There’s a way of event once you clamber up into the Grenadier’s surprisingly supportive, heated Recaro seats. For one factor, the driving place is magnificently excessive. In authentic Defender style, your eyeline nearly skims the highest of the aspect home windows (though, in contrast to in an previous Defender, the sill itself totally invitations a resting elbow).
On the motorway, you end up peering down into the cabins of different ‘full-size’ SUVs as you overtake. Visibility is panoramic and the sense of house is heightened by the detachable safari home windows fitted as customary on road-leaning Fieldmaster fashions, as examined right here.
The Grenadier’s designers have chosen to lean into this flight-deck atmosphere. Whereas an array of local weather controls are constructed right into a hardy-looking panel on the centre console, switchgear referring to off-road actions is discovered on an overhead panel. Right here additionally, you will discover chunky, pre-wired toggle switches for any auxiliary equipment fitted both inside (further USB factors, for instance) or out (similar to a 40in mild bar).
All of the switchgear is supersized to be used with gloves, and whereas the BMW-sourced central show might be touch-controlled, there’s additionally a big rotary management on the transmission tunnel.
Perceived high quality is a way off what you discover inside the brand new Defender, however a few of that’s by design and the Grenadier doesn’t really feel conspicuously low cost.
All surfaces are splash-proof, and our check automobile’s heavy-duty flooring might be hosed out then eliminated to let water out by way of drain holes. Carpet is an possibility and leather-based can be utilized for steering wheel, handbrake lever and seats, softening the purposeful atmosphere. And whereas some will discover the military-esque graphics performative, others will love them.
Oddment storage is missing. The door pockets are shallow and the transmission tunnel is usually devoid of helpful recesses. Issues enhance elsewhere. The cubby beneath the driving force’s seat holds a instrument equipment, however there’s the same house beneath the passenger seat. The rear bench folds as much as reveal a dry-storage compartment.
The doorways of the cut up tailgate open large to disclose totally 1152 litres of seats-up capability, though flat-topped wheel-arch moulds would make the house extra helpful.
The second row of seats cut up 60/40 to swell that capability to an infinite 2035 litres, though they don’t fold completely flat.
The plastic ground of the boot curves up at its vanguard to restrict water, or as one proprietor will attest, sheep guts.
Multimedia system
The Grenadier’s infotainment system is from BMW and makes use of a 12.3in touchscreen. The sprint immediately forward of the driving force is intentionally barren, save for a small show that exhibits numerous warning lights. It means the central show is used to point out gasoline stage, gear, engine temperature and pace and highway pace, in addition to all the standard multimedia features.
It does so moderately nicely, however wanting left to see very important info by no means feels that intuitive, and a big rev counter could be higher. Graphics and latency are superb for this sort of utility, though they would really feel a bit misplaced in, say, any BMW of comparable value to the Grenadier.
Discovering the off-road menu is a one-touch affair. There are readouts for driveline temperature, altitude and electrical draw, plus a satellite-based ‘Pathfinder’ programme that means that you can create and share off-grid routes with different Grenadiers.
Apple CarPlay (by way of Bluetooth) and Android Auto (wired) are customary. The automobile additionally has two 12V sockets (one within the armrest compartment, one other within the boot) and each USB-A and USB-C ports.
Word additionally that, for 2026, the Grenadier has a set of ADAS, though it is sensibly built-in and sure parts might be switched off simply.
We did not discover the methods irritating in regular use and there is a ceiling-mounted off-road button that kills the bongs and means that you can drive with out a seatbelt on, as is usually obligatory should you’re craning for views whereas bouldering.
