LOUTH MOTORING: The Ultimate All-Round Utility Vehicle

The story of Jim Radcliffe and how he came to manufacture the INEOS range of vehicles is widely known now but to recap, he set about making the best 4x4 in the world after Landrover decided not to sell him the rights of the old Defender model.

It's a big task to decide to do that but then again that's the sort of challenge billionaires take on. And take it on he did. I got to test the Grenadier Quartermaster version.

It coincided with my annual trip to Blacklion to sample the best Irish cuisine available so driving the best to eat the best is quite apt.

It's a good distance to experience the Quartermaster and I decided to try it out on all the road types on my trip there and back so I drove it on the M,R and L roads.

I’d driven the Wagon version previously and was familiar with the way INEOS configure their steering which is a hydraulically assisted recirculating ball steering box, produced by Bosch, that is supposed to be gold standard for off-road applications.

READ NEXT: LOUTH MOTORING: Space, power, and a touch of class—what more could you want?

Its main benefit, especially useful when off-roading, is it does not transfer force on the wheels back to the steering wheel to avoid snapping - a very good thing.

The downside is the reduced self centering and manoeuvrability. You’ll do a lot more steering turns at lower speeds.

INEOS claim that drivers get used to it very quickly and don't view it unfavourably once they are familiar. Based on my use on the various roads and the manoeuvres I performed I’m on the side of INEOS and I just adapted my driving to suit it.

Some feedback is ill-targeted as this most certainly isn't a Chelsea Chariot because in tight city locations it would be hard to live with it daily for mundane tasks like city/urban parking .It’s not a fish out of water but it is not in its natural habitat which is off road, and urban and country locations.

After a day or so driving the Quartermaster I can honestly report I got very used to the steering and enjoyed the new task of thinking about parking rather than just getting on and doing it. There is parking software available for you but that’s kind of cheating and in most cars I drive I rarely, if ever, use it.

I was away on holidays in Oz recently and was blown away by the sheer volume of new Chinese brands available there.

The world is in a serious state of flux at the moment for sure but it's nothing compared to the flux in the car market.

The motoring landscape in 10 years will be a world away from what it is today, mark my words. What also amazed me was the number of INEOS models I saw on the roads there. I would not say they are common but anecdotally there were a lot and you’d see one or two on every trip.

Oz seems the perfect fit for INEOS with the outback needing a tough vehicle and their towns are expansively laid out with plenty of space.

They also like their power and the 3.0l straight six turbo diesel BMW engine fits the bill perfectly for them. On the motorway here it was most welcome when overtaking and it was very responsive, feeling very powerful.

The Quartermaster weighs in at 2.67T and that coupled with the big engine resulted in a fuel return of 12.4l/100kms.

Pricing starts at €68,995 plus VAT which considering the capability, robustness and ruggedness of the Quartermaster represents very good value.

The cabin is uniquely laid out akin to the inside of a 70s airplane where there is a button and knob for every function and I was in heaven using it.

ABOVE: Interior of the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster

There is a central display for all the modern Gens to enjoy as well but the satisfaction of reaching without looking to perform an action is something I’ll always enjoy and I maintain is much safer.

One issue with the amount of switches is you can't see all the settings and some of the legends to the left of a knob are blind to the driver. Once you know you never need to look again but it's a slight oversight.

Curiously missing from my model was intelligent cruise control and blind spot technology which I kind of expected on this premium off-roader but I did get lane departure and overspeed warnings that you have to turn off at the start of every trip which is an annoyance.

My farming sister-in-law was telling us there is concern that you never see the effects on your car of dead insects anymore and where they have all gone. Well not in the INEOS. The straight windscreen and angular shape doesn't give them a chance so you'll be cleaning the screen a lot.

I’m sure the insects are very pleased with the historic efforts of aerodynamic design engineers from all car companies and that's why we don't see the massacre of them.

The Quartermaster being a twin cab and a pickup has a payload of 835kg and can tow up to 3,500kg.

The rear three seats could be more accommodating and the middle occupant won't thank you if they have to be there for a long time.

The practicality afforded by the pickup widens the appeal and there isn't a farmer or vet out there who would not find a myriad of uses for the Quartermaster. The cabin though is quiet at speed and conversations where everyone can be heard is not a problem.

A quartermaster's role within the army is to source whatever is needed in the field and then get it there. Driving the INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster, he most certainly will be able to do that.