What's the difference?
This is a BIG moment for the Lexus RX in Australia. And I'm not just referring to the spindle grille that adorns the front-end of this all-new model (though it too is almost commercially massive).
I'm talking more about the vehicle itself, and its importance to the Lexus brand here. The RX is one of Lexus' best sellers in Australia, and so this new one – which welcomes a new platform, new powertrain options and an all-new F Sport Performance trim level – is a big deal.
So, does it live up to the hype (and to its German competition)? Join me as we figure all that out ahead of the RX's debut here in early 2023.
The Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster is the dual-cab ute version of the Ineos Grenadier wagon, which arrived a few years ago to much fanfare.
It’s a body-on-frame / ladder-frame 4WD with live axles, a dual-range transfer case, front, centre and rear diff locks, and plenty of features – onboard and optional – intended to turn you into an off-road expert.
The Quartermaster is a purpose-built work-and-play ute aimed at taking on the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series and it’s a real breath of fresh air in a dual-cab ute market that’s increasingly looking same-same – although admittedly the Kia Tasman has also rattled the cage, but that’s another story.
So how does this Land Rover Defender-inspired ute perform off-road?
The RX is a big SUV that doesn't always look, or drive, like one, and β in 500h guise especially β can put a smile on a driver's face, too.
Gone are the cabin quirks and the polarising design elements (well, mostly...), and in their place you'll find a solid, premium-feeling family offering without much in the way of drawbacks.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster is best regarded as a charming old-school oddity in an increasingly cookie-cutter dual-cab ute market.
In the same vein as the Suzuki Jimny, Jeep Gladiator, and Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, this ute is for those of us who really like driving to be a fully immersive experience and donβt mind a few sacrifices and some discomfort along the way.
Good on Ineos for giving it a crack.