What's the difference?
Land Rover has launched a 35th Anniversary Edition of the Discovery, a seven-seat model that’s been a familiar sight on Australian roads for decades. Sitting in the large SUV category, it’s up against a fiercely contested field where the Lexus GX and Toyota LandCruiser Prado are household favourites.
The special edition lands squarely in the middle of that pack, a space that demands serious capability and comfort while still delivering a sense of occasion.
So the question is, does it manage to do all three?
As part of recent updates to the line-up, the Ineos Grenadier’s steering has been tweaked for a more precise feel and a claimed slightly tighter turning circle and the driver-assist tech has been upgraded as has the air-con system.
This body-on-frame 4WD has live axles, a dual-range transfer case, front, centre and rear diff locks and a stack of other features intended to turn the driver into an off-road expert.
So how does the Grenadier station wagon perform off-road? Read on.
The Land Rover Discovery 35th Anniversary Edition drives beautifully, with effortless power and a composed, comfortable ride. It’s elegant and well-equipped for its price, though the technology often frustrates, and it’s not as spacious as some seven-seater rivals. Small quirks in everyday use prevent it from fully standing out in a competitive segment but it does enough to be considered.
The Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon is an impressive four-wheel drive. This five-seat off-roader is stacked with features, is very capable off-road and it's actually not atrocious on-road. But its price will deter a lot of people and those who buy into the Grenadier lifestyle have to be prepared to endure some compromises and discomfort along the way… because this is not for everyone. And that’s kind of the point.
This is a new old-school 4WD – a niche within a niche – and while it’s bursting at the seams with an abundance of quirky features, those quirks may quickly lose their appeal and become annoyances. A lot of people will buy the Grenadier because they like the idea of it, but the reality of living with it day to day – or any old-school 4WD, for that matter – may be uncomfortable for them, similar to all of those people who bought a camper-trailer during COVID only to realise they hated camping.
When all is said and done, the Grenadier is a retro-cool 4WD with solid off-road capability.