneuverability makes sense. Plus, to prevent damage at full lock, the system also now has a hydraulic stop that kicks in before reaching the full mechanical limit.

Immediate First Impressions: Much Improved

I drove at least four different Ineos vehicles prior to the 2026 drive program. That included an early Grenadier in the UK, which struggled with build quality and functionality issues — as perhaps expected. Since then, the two Grenadiers and Quartermaster I tested in the U.S. consistently improved on similar issues.

But Ineos still reported customers who struggled with the climate system. So, 2026 introduces a revised air temperature blending system, new software for the temperature and fan controls, and even new fan blades to reduce the auditory sound of the system blowing.

Previously, I can admit that I never noticed any issues with the Ineos HVAC system. But maybe I just loved having actual buttons and knobs to use, versus so many digital climate controls on most modern cars, trucks, and SUVs. These major revisions still came to mind immediately while driving in Malibu, though Ineos also claimed over 40 other changes that I noticed far less.

The steering, first and foremost, takes a big leap forward. I started out in a Grenadier, which immediately felt more responsive and stable. At low speeds, the improved precision stood out. Then I accelerated onto the freeway and struggled far less holding a straight line, battling the wind, and tramlining across lanes.

Off-Roading the 2026 Grenadier

Ineos also set up a much more serious off-road course than I expected. Here, the steering still worked well while cranking beyond the middle 45 degrees of tighter ratio. Ineos built the truck to climb hills, traverse ditches, and boulder over rocks and logs. The soft suspension and solid axle articulation still just works. Plus, the improved turning radius made switchbacks much easier to negotiate without multiple-point turns.

While climbing my nose out of a deep mud pit, I found grip by sawing at the wheel better than ever before. When I needed to try again, the backup camera now stayed on in Reverse while in Off-Road mode, too!

Daily Driver Updates

Some of the other, more minor details all add to the daily driveability of an Ineos. The driver assistance programming intrudes far less, with a more subtle brake-based nudge for lane keep. The volume of the speed limit chime also turns down.

Ineos needs to include these features by law, but the FAV button next to the center console knob also now brings up a screen to turn all assistance off.

The additional cameras for this system include eye tracking, which struggled with my sunglasses, and also dictated a new rearview mirror design. But the rimless mirror still doesn’t particularly help with rear visibility due to the split rear tailgate design.

Missed Opportunities for Change

I still believe Ineos overlooked a few other critical details that needed overhauling. Number one — purely aesthetic, I admit — the BMW gearshifter needed to go. Ineos buys the powertrain as a unit from BMW, but plenty of other automakers use the same ZF gearbox with their own shift knob designs.

The BMW unit is the ugliest of all, and looks especially out of place next to the retro perfection of the transfer case’s cue ball shifter, as well as the big and tactile switchgear on the rest of the center console.

Speaking of switchgear, I also wished for a subtle change to many of the button designs, especially on the roof of the cabin for the 4×4 controls. For example, to put an Ineos in Off-Road mode or to lock a diff requires pushing a button and holding for a couple of seconds until the light starts blinking, and then pushing once more. But because of the design, the driver can’t see the light on the button through their own finger.

Inevitably, this leads to multiple attempts to turn on critical functions. Or otherwise, craning necks trying to look around fingers.

Plenty of friends and colleagues I know also want a real gauge screen to replace the icon cluster in front of the steering wheel. I don’t mind this as much as others.

But I also hoped for the introduction of a disconnecting sway bar option to unlock even more articulation from the solid front and rear axles. Two would be great, but I hoped for at least one — or even a semi-active system like Toyota’s KDSS. 

Catering to the Modern Consumer

Instead, for 2026, the de rigueur Black Edition joins the lineup. Black wheels, black trim, and black skid plates all do look good. I do struggle to imagine keeping it clean. And every Ineos looks better when covered in dirt, anyway. But this caters to the urban buyer, naturally.

New Executive Vice President of Americas Gregor Hembrough, who joined the company late last year, told me that dealers reported many customers adding wraps and black trim after the fact. So naturally, Ineos wanted to get in on the action.

Over the course of the day, I noticed that the build quality continues to improve. Ineos seems to steadily eliminate creaks, rattles, clunks, loose stitching, and funky switchgear.

And though I mostly drove a Grenadier SUV, I also begged for a chance to take a Quartermaster out for a quick spin. With the old steering, the truck’s 10-inch–longer wheelbase already added some stability at speed. Now, it drives almost as normally as a typical truck or SUV. And the improved turning radius truly makes an even bigger difference.

I do prefer the Quartermaster overall to the Grenadier, but that comes down to personal taste. Another welcome change specific to the truck would have been to relocate the spare tire out of the bed, where it takes up so much space. Maybe next time around, or hopefully so.

2026 Ineos Grenadier Review: Conclusions

Ineos is still a very new company, and Hembrough rightfully seemed proud that his new firm listened to customer feedback and turned out revisions so quickly. But I also asked about the car company’s potential longevity, given recent news.

He responded with a reminder that Ineos has a parent petrochemical company with annual revenue bigger than Nike and Adidas combined. So he’s confident that despite the rumor mill churning, the automaking wing is here to stay.

While the media program focused on improvements to the Grenadier and Quartermaster, I also asked about future plans. Hembrough revealed the electric Fusilier is not off the table, though he now believes a gas range-extender will fit into the mix.

That sounds awesome to me, especially after driving the electric G-Wagen. In addition, I can confirm that a portal axle variant of the Grendaier, à la the G-Wagen’s 4×4², will come to the United States. And Ineos also wants to eventually build a smaller SUV, but would need to source a frame or share more components to help keep costs down.

As is, the 2026 changes all add up nicely — especially, of course, the steering, which I do believe will help entice many customers on the fence. I do wish pricing stayed lower, but that depends a fair amount on the unpredictable tariff and global trade situation.

And I would love a short-cab, long-bed truck with the diesel, to help with the abysmal fuel economy. I’m admittedly a niche market, though. For the off-road enthusiast and the city slicker alike, the fact that Ineos listened to the feedback and committed to making changes without losing the company’s original spirit seems like a good sign overall.