When Jim Ratcliffe decided the modern 4×4 had lost its way, he didn’t commission a design study or chase nostalgia. He built a solution.
The Grenadier exists because there was no longer a vehicle that combined mechanical honesty, modern reliability and genuine off-road ability without compromise. This was never about lifestyle. It was about capability, longevity, and doing things properly.
Finished in Sela Green over a partial Nappa leather, this example captures the Grenadier at its most considered. The colour is quietly utilitarian – earthy without being military, purposeful without affectation. It suits the form perfectly, particularly when paired with 18-inch black steel wheels on Bridgestone All-Terrain’s.
Power comes from BMW’s 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six petrol engine; the much-lauded B58. It’s an inspired choice: smooth, torquey, proven, and widely regarded as one of the most dependable modern performance engines in production. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it delivers effortless progress on-road while retaining the durability required for serious off-road work. It never feels stressed, never theatrical – just relentlessly capable.
The Grenadier’s interior tells you everything you need to know about its priorities. In an era dominated by screens and buried menus, this cabin is unapologetically physical. Toggle switches, rocker buttons, and aviation-style controls are laid out with clarity and intent. Everything falls to hand, everything does exactly what it says it will. It’s an environment designed to be used repeatedly, in gloves, in mud, in bad weather – and to still make sense years from now.
Specification on this car leans heavily toward real-world utility. Front and rear locking differentials, safari windows, access ladder, external utility belt, lockable spare wheel storage, auxiliary charge points, and a fold-down tailgate camp table reinforce the Grenadier’s original brief. Heated front seats, rubber floor mats, heated washer jets and power-heated mirrors ensure daily usability isn’t sacrificed in the process.
A particularly telling detail is the full set of sand-coloured seat covers. Not an option to specify more interesting colours at the time of ordering, so these were fitted from new – improving the cabin’s aesthetic for those who understand the Grenadier’s design language, while preserving the original seats beneath in perfect, unmarked condition. It’s a small decision that speaks volumes.
As a Station Wagon, the rear seating in this example has been set one notch further back, increasing legroom for rear passengers without materially affecting load space. It’s a subtle adjustment, easily reversed, but one that improves long-distance comfort – again, a sign of thoughtful ownership rather than box-ticking. That same thinking extends to the windows: no privacy glass thankfully, but importantly, they have been ‘green tinted’ – visually it preserves the Grenadier’s clean, understated look, yet it takes the edge off glare and heat, keeping the cabin comfortable without compromising the car’s aesthetic.
Delivered new on 28 April 2023 to its first and only owner, the car has been serviced on time, with the most recent visit in October 2025. The balance of its five-year manufacturer warranty remains until April 2028, offering reassurance alongside its already robust engineering.
The Grenadier isn’t trying to be clever. It isn’t chasing trends. It doesn’t apologise for being heavy, mechanical, or uncompromising. It simply fills a gap that shouldn’t have been left open for so long. In this specification — restrained, intelligent, and quietly purposeful – it feels exactly as it should.
