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Grenadier vs Land Rover: The Off-Road Battle! | Fifth Gear
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- Published on Feb 16, 2026
- One of the most fascinating automotive stories in recent history. The Grenadier was the result of Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe being told ‘no’ in his attempt to buy tooling and rights from Land Rover and continue production of the old Defender 4x4, which ended production in 2015. At great personal expense he developed this clear homage to the Defender and named it after the pub he was in when he came up with the idea. Has he succeeded? Time for some thrilling off-road action.
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This is a very strange way to determine the best 4wd vehicle.
indeed it is, perhaps an allegory
More like satire.
More like an advertisement
They are British, this is offroading 😂
@aaronbarkus6458I am British, I did off-roading, we don’t do rock crawling but we do have terrain!😂
They actually called this a test. Only thing it did is show off the Defenders options.
💯 true that
Trying a handbrake turn with all diffs fully locked out - go to the back of the class and put on the pointy hat, please!
On the Grenadier, they only locked the centre but still it was pointless to use a handbrake. The grenade would’ve been faster if they had have locked the rear lockers.
Not forgetting that it added seconds to the timing part of the contest. Which maybe part of the reason they did it given the multiple flaws in their review.
Who uses a handbrake in that situation anyways? They were so slow upon entry. Vicki is supposed to be a racing driver.
And let's not mention a churned up course. Physics says it will be slower as the deeper mud grabs onto tires, rims and other factors
An infomercial for the Defender.
Indeed. An insipid review by a group of people who have no understanding of the purpose-built design of the Grenadier. If urban mouth-breathers are now a thing, these three fit the profile perfectly. I only watched ‘til the end to see if they would acknowledge that their “tests” were biased in favour of mall-crawling. I suppose that with the majority of the English now living in manicured urban environments it’s too much to expect that these “experts” are capable of extricating themselves from the city, and using the Grenadier in the manner in which it was intended. I’ve watched the new “Defender” destroy itself on rocks and mire itself hopelessly in mud, resulting in the need for very expensive repairs before the vehicle was serviceable again.
Where was the off-road?
A field in England.
They could not actually find anywhere off road as that means going more than a couple of miles outside London so they settled for a horse field. The should have at least gone to the Elan Valley and tried the steps.
That’s a school run around here
I could do that off road course in a fiesta!
That was very disappointing. Really not addressing what 4x4s are meant for. Where is the tests of articulation, breakover angle etc.
5th wheel has become a show for people who know nothing about cars.
Pity - I used to be a fan years ago.
lol, that check from Land Rover must've been big.
So the 4x4 expert didn’t know that the handbrake was on the transmission not the rear wheels 😂😂😂
"It doesn't wollow he says "as he is wallowing in his seat🤣
20000 pounds Differenz ,and with so much Electronic gimics in the Landy, its so extensive to repair.
Guys, that Defender is the business at school drop offs.
How can compare a diesel against petrol lol😂
That's the equivalent of of testing a supercar by driving it round the M25 in the rush hour.
Two totally different market places .
a car with a locked center differential won't turn. What a surprise.
There are no trails good enough in the UK to show the real difference between the two😂😂😂
What an incredible coincidence. They all forgot to mention that Land Rover is the least reliable range of vehicles on the planet.
Great to see a real world test for the majority of owner's getting around on a farm or General Towing duties. The new defender is a much more livable vehicle for this day & age whilst still being tough comfortable and utilitarian 💪🏽
INEOS any day for off road and real work horse.
It can’t tow as much weight
@paulmcgee1867as if anybody is going to use the defender for its maximum rated towing. Land Rover likes to have big inflated numbers anyways they have the D2 at almost the same number when it was way under powered but then they said you didn't trailer brakes and in low range😂 not saying newer Rovers with more power and air suspension aren't good at Towing but it really is something they like to just talk about more than people actually care when it comes down to it. I have a modern Rover with full independent front rear suspension and terrain response and it's great but did you feel false sense of security with how smooth it feels when all of a sudden your little 31 inch tire is falling into a place it shouldn't be because everything was so Flawless that you started to not be in touch with the terrain as much as in a solid axle Rover. Not to mention the smallest Wheels you can get her 18 unless you put V6 lr3 brake caliper bracket and rotor on the front then you can fit 17-in wheels and whatever tires you have will automatically have a little more meat
@paulmcgee1867 tested for 4.4T but legally restricted to 3.5T. The same as the Defender.
The old defender ( the proper one) had better ground clearance, attack angles and wading depth than the new ineos!
Best vehicle JLR have produced... The sales + review positivity prove it. Amazing. The OCTA they've released is just something else you've got to get a hold of one! ❤
Tell us you were hired by Land Rover to produce a Defender commercial without actually telling us...
And Hunter (issued?) wellies by the look of it! A car designed to look good vs a vehicle designed to work.
Exactly. This test was skewed, just like its presenters.
Absolute BS. Have you actually driven the Grenadier? On road it’s a pig and the price tag simply doesn’t justify what it can do off read. Reliability is not great and neither is the build quality. Not to mention how hideous it looks.
@TIWNA851I have driven one for 42,000 kms on motorways, highways b roads and off-road and I am guessing you haven’t. Or maybe a 15 minute drive. On road it is pretty good, but not as good as an SUV. Off road it is fantastic
I think they were quite generous to the Grenadier. I've seen multiple tests highlighting all the Grenadier's shortfalls, which haven't been mentioned here. For example, they don't mention the compromised footwell intrusion on the right hand drive models, meaning the pedals are all offset. 35% of the world drives on the left in right hand drive cars, but Ineos hasn't bothered addressing the issue. But what they do mention is the price, which is ridiculous for such a basic car, when compared to the Defender. Also, the original premise of this whole project as far as I understood it was to continue building an original Defender type vehicle in the UK. To then end up building it in France in a former Mercedes factory, using a BMW engine completely undermines the spirit of the original vision. I wish the thing abject failure!
A US channel did a comparison with the Defender vs Bronco vs Wrangler and the Defender didn't even finish the challenges. In the actual off road world its very posh and can't keep up. Where the Grenadier excells and has zero issue with the real off road world.
Now tell me where your local Ineos dealer is? Land Rover hmm yes quite a few more.
My Ineos dealer is 160 miles away. Fortunately I've yet to need to visit them because, y'know, the Grenadier works.
That man knows how to stretch a handbrake cable.........
I did not like the new defender when it came out, but it's a stunner! The grenadier does look very old. But! I'd have either.
One will probably be scrapped within 10 years the other will probably still be going in 30.
Both will definitely end up on the back of a recovery truck! Shocking build quality.
What the heck in this? Land Rover sponsored the video, eh?
All the gadgets and gimmicks on the Defender and there's me wandering how long they will last in the real world and harsh environments whereas I imagine in the back of beyond simpler is better when there is no nerd around to plug in and reboot!
Captain Price is reviewing automotives now after retiring from the army in Call of Duty
way to check the "mall crawler" aspect of these two vehicles... now how about taking them to Moab and seeing if they can make it past the first obstacle.... I'll be the Body on Frame Granadier would win.
The Defender went into reverse beautifully 😂😂😂😂😂😂
They have taken a legendary vehicle that was designed, built and used for practical usage. The land rover defender was recognised all over the world as one of if not the best in the world and they have pimped it into a rich man's plaything. An absolute bloody disgrace.
So, the Grenadier is 21 grand cheaper than the Defender ... that's substantial. Oh, that hitch... 1400 lbs 😅😂
Defender can have all the BHP and refinement in the world, useless if its Ingenium engine breaks down (which it will).
99 grand for a lanny LOL il stick to my 30 year old defender
You don't have a choice
100%.
I’m struggling to even grasp the differences between the defender, discovery and Range Rover these days aside from the ridiculous price, legendary unreliability and downright unacceptable dealer customer service.
@stephenbland7461 Don't try. It's clearly beyond your intelligence.
My 2013 Defender engine has worn at 200,500 km. Lower bearings on crankshaft nearly gone. It is being replaced with a BMW M57 E53 engine and ZFS gear box from a BMW X5. That will give me another 20 years.
So if you or someone you know is struggling would you like it if people are an asshole to u by saying something is beyond your intelligence?
No mud was harmed during the making of this video
Interestingly, the Scottish estate I stayed at 2 weeks ago had a fleet of Grenadiers.
Fifth Gear have nearly 1 mill subs, but still continue to film ALL content on the calculator
Great Land Rover advert!
What a joke. What happens when the going really gets tough! ruclips.net/video/_k6OFmjc8mM/video.html
Where’s the “maintenance in the middle of nowhere” test?
I was surprised to see in the comments how many people are driving across third world countries on huge expeditions these days.
80 grand for a “bare bones, no nonsense off-roader.” 😂😂😂😂😂
They forgot to mention that if you have a decent obd2 reader you can sort out the defender pretty much by yourself, not the grenadier though. You have to take it to a main dealer
That fancy electronic tow hitch will be broken by boxing day.
Boxing day is still more than 6 months away......clearly you an optimist.....Me.....I give it till Tuesday.
Cane when do it over 5 ore 8jears agan. And what are the cost than.
Let's see how all that hi tek gear in the Landy fairs in ten years out in the wild.
Both perfect for the average school run 😮
Not really a practica 4x4 test though, was it? And which would you take on a wilderness expedition?
Really needed a Passat as a control vehicle.
Like all motoring jorno shows, it's all about the wow factor, in the moment driving experience and driving the first 1,000 miles off the show room forecourt.
What about reliability, build quality, fixability, longevity, engines, drivetrains...
silence.
Who wants a car with an Ingenium after 80k anyway?
But 5th gear don't care about anyone who can only afford 2nd, 3rd, 4th hand vehicles.
Blatant land rover paid commercial.
Ingenium aren't even good when they're new.
Niestety to klienci zwłaszcza zamożni kompletnie przestali patrzeć na trwałość mechaniczną- mamy co mamy, jednorazówki nienaprawialne- "ekologia".
That was fun but pretty irrelevant.
Not a good tes at all Grenadier has solid axels for 4x4 not playing in the grass
Just imagine a 2025 defender on a hunting trip in Africa, it does not fit in my world, coming from an extended family who owned the real defenders (way before they're called even defender) from the 1970s till 2012 in all configs, the Granadier wins it all.
Which one wins on a reliability test, depreciation test or total cost of ownership test.
I'm surprised the Land Rover hadn't broken down during these tests?🤔
Still, the depreciation for that day, would've paid for a Korean 4x4!😂
Did they both have the same tyres, very important for off road
CORRECTION - This should be called "Grenadier vs Land Rover: Driving in the Grass Battle!" - There, I fixed it!
Hitch is only a game changer if you're doing all day everyday in the pissing rain.
There is only one new Defender - and it's called Grenadier.
Here in America with our harsh environments and vast expanses, I’ll take the mechanical Grenadier any day of the week over the independent suspension and
Computers of the Rover.
Yeah but if your no where near a dealership....
I was hoping for the Waitrose carpark and primary school run tests. Do the vanity mirrors illuminate adequately enough to check your lip filler or hair implant status? Great pieces of engineering though.
Toyota Land Cruiser just the chat. Laughed his ass off and left. 😂
Make sure you get an extended warranty on the defender you will need it
This is a parody of what people actually need. These new Defenders and Grenadiers are way too flashy and expensive for their real customers to afford and they are farmers and tradies. These two cars are for rich influencers and celebrities
Compared 2 completely different cars , engine, trim, spec 😂😂
Yes! More Fifth Gear off-road content!!
It’s ancient
The defender is a fantastic vehicle in a modern country anywhere in Europe or North America, where you have access to garages and dealerships. If however you want to drive your vehicle across a Third World continent such as driving from Morocco down the West Coast of Africa with a rooftop tent and all of your supplies. Good luck doing that in a defender. Additionally in the speed test, the Great deer was at a disadvantage going second in a field that was ploughed up with mud. That would slow the vehicle down by a few seconds. Additionally, the rear locking differential should’ve been engaged to increase traction and that would’ve increased the performance probably improving by another second or two.
How is reversing with a trailer related to off-road capability?
Is there going to be a ineos gen 2?
Ok ! The point is which the most elegant and with a classical appearance ;-)
Great to have all the tech on the Land Rover but it will sadly and inevitably break and let you down.
The old Landy was known for durability, fixibility, and toughness. Repeat this test in 10 / 20 years and see who wins. Assuming you can still fix any broken electronics. Or fixing a broken car 500 miles from a workshop.
Bring it over to Australia, then we'll see.
Grenadier every day of the week. With Land Rover you will be stuck with junk the day any of the fancy electronics stop working.
One car for the city folks who once in a while need to do something beyond the road. One car for the ones who depends on that every day to bring food on the table.
The realistic test would have been one between the old defender and the grenadier. Looking forward to it
We had a Grenadier at a 4x4 club weekend, and it lost to my TD5 110 over 10 sections with cane gates in a field featuring cross-axle parts, tight turns, and small slippery hills.
All that fancy electronics is great BUT its installed in the very unreliable Land Rover so what happens when its out of warranty & it cost thousands to fix?
Exactly!!
When the vehicles work and are new, they probably are both great, but as soon as there are electronic gremlins and work to be done on them, both will cost you a kidney and are horrendous to work on
I know I'm old school, owned landys for years and had a test drive of a Grenadier few weeks back, off road. Not convinced acceleration tests matter on vehicles like this but big problem for me is tow hitch. Sorry but I'm not putting horses in a trailer where the hitch is not rigidly bolted to the vehicle chassis. I do think you should have tried them in a more serious off road enviroment as well, or would JLR not permit that?
A late high spec L322 would be my preferred choice
you mean to tell me THE LAND ROVER DIDN'T break down. WOW
if it wasn't for the new cars, I would've thought this was a 2009 fifth gear episode, with the challenges and the 6 or 12 hands tests 😆 i'm glad to see Vicky lost her fear of off roading and she's the only reason I'll keep watching because WHY VICKY don't you have your own fully independent channel?? girl please you got the charisma nerve and talent to do it, would be so good
The grenadier looks ❤️ unlike the other thing 🤢😂
No wonder why fifth gear never caught up
Handbrake with a centre diff locked!!!!!!! They were paid by LR to destroy the Ineos.
never let review a landrover to an Englishmen, they always exaggerate 😂
For the small victory the Defender had, I would take the Grenadier and pocket the change.
No tracks? What? What!!
🇬🇧⛓️💥⛓️💥🙏🏿🏴✊🏽🫡🎯🎯🕊️🔥🔥💯
That is not a Defender...should've been named something different.
Comparing a Lifestyle SUV against a Workhorse Car on Lifestyle Terrain. Its nlt a good Comparsion i think
please compare the granadier to a 110 older defender. same same
In my opinion a Defender orientated test. so outcome was clear at forehand. Love the engine in the Ineos which is going to outlive all Ingenium engines
I'll take Worst Possible Ways to Test Which is the Best 4x4 for 50 pounds.
We will likely never use our Defender for any hardcore off-roading, but its great to know how capable it is while being an AMAZING daily with loads of character. Well done Land Rover! 👏
Pity the inoes doesn't come with alloys to improve appearance for 80k
Given the "reliability" of the Landrover, I'd take the Ineos EVERY day!
Well done land rover you've made an off roader for the people who use their phones for compasses and Google/apple maps for hiking in the mountains.
something needs to exist online to help Land Rover owners say they own a real 4x4...a real 4x4 is ladder on frame