Have you been looking for an INEOS Grenadier for sale near Wilmington? While a more recent addition to the off-road vehicle market, INEOS has quickly turned heads with its beautifully capable vehicles. The brand is all about models that are made for rough and rugged adventures. Just by looking at the Grenadier, you can see that this is no light-duty off-road specimen.
You might still be considering the Toyota Land Cruiser, though. And that’s understandable. Toyota has a much longer legacy, so people know what they’re going to get with a Toyota. Meanwhile, many drivers are still getting a feel for INEOS. So, if you’re looking for an adventure-ready SUV, should you give the INEOS Grenadier a chance? Or stick with the tried-and-true Toyota Land Cruiser?
The INEOS Grenadier Is Made for the Deep Wild
INEOS designed the Grenadier for drivers who really want to get out there in nature—far, far away from city streets and cement. If you want to explore the jungles of South America or go on an African safari, the INEOS Grenadier is designed to take it in stride.
One feature that sets this model apart from the Land Cruiser is the wading mode. This mode is made specifically for fording deep water. When activated, it makes system adjustments to protect critical components from water damage. It deactivates the start-stop system and parking sensors, reduces electronic stability control intervention, and puts a cap on how fast your vehicle can go. You can wade through water up to 31.5 inches deep with wading mode on.
The Land Cruiser does not have wading mode. It has various modes, including normal, sport, eco, and snow. But, as you can see, those modes are better suited for city driving. The Land Cruiser does not have a dedicated mode for crossing a stream, and its maximum fording depth is considerably less.
Stripped Down, Easy-to-Access Controls
When you slide into the Grenadier, you’ll feel as if you’re in a military vehicle. All of the auxiliary switches and physical controls look military-grade. There are no bells and whistles or over-the-top adornments. It’s designed to let you quickly access switches for your core functions and aftermarket accessories and master the trails.
The inside of the Land Cruiser looks distinctly more cosmopolitan. Controls are sleek, digital, and mostly out of the way. Its dashboard and displays are more centered on letting you use your music streaming app than on controlling your winch.
Better Ground Clearance
The Grenadier’s clear wilderness roots continue with its ground clearance. As if its wading mode isn’t impressive enough, the Grenadier is naturally designed to clear obstacles better than the Land Cruiser. That’s because it enjoys 10.4 inches of ground clearance, compared to the Land Cruiser’s 8.3 inches.
The Grenadier is, put simply, unapologetic in its stature. It’s not concerned with not fitting into city parking garages; it’s concerned with rolling over fallen branches and boulders. The Land Cruiser’s stance is better suited for the city streets of Wilmington and can fit in with the everyday SUVs. The Grenadier will stick out, but that’s what many love about it.
A Unique Trunk Door
One of the Grenadier’s coolest features might be its trunk door—or doors, to be precise. It features 30/70 split rear doors. Since these doors swing out rather than up, they give you easier access to your trunk’s contents in tight spaces. No need to duck under a barely opened tailgate in small spaces. Plus, if you want to keep a four-legged companion from jumping out, just open the 30 percent side and keep the other side shut.
You might find that opening these doors in harsh weather is easier. Swinging them out can be simpler than dealing with a traditional tailgate when the wind is blowing. And you never need to worry about them scratching the ceiling of a carport. Plus, since they rely on traditional hinges rather than hydraulics, you don’t need to worry about them failing. When you’re out in the harsh elements of the wilderness, that matters.
Built-In Navigation That Needs No Wi-Fi
If you plan on exploring some seriously remote places, you'll lose cell service. That's just a fact of life. That also means that you won’t be able to use your cloud-based navigation apps.
The Grenadier fixed that with its Pathfinder navigation system. This offline system includes a real GPS to find your way, even when your phone has zero bars. INEOS even throws in a compass and altimeter as backups. The Land Cruiser's navigation is purely cloud-based. So don’t leave a service area in it, unless you know your way by memory.
Different Suspensions for Different Environments
One of the stand-out features of the Grenadier is its solid front and rear axles. It’s more truck-like than car-like, boasting a sturdiness you can feel on bumpy roads and incredible off-road articulation. It may not feel smooth on freeways, but it will master the trickiest of trails.
The Land Cruiser has a solid rear axle, but an independent front suspension. This provides a smoother ride—one that you’d expect from a city vehicle. It will feel more comfortable on paved roads, delivering very little vibration, but it lacks the same ruggedness off-road.
The two models’ different suspension designs speak to their vastly different user profiles. Honestly, if you stick to city streets and highways most of the time, you might think that the Grenadier’s suspension feels harsh. But, if you are after a serious off-road vehicle that you plan on taking off the grid regularly, you will need the Grenadier’s solid axles.
An Adventure-Ready Cargo Area
If you peek inside the Grenadier’s cargo area, you’re going to see elements that are clearly made for the forest more than they are made for Wilmington’s shopping centers.
You’ll find 10 tie-down rings, which make it feel more like a truck than an SUV and help you keep items from flying around on bumpy trails. You’ll also find flush floor-mounted interior cargo rails, great for aftermarket cargo solutions. Plus, there are barriers and partitions for organizing everything.
The Grenadier is known for being super mod-friendly. So you can explore tons of INEOS accessories that will help you make the most of this cargo area.
The Grenadier can also tow a much larger trailer than the Land Cruiser can. The Grenadiers' maximum towing figure sits at 7,716 lbs, which is 1,716 lbs higher than the Land Cruiser’s 6,000 lb capacity. Put simply, the Grenadier calls to you to load up for adventure.
Choose the Grenadier for Unmatched Capability
Despite competing in the same off-road segment on paper, the INEOS Grenadier and the Toyota Land Cruiser are really different animals. If you are looking for a real no-nonsense SUV that can take anything you throw at it in stride, you will likely find the Land Cruiser to be (for lack of a better word) soft.
With its wading mode, ready for unexpected bodies of water, and solid axles built for harsh terrain, the Grenadier belongs far from the pavement and street lights. Its unique 30/70 trunk doors feel more camping-friendly than cosmopolitan-ready. Its impressive ground clearance is clearly designed for the trails more than it is for the roads.
The Land Cruiser gives the illusion of capability with its rugged design, but its underpinnings are geared more towards city commuters. Its lower ride height and more modest drive modes clearly make it built for urban areas. When you want to answer the call of the wild, come explore the INEOS Grenadier here at Hendrick INEOS Grenadier of Charleston.