Testing a Grenadier

[Dan ineos]

Hi, I am a new member here since last night.

I have been studying the Grenadier and finally got the chance to drive one for a couple of hours last week - Station Wagon gasoline. It was 90% on road.
And then did a few 8s in the dealerships parking lot with a Diesel.

To put in context, I am currently driving a 2020 Defender 240S Diesel 2 liter 250HP.
With that in mind, the gasoline Grenadier felt incredibly lazy and underpowered (on the road), especially when starting from stop.
Then on the highway on the way back it felt ok-ish going back and forth 90 to 130.

I always thought that 2liter 250HP was not enough for the size of a Defender and was convinced that 3liter gasoline should be perfect, yet...
Am I missing something?
And second observation, the steering was quite discombobulating, as all reviews say. However the dealership had installed on one car some sort of gyzmo that you normally put on motorcycles and that made it 100% ok IMHO.
Going to try the Diesel next week.

 

[trobex]

Hi, I am a new member here since last night.

I have been studying the Grenadier and finally got the chance to drive one for a couple of hours last week - Station Wagon gasoline. It was 90% on road.
And then did a few 8s in the dealerships parking lot with a Diesel.

To put in context, I am currently driving a 2020 Defender 240S Diesel 2 liter 250HP.
With that in mind, the gasoline Grenadier felt incredibly lazy and underpowered (on the road), especially when starting from stop.
Then on the highway on the way back it felt ok-ish going back and forth 90 to 130.

I always thought that 2liter 250HP was not enough for the size of a Defender and was convinced that 3liter gasoline should be perfect, yet...
Am I missing something?
And second observation, the steering was quite discombobulating, as all reviews say. However the dealership had installed on one car some sort of gyzmo that you normally put on motorcycles and that made it 100% ok IMHO.
Going to try the Diesel next week.

Diesel is the pick IMO. Fuel economy alone will thank you! If you want the Grenadier to 0-100 in 7.5sec, not going to happen.

 

[Dan ineos]

Diesel is the pick IMO. Fuel economy alone will thank you! If you want the Grenadier to 0-100 in 7.5sec, not going to happen.

EXACTLY that was my feeling while driving around the parking lot with the Diesel for 5 mins, that's why I am going back next week to test one overnight.
Of course I am not expecting any miracle but it felt really lazy compared to the Defender. That does not mean I am not going to buy one anyway

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Hi, I am a new member here since last night.

I have been studying the Grenadier and finally got the chance to drive one for a couple of hours last week - Station Wagon gasoline. It was 90% on road.
And then did a few 8s in the dealerships parking lot with a Diesel.

To put in context, I am currently driving a 2020 Defender 240S Diesel 2 liter 250HP.
With that in mind, the gasoline Grenadier felt incredibly lazy and underpowered (on the road), especially when starting from stop.
Then on the highway on the way back it felt ok-ish going back and forth 90 to 130.

I always thought that 2liter 250HP was not enough for the size of a Defender and was convinced that 3liter gasoline should be perfect, yet...
Am I missing something?
And second observation, the steering was quite discombobulating, as all reviews say. However the dealership had installed on one car some sort of gyzmo that you normally put on motorcycles and that made it 100% ok IMHO.
Going to try the Diesel next week.

It’s not built to be quick off the line - just steady on the climb. What shocks me is more the even power delivery through all gears and rev bands. It’s just a grunt. That’s what it’s built to do and be. It just goes to work. People who want G’s off the line or sharp cornering should not buy one. Wrong set of criteria and missed expectations.

 

[ForceV4]

Hi, I am a new member here since last night.

I have been studying the Grenadier and finally got the chance to drive one for a couple of hours last week - Station Wagon gasoline. It was 90% on road.
And then did a few 8s in the dealerships parking lot with a Diesel.

To put in context, I am currently driving a 2020 Defender 240S Diesel 2 liter 250HP.
With that in mind, the gasoline Grenadier felt incredibly lazy and underpowered (on the road), especially when starting from stop.
Then on the highway on the way back it felt ok-ish going back and forth 90 to 130.

I always thought that 2liter 250HP was not enough for the size of a Defender and was convinced that 3liter gasoline should be perfect, yet...
Am I missing something?
And second observation, the steering was quite discombobulating, as all reviews say. However the dealership had installed on one car some sort of gyzmo that you normally put on motorcycles and that made it 100% ok IMHO.
Going to try the Diesel next week.

Porsche 911 may be a good alternative. Lots of acceleration with the petrol engine and the steering is quite well combobulated.

 

[Dual Grenny Guy]

Like others have stated, these are not built for speed or cornering. That’s not its purpose. Owning a Defender you should know this. However, I don’t find them “incredibly lazy and underpowered (on the road)”. Now it’s not like my Tesla Model S Plaid or BMW M5 comp obviously, but when I give it gas it promptly goes IMO as much as a 6k pound vehicle needs to. I may need to pass someone with no issues, but I’m not winning a race in it.

You also mentioned “the steering was quite discombobulating”……I own two now with one lifted 2.5” with 35” tires and the other completely stock, and both drive/handle very smoothly. Maybe we just have different outlooks on what steering should feel like.

Good luck in buying one either way (if you decide to), but I would like to ask a serious question as you are a Defender owner. Do you ever feel sad that you didn’t get to go drive your Defender? I didn’t leave my house this Sunday and honestly felt lonesome for my Grenny’s! So much so I had to go sit in one and start her up and explain to her that no worries tomorrow/Monday we have plenty of errands to go run!!! #truestory

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Like others have stated, these are not built for speed or cornering. That’s not its purpose. Owning a Defender you should know this. However, I don’t find them “incredibly lazy and underpowered (on the road)”. Now it’s not like my Tesla Model S Plaid or BMW M5 comp obviously, but when I give it gas it promptly goes IMO as much as a 6k pound vehicle needs to. I may need to pass someone with no issues, but I’m not winning a race in it.

You also mentioned “the steering was quite discombobulating”……I own two now with one lifted 2.5” with 35” tires and the other completely stock, and both drive/handle very smoothly. Maybe we just have different outlooks on what steering should feel like.

Good luck in buying one either way (if you decide to), but I would like to ask a serious question as you are a Defender owner. Do you ever feel sad that you didn’t get to go drive your Defender? I didn’t leave my house this Sunday and honestly felt lonesome for my Grenny’s! So much so I had to go sit in one and start her up and explain to her that no worries tomorrow/Monday we have plenty of errands to go run!!! #truestory

My 8 year old talks to mine (Baron Bigglesworth - or “Biggles” to his friends and family) all the time. Not to any other car.

 

[Dual Grenny Guy]

My 8 year old talks to mine (Baron Bigglesworth - or “Biggles” to his friends and family) all the time. Not to any other car.

Your son obviously has great preferences already at 8yoa on autos and nickname’s!! Don’t know if he got part of the name from Austin Powers or not, but it’s simply glorious!! He picks better names for vehicles than I do!!! and “Biggles” for “family and friends”….thats just over the top hilarious and awesome at the same time!!

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Your son obviously has great preferences already at 8yoa on autos and nickname’s!! Don’t know if he got part of the name from Austin Powers or not, but it’s simply glorious!! He picks better names for vehicles than I do!!! and “Biggles” for “family and friends”….thats just over the top hilarious and awesome at the same time!!

Thanks - it’s a “she.” She says she’s part cheeky monkey and part pirate, which sounds about right for the surprise baby of the bunch. Yeah, you got the Dr Evil reference. The Baron did try to toss her out of the back by swinging the door open (that damn sticking button on the door handle), but they have since reconciled. And no, she hasn’t seen Austin Powers - we’re still on Bluey and Ben and Holly.

 

[DoubleDoom]

I chose the petrol over the diesel. Petrol is quieter and more refined and I found the acceleration fine. Although the diesel has a pleasant roar. It is a big heavy vehicle. Its 0-62 time is only about 1 second behind a comparable defender. LR have a wider range of engines and the turbo can give an initial boost. However, it has a lag. Very noticeable on LR/RRs for over a decade. i.e. you slow to a roundabout or just about stop before pulling away again and there is a lag before the LR/RR kicks in and then it lurches. You can adapt your driving style to get around it but the IG does not suffer that.

I went with petrol as I don't do much mileage and there are no motorways and hardly any dual carriageways in our county. So, DPF burns are not easy to do. Plus, the last three LR/RR all had EGR valve issues and I didn't want the faff with ad-blue. Yes, the petrol gives less MPG but with petrol being cheaper than diesel and no cost of ad-blue, then its not really that much different in cost. If I did more mileage, I would lean towards the diesel.

Dealers often run the tyres at the upper end PSI (heavy load). If you run them that high with light load, you can find it moves around a bit. Also, if you are the type that grips the steering wheel rather than relax on the wheel, you may feel you wander a bit. The more you relax with the steering, the better it is (if you find yourself constantly correcting on a straight, then let go of the wheel and you will find it continues straight - it's not wandering. you are making it wander) You certainly do not need any after market hardware unless you are looking to take some of its ability away to make it more of school run car.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

I chose the petrol over the diesel. Petrol is quieter and more refined and I found the acceleration fine. Although the diesel has a pleasant roar. It is a big heavy vehicle. Its 0-62 time is only about 1 second behind a comparable defender. LR have a wider range of engines and the turbo can give an initial boost. However, it has a lag. Very noticeable on LR/RRs for over a decade. i.e. you slow to a roundabout or just about stop before pulling away again and there is a lag before the LR/RR kicks in and then it lurches. You can adapt your driving style to get around it but the IG does not suffer that.

I went with petrol as I don't do much mileage and there are no motorways and hardly any dual carriageways in our county. So, DPF burns are not easy to do. Plus, the last three LR/RR all had EGR valve issues and I didn't want the faff with ad-blue. Yes, the petrol gives less MPG but with petrol being cheaper than diesel and no cost of ad-blue, then its not really that much different in cost. If I did more mileage, I would lean towards the diesel.

Dealers often run the tyres at the upper end PSI (heavy load). If you run them that high with light load, you can find it moves around a bit. Also, if you are the type that grips the steering wheel rather than relax on the wheel, you may feel you wander a bit. The more you relax with the steering, the better it is (if you find yourself constantly correcting on a straight, then let go of the wheel and you will find it continues straight - it's not wandering. you are making it wander) You certainly do not need any after market hardware unless you are looking to take some of its ability away to make it more of school run car.

You’re right - lag on the turbo is great (thank goodness, given the nonsense I put mine up to off-road), and I think the transmission and smooth power delivery are fantastic - no hesitation and the shifts are almost imperceptible. It would be hard for me to have any major criticism on that front.