Pickup Potential: 2024 INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster First Drive Review

If there’s one vehicle Americans love, it’s the pickup truck.  Shortly after INEOS Automotive released its Grenadier “Station Wagon” (aka SUV), the U.K.-based company (assembling vehicles in France) released its second offering, the Grenadier Quartermaster pickup.

In short: The Grenadier Quartermaster takes the Grenadier SUV and adds a pickup bed. This means loads of off-road capability, a unique personality, and a dose of quirkiness — now with the ability to throw stuff into the back of a truck.

2024 INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster Review

INEOS Automotive is a new U.K.-based vehicle manufacturer which debuted its Grenadier SUV in Q4 of 2023 in North America. Only a few months later, the company is offering its second act, the Grenadier Quartermaster pickup.

This truck, for all intents and purposes, is a pickup version of the Grenadier SUV, complete with the same 3.0L turbocharged BMW engine and ZF 8-speed transmission. It also has the same 4WD system, high build quality, and interior layout.

The wheelbase is 127 inches, however, 12 inches longer than the SUV model.

Exterior Styling: Rugged, Classic, and Still Not a Land Rover Defender

Yes, the Grenadier looks like a Land Rover Defender. In fact, INEOS Group’s CEO, Chairman, and British billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, tried to buy the rights to build the Defender from Land Rover. Rover said no, so Ratcliffe built his own 4×4 with the Defender providing influence.

The Quartermaster’s shape is noticeably different from other pickups sold on the North American market. The appearance isn’t super sleek or marvelously modern. Rather it’s classically shaped and utilitarian-looking. Initially, I thought the addition of a pickup bed made the wheels look too small, but the truck’s looks have grown on me.

Speaking of, this pickup can be had with 17-inch or 18-inch wheels in steel or aluminum alloy. They come shod with 265/70R17 or 255/70R18 Bridgestone Dueler A/T tires.

More aggressive LT-rated BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires are optional unless you get the Trialmaster version, then the KO2s are standard. 

Bedside Manner

The Quartermaster employs a 61.5-inch long and 63.7-inch wide bed. By comparison, a Jeep Gladiator has up to a 60.4-inch by 56.8-inch bed.

There’s no trick tailgate gadgetry on the Quartermaster. It simply folds down and can hold up to 496 pounds.

Unlike most pickups, the Quartermaster carries its spare tire in the bed versus underneath it. While it takes up space, the placement was a conscious decision. A tire in the bed is easier to access than under it, and it’s all about off-road functionality with this rig.

Quartermaster has a class-leading 1,889-pound payload capacity.

The bed offers four bed-mounted tie-down points, and a 400W power takeoff, too. It can be accessorized with a black tubular rack, adding a unique look to the French-made pickup, although I prefer the cleaner look without it.

Slightly Stiffer Suspension

I started our drive in a Britannia Blue Quartermaster. I thought it drove nearly identically to the SUV version, which I piloted over 5,000 miles in the winter 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally. That is until I drove the SUV version again later in the day, which rode softer.

It turns out the Quartermaster comes with heavy-duty springs (optional on the Grenadier SUV) and different dampers. Off-road, you certainly noticed the Quartermaster’s different damping. On road, it wasn’t as apparent, and it still ate up dips and bumps with ease.

If you were towing or had weight in the bed, I’m sure the stiffer, heavy-duty suspension would be a welcome addition.

Off-Road Oriented

All Grenadiers are off-road oriented, including the Quartermaster. It has over 10 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, solid front and rear Carraro axles, a two-speed Tremec transfer case, optional locking front and rear differentials, plus scads of adventure-ready accessories. From rock sliders to lightbars, you can easily make a Grenadier ready for your own brand of adventure.

Our drive through the Southern California desert included an off-road portion that took us through dirt trails with some tight squeezes and easy obstacles. I employed the truck’s 4-low transfer case in a couple places to see how it operated off pavement, but the entire course could’ve been done in 4-high by those of us with off-road experience.

Stout but Finicky 4WD System

The truck has full-time 4WD with an unlocked center differential. Then there’s 4-low with an open center diff, 4-high with a locked center diff, and 4-low with a locked center diff.

Unlike many new 4WDs, the Grenadiers still employ a manually actuated transfer case using a stick shift in an H-pattern, requiring significant persuasion to engage. It’s very mechanical, which aligns with INEOS’ ethos of being mechanical when possible and electronic when necessary. This idea is to have fewer electronic failure points and a greater ability for repair in the field.

Differential locker engagement, which is electric, is handled by ceiling-mounted buttons. I attempted to lock the rear diff before an obstacle, and the diff lock icon began flashing. As I approached the obstacle, the light kept flashing, and I’m not sure it ever engaged.

Disengagement (by again pressing the diff buttons) can also be finicky, as the tell-tale diff light won’t go out until the vehicle sees a difference in wheel speeds — INEOS assures us the diffs “disengaged as soon as the request is made.” Making slight turns on the trail will assist in this.

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There are also off-road and wading modes. These optimize the vehicle for off-pavement performance and up to 31 inches of water-crossing ability, respectively. Both modes activate and/or deactivate a variety of components and sensors for maximum conditional performance, but speeds in these modes are limited.

Grenadiers have their own recipe of button presses, lever moves, handbrake engagements, and starting and stopping to get the 4WD systems to work properly. Things like the grille lights will only function in off-road mode as they’re not D.O.T.-approved for on-road use. They only work up to around 35 mph.

I recommend having the owner’s manual at the ready the first few times you venture off road.

Highway Hauling

On the pavement, the Quartermaster feels refined, solid, and quiet for a pickup. The ride is stiff, but not uncomfortable — this is a truck after all. The boosted BMW powerplant churns out ample power, and it never feels wheezy. The truck will easily cruise at 75+ mph, although the fuel economy is just 14 mpg across the board on premium fuel in optimal conditions.

Off-road handling is predictable. On-road handling is trucklike, as expected. But the most controversial part of the entire Grenadier line is its steering, which is decidedly numb.

Controversial Steering 

Grenadier’s most contentious aspect is the steering. It’s slow, doesn’t come back to center well, and might be generally off-putting, at least initially — especially for those without time behind the wheel of solid axle 4x4s. It takes time to get used to for certain.

This was the case when we drove our Grenadier on the Alcan 5000, although I came to appreciate the slower steering in slippery conditions. You didn’t want “fast hands” on ice. The steering is the same with the Quartermaster.

INEOS, which uses the slogan “Built On Purpose” states the steering is the way it is for a reason: it’s better off-road. There aren’t herky-jerky movements, and the steering wheel doesn’t get kicked back by trail hazards. Potential buyers need to remember that this is an off-roader, not an autocrosser. Don’t expect sports car-like reflexes, but the steering may be a concern for some.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel is fat, chunky, and feels great in the hand. There’s also the famous red “Toot” horn button. This quieter horn is arguably a more polite way to alert people of your presence and is wonderful.

Comfortable, Quirky Interior

The Quartermaster’s front Recaro seats are exceptional with ample support and comfort, whether you opt for heated versions or not. Leather and cloth are available.

I also sat in the back seat on the way from Palm Springs airport to the hotel. The rear bench seats three and is very upright and doesn’t recline. Legroom seemed sufficient.

Fun fact: All Grenadiers have their batteries under the rear seat cushion. The bench’s seatback does fold flat to carry more cargo.

Like its fraternal SUV twin, the Quartermaster can be had with dual safari glass panes above driver and passenger in lieu of a sunroof. The tinted glass panels can be popped up or completely taken out. In the hot 103-degree F sun of the California desert, I wished they offered covers, but INEOS does not.

The dashboard layout looks great but the system has a steep learning curve. The numerous buttons are large so they can be easily operated with gloves. The HVAC is slow to react to zonal changes (head to feet, for example), but the A/C was ample, even in the extreme heat.

Infotainment Issues

The infotainment system and gauges are located in the center stack. They’re difficult to use and pokey to respond. Also, the center-console-mounted dial/button controller combo can be easily bumped by mistake.

The vehicle’s ubiquitous speed warning alert is universally panned. Exceed the speed limit, and it annoyingly clicks at you. You can disable it temporarily, although the option to do so is buried, and you must turn it off each time you start the vehicle.

In fact, many things are hidden within the menu structure. However, basic info such as odometer, fuel economy, range, and drive time can be selected using a button at the end of the turn signal stalk, which is convenient. 

In my 8,000 miles with a Grenadier SUV (Alcan 5000 + driving to Overland Expo West and back), I was overall very happy with the interior, sans the infotainment system, which I still find cumbersome.

A Pricey Pickup

Although pickup prices have skyrocketed over the years, the Grenadier Quartermaster takes it to a new level.

The base Quartermaster starts at $86,900. The uprated Trialmaster and Fieldmaster models start at $94,900.

Part of this stratospheric price is due to the “chicken tax,” a 25% tariff on light trucks imported to the U.S. If you do the math, 25% of $86,900 — the cost of a base Quartermaster — is $21,725 in pure tariff. If INEOS could build this truck in North America, the price might be closer to $65,000.

Orders for Quartermaster started in April, with first deliveries anticipated before the end of the year.

Quartermaster Is a Niche Inside of a Niche

Undoubtedly, there is an off-road pickup niche, and the Quartermaster is a niche inside that niche. Certainly, its distinctiveness will be enough for some buyers to purchase this over the myriads of other midsized trucks.

INEOS has realistic sales targets with Quartermaster — they know it’s not a volume vehicle, but a few niche vehicles are.

A Pickup Purposely Built Outside of the Midsized Majority

This truck won’t battle against the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, or others in the midsized majority. The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X, which costs a “scant” $64,890, is Quartermaster’s closest competitor, at least on paper. It’s also about the price of a base Quartermaster without chicken tax.

The quirky Quartermaster probably won’t woo potential Gladiator buyers away from Jeep. Rather, it’ll likely blaze its own off-road path. In fact, you might call the Quartermaster the anti-Jeep Gladiator.

Ever-Expanding & Exclusive

INEOS is expanding its dealer network to offer more dealers to more people. INEOS hopes those people are looking for a premium, highly capable European 4×4 with loads of functionality and personality — arguably like Land Rover used to. But, a $90,000 midsized pickup is only going to appeal to so many, and INEOS is OK with that.

The Grenadier Quartermaster turns heads, tackles trails, and even hauls some hay if utilized as such. It’s distinct, quirky, capable, and solidly built — especially from a first-time automaker.

However, it’s not without faults and certainly isn’t for everyone. But these qualities give the vehicle clear-cut charm and loads of personality. For buyers with an ample budget, a nearby dealership, and a desire for an adventure vehicle, the Quartermaster ticks a lot of boxes as a midsized pickup for those who desire to be different.