The new Quartermaster pickup truck is the latest addition to the rugged Ineos Grenadier 4×4 line-up, joining the Station Wagon, Utility Wagon, and Commercial models. It is the first pickup variant to emerge from Ineos and has been designed as a functional and highly capable off-roader from the ground up.
The front-end design is identical to the rest of the Grenadier range up to the B-pillar, with a 305mm longer wheelbase to accommodate the truck bed and extend the vehicle to 5,440mm long. It also shares the same straight-six BMW-sourced petrol and diesel engines, and is underpinned by the same rugged architecture with a ladder frame chassis, heavy-duty suspension, solid beam axles, permanent four-wheel drive, and a recirculating ball steering system.
Three trim levels are available: the entry point to the Quartermaster range gets steel wheels, a centre locking differential, a low-range transfer case, underbody skid plates, LED headlights, a dedicated off-road navigation system, and a full-sized spare wheel. Step up to the Trailmaster Edition, and a host of off-road-centric parts are added, including front and rear locking diffs, all-terrain tyres, and a raised air intake. Lastly, the Fieldmaster Edition is more of a lifestyle vehicle that trades the off-road parts for luxury features such as alloy wheels, leather trim, heated front seats, and a premium sound system.
But can this newcomer fill the Defender pickup-sized void in the competitive UK truck market? Ben Hodges finds out…
Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster: Cabin
Refreshingly, the interior features an array of chunky physical buttons spread across the roof and the dashboard, giving it a very analogue feel. Everything is easy to operate, and while the switches look rugged, they are light to the touch, making them feel flimsy. Everything is laid out logically, with the climate and radio controls on the centre stack where you’d expect them to be. While all of the off-road mode functions are situated on the roof panel, this panel also houses pre-wired switches for aftermarket accessories such as a roof-mounted lightbar.
There’s a large 12.3-inch touchscreen on top of the dashboard and a small screen behind the steering wheel, but this is purely for warning lights rather than being a conventional instrument cluster. A slight annoyance is the location of the speedometer, which is displayed on a dedicated section of the display, making it difficult to look at while driving. The remainder of the screen is used to display all other functions, including navigation and off-road driving data.
Interior space is decent, with the tall roofline offering plenty of headroom for front and rear passengers. The sporty Recaro seats offer a great driving position, are very comfortable and supportive, and do a good job of holding you in place when off-roading. It’s a different story in the back, with cramped legroom and a very upright seating position, making the rear better suited to shorter journeys.
The cabin materials in our Trailmaster Edition test car were a mix of hard-wearing plastics and softer materials that are dirt-resistant and easy to clean. It’s well-specified with climate control, a DAB radio, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. There’s also a gentle toot horn on the steering wheel to warn cyclists and pedestrians as you approach them, and a compass and altimeter. There’s also an array of useful storage dotted around the interior, including two good-sized cup holders and a lockable central storage bin housing both USB-A and USB-C sockets.
Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster: On and off the Road
The Quartermaster is offered with a choice of powerful 3.0-litre straight-six engines sourced from BMW. The 286hp turbocharged petrol is standard, which produces 450Nm of torque, while the optional twin-turbocharged diesel produces 249hp and 550Nm of torque. The petrol manages 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds, while the diesel is a second slower. Both engines can hit a top speed of 99mph.
An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, sending power to the permanent four-wheel drive, supplemented by a low-range transfer box and a centre locking differential. Opting for the Trailmaster Edition adds front and rear locking differentials, which can also be specced from the options list on the other trim levels.
Our Trailmaster Edition test car was equipped with the diesel engine, which Ineos says has been reworked for the Grenadier line-up so that 80–90% of the peak torque is available across the power band at all times. Accelerate hard, and this engine delivers brisk rather than earth-shattering performance. In normal driving, the gearbox shifts smoothly with nearly imperceptible gear changes, ensuring plenty of pulling power is available whenever you need it.
The Quartermaster’s steering takes some getting used to, as its setup is more focused on off-road use than on tarmac, needing nearly four turns from lock to lock. At full lock, it has a turning circle of 14.5m, a metre more than the Grenadier Utility Wagon. The most significant difference from ‘normal’ steering is that it doesn’t self-centre, so we found that frequent inputs were required on the road, especially when cornering.
Refinement on the move is comfortable, with the reinforced suspension setup capable of smoothing out smaller bumps. However, it does crash over larger road imperfections, which make their presence felt in the cabin. Body roll is well controlled in the bends, and once you’ve mastered the steering, the Quartermaster feels competent on the road with the permanent four-wheel drive and its sizable weight, giving it plenty of grip and decent stability.
Off the road is where the Quartermaster really begins to shine. The opening section of our off-road route consisted of narrow gravel and grass tracks, where the optional BF Goodrich A/T KO2 tyres proved formidable, providing strong traction throughout. When the trails got tougher and the gravel morphed into sizable boulders, activating the low range ratio and centre differential was straightforward via a couple of shifts of the lever mounted on the centre console. Once engaged, the Quartermaster skipped over anything in its way with relative ease.
For the trickier and steeper terrain, though, we had to deploy the front and rear locking diffs via the roof-mounted switches. These were easy enough to activate after a few attempts, and again, the truck continued onwards through numerous rock-strewn slopes without being troubled. The tall arrival and departure angles and high ground clearance likely helped, ensuring we made it through without any bottoming out on the terrain below.
| Approach angle | 35.5° | Climbing angle limit | TBC |
| Departure angle | 22.6° | Ground clearance | 264 mm |
| Ramp angle limit | 28.2° | Wading depth | 800 mm |
Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster: Economy and Running Costs
Neither of the BMW-sourced engines are particularly frugal. The petrol is the thirstiest, managing up to 19.6mpg, while the diesel offers up to 25.9mpg. During our time with the diesel, and after a mix of tarmac country roads and off-road trails, we managed a paltry 19.4mpg. However, careful driving will likely get you closer to the official figure.
Another consideration is the sub-one-tonne payload limit, meaning the Quartermaster doesn’t qualify for commercial vehicle tax breaks, so you won’t be able to claim back the VAT for your business
either.
With a starting price of £66,215, higher rate taxpayers will be looking at a monthly company car tax bill of over £800.
Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster: Payload and Towing
The load bed of the Quartermaster is large enough to carry a Euro pallet — with the spare wheel removed — measuring 1,564mm long, 1,619mm wide, and 485mm in height. Other practical features include four tie-down rings in the bed, a 400w power supply for running electrical equipment, and an integrated mounting bar. The rear tailgate is 1,280mm wide and can hold up to 225kg when open.
The maximum payload for the petrol is 835kg, and 760kg for the base diesel — figures that lag well behind rivals like the Volkswagen Amarok, which can carry up to 1,190kg. For towing, both engines are rated to pull a braked trailer weighing up to 3,500kg.
| Kerb weight | 2,665–2,740 kg | Load bay length | 1,564 mm |
| Gross vehicle weight | 7,000 kg | Load bay width | 1,619 mm |
| Payload | 760–835 kg | Load bay height | 485 mm |
| Gross vehicle mass | 3,500 kg | Liftover height | 906 mm |
| Towing capacity (unbraked) | 750 kg | Towing capacity (braked) | 3,500 kg |
Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster: Verdict
The Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster is proof there’s a place in this world for dedicated off-road capable pickups. It’s a great example that boasts plenty of rugged ability and offers a decent amount of load space and capacity for the majority of use cases. The rugged design stands out on the road, and its plush, eye-catching cabin is very well-specified
It becomes a little convoluted when compared to rivals like the Ford Ranger and Amarok. Every one of its rivals offers a higher payload capacity and will be easier to live with on the road, but the Quartermaster has a unique advantage when it comes to off-road prowess. Its on-road ability is slightly compromised, but it’s still impressively capable in nearly all the areas that matter, offering a wealth of versatility as a work truck.
Much like the Utility Wagon, it’s difficult to recommend the Quartermaster outright, especially for a commercial user keen to reclaim the VAT element of their purchase. Its suitability depends entirely on your missions, but if you fit its narrow niche, there’s nothing better.
Model tested: Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Trailmaster Edition 3.0 Diesel
Professional Pickup Rating: ★★★☆☆
| Basic price | £59,213* | On the road inc VAT | £73,715 |
| VAT | £11,843 | Modle range exc VAT | £66,215–£73,715 |
- First Drive: Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Pickup Review - 24 May 2024