Adventurers often ask themselves—do I want an SUV or do I want a pickup? Both have their strong suits, and many automakers offer both in their lines.
UK-based INEOS Automotive has offered its Grenadier “Station Wagon” (aka SUV) for nearly a year globally, and introduced its first-ever pickup truck, the Quartermaster, in June of 2024.
This gives the freshman brand two separate models, each of which may appeal to different buyers. Although they have nearly the same underpinnings, they’re not 100% identical. So, what’s the same, what’s similar, and what’s different?
SAME: Exterior (Front Doors Forward)
From the front doors forward, the Grenadier Station Wagon SUV and Quartermaster pickup are essentially the same. If you like the Grenadier Wagon’s styling here, you’ll like the pickup’s.
Both have that old-school Land-Rover look with a modern twist—but from a head-on view, they’re essentially identical.
DIFFERENT: Exterior (Front Doors Rearward)
The similarities cease behind the front doors. The rear doors themselves are slightly different in shape. While both the SUV and pickup have indented areas in the roof with bars and electrical power points, the Station Wagon has four bars (two on each side), while the Quartermaster has just two due to its smaller roof.
Clearly, the Station Wagon is an SUV, the Quartermaster has a pickup bed, so side and rear profiles are obviously different. The pickup carries its full-size spare tire inside the bed, the Station Wagon stows it on the 60%-portion of the 60/40-split rear doors.
Why would INEOS have the spare take up space in the Quartermaster’s bed? INEOS said it’s about prioritizing utility and off-roading. It’s easier to get to a tire into and out of the bed versus having one underneath when you’re in the dirt. Plus, you don’t lose any ground clearance or departure angle by having a tire in the bed.
In case you were wondering, both vehicles have the same overall payload capacity of 1,889 lbs. but offer different ways to carry your cargo.
SAME: Engine/Transmission
No matter which trim level you get—Grenadier Station Wagon or the Quartermaster—buyers will get the same engine in North America: the 3.0-liter turbocharged BMW-sourced B58 inline six-cylinder engine making 281 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. Power is put through a ZF eight-speed transmission on both models.
Markets outside of North America can also get the 3.0-liter turbodiesel BMW B57 making 245 horsepower and a stout 406 lb-ft of torque. But no matter where you live, the wagon and pickup get the same powerplants and transmissions, respectively.
Both gas engines prefer to drink 92 octane fuel but will run on 87. Base Grenadier Station Wagons and the Fieldmaster version get one MPG better than the Quartermaster, which is rated at 14 MPG across the board. Opt for the off-road-centric Grenadier Trialmaster SUV, and you’ll get the same rating as the Quartermaster.
SIMILAR: Chassis and Suspension
Both the Station Wagon and Quartermaster have solid front and rear Italian Carraro axles, and both have a 4.10 ratio. They’re also both equipped with a five-link coil-spring suspension front and rear.
Being that the Quartermaster is a pickup truck, it gets firmer springs with a higher spring rate. When driving a Quartermaster, you’ll notice a stiffer ride, and that’s due to that suspension tuning.
Pretty much everything else, however, is the same including brakes, hydraulically assisted steering, wheels and tires, and available locking front and rear differentials.
MIXED: Dimensions and Off-Road Specs
While these two vehicles appear very similar, some of the exterior dimensions and off-road specs are different.
Grenadier Station Wagon and Quartermaster have the same amount of ground clearance at 10.4”; the same 36.2° approach angle, 34.5” wading depth, and 9° and 12° of front and rear articulation. They also have an identical GVWR (7,716 lbs.) and curb weight (5,827 lbs.).
The Station Wagon, however, has a 115” wheelbase; the Quartermaster is longer at 127”. When it comes to off-road angles, the Wagon has a 28.2° breakover whereas the Quartermaster has 26.2° angle.
The Wagon’s departure angle is 36.1°; the Quartermaster is 22.6° due to the bed’s length and rear overhang. In that same vein, the Wagon has a rear overhang of just 34.4”; Quartermaster is 52.3”. The Wagon is also just marginally taller than the pickup by 1.2”.
Another notable difference between these siblings is the turning radius. The Station Wagon has a 44.3” radius, while the pickup takes a large 47.6” circle to turn things around. Apparently, these radii are large to help preserve approach angles off-road.
Both the wagon and the pickup have all the same off-road offerings in terms of transfer case operation, off-road driving modes, and locker engagement.
The only other notably different spec? Roof load. The Station Wagon has a 330 lb. dynamic and 925 lb. static roof load. The Quartermaster, with its smaller roof, has a 264 lb. dynamic and 826 lb. static roof load limit—important if you plant to carry roof loads on these rigs. By the way, kudos to INEOS for providing these numbers; many automakers don’t.
SIMILAR: Interior
These two share a lot of commonalities regarding their interiors. The fabrics and interior materials are identical. Really from the rear door forward, these are essentially the same vehicle, and both can carry five people.
The Quartermaster’s rear seat, however, has a fixed back that doesn’t fold like the Station Wagon’s. There’s also no storage behind it because of its proximity to the cab’s rear bulkhead.
For what it’s worth, I’ve ridden in the back seat of a Quartermaster, and the bench’s seatback is fairly straight up and down and does not recline either.
SIMILAR: Driving
We’ve looked at all the specs and can read about the differences. By comparison, how do they drive?
I’ve put over 8,000 miles on the INEOS Grenadier Station Wagon, many of which were on the Alcan 5000 Rally. I also attended the Quartermaster’s June 2024 launch in California where we did a mix of on- and off-road driving.
The Quartermaster’s differently tuned suspension rides stiffer than the Station Wagon. This is most noticeable on the highway when encountering bad pavement or a potholes. I found the Station Wagon to easily soak up bumps at highway speeds, but the Quartermaster’s ride wasn’t as supple. I understand the idea of a stiff ride for a vehicle that may carry payload in the bed.
Also of note, the aforementioned larger turning radius. I noticed it mostly off-road in tight spots and in parking lots. That said, both have the same semi-controversial slow hydraulically assisted steering, which takes getting used to. Both vehicles’ handling feels most at home off pavement.
All the 4WD things are also the same, and both vehicles are exceptionally capable right out of the box thanks to the solid axles, two-speed transfer cases, available locking diffs, ample ground clearance, off-road driving modes, and standard all-terrain tires (either Bridgestone Dueler A/T or more aggressive BFGoodrich KO2s, depending on the trim level selected).
The Quartermaster’s extra wheelbase can come in handy off road, but its advantage may be nixed due to worse breakover and departure angles, and the wider turning radius.
Both vehicles can also tow the same amount at 7,716 lbs.
SAME (Almost): Factory Accessories
No matter which version you might opt for, most accessories are the same. This includes rock sliders, alloy wheels, the winch, roof rack, light bar, and more. The only differences are simply because of the vehicle type.
You can obviously only get a bed rack for the Quartermaster. The roof rack by Rhino-Rack is larger for the Station Wagon because its roof is simply more expansive. Sans a few things having to do with the body style, the INEOS accessories are mostly the same no matter which body style is chosen.
DIFFERENT: Price
One major difference? Price. A Grenadier Station Wagon can be purchased starting at $71,500. A Grenadier Quartermaster starts at a loftier $86,900. Yes, that’s a $15,400 base difference if you want a pickup instead of an SUV.
Unfortunately for Quartermaster buyers, the pickup is subject to the 25% Chicken Tax—a tax on light trucks not made on North American soil. So, if you want a Quartermaster instead of the Station Wagon, you’ll have to pay up despite the vehicles’ similarities.
BOTTOM LINE: Similar Vehicles, Different Body Styles
When it comes down to it, these are both INEOS Grenadiers—premium French-made European off-roaders that are purpose built. They’re a mix of old and new, both exceptionally capable out of the box. Yes, one is fully enclosed, the other has an open bed. But at the end of the day, they’re far more similar than they are different. But chances are, if you like one, you’ll like the other (and vice versa).
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