CAR COMPARISONS

Minggu, 01 Mei 2022

2023 Ineos Grenadier price and specs: Petrol or diesel power, but no advanced safety tech

The Ineos Grenadier will reach Australia later this year with a choice of three model grades priced from $84,500 plus on-road costs. However, autonomous emergency braking and other advanced safety aids will not be available on any model.

2023 Ineos Grenadier pricing and specifications
Petrol or diesel engines available, with two or five seats
Permanent 4WD, low-range transfer case, locking centre diff standard
No advanced safety technology available, months before government cut-off
Priced from $84,500 before on-road costs

Pricing and specifications have been announced for the 2023 Ineos Grenadier – the hardcore four-wheel drive from British start-up Ineos Automotive – before order books open later this month.

Inspired by the original Land Rover Defender, the Ineos Grenadier four-wheel-drive will offer the choice of a two-seat commercial ‘utility wagon’ priced from $84,500 plus on-road costs, or a five-seat passenger ‘station wagon’ for an extra $1000.

Ineos will offer buyers the choice between 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines sourced from BMW – with eight-speed automatic gearboxes and permanent four-wheel drive – for no extra cost.

In addition to the base models, customers can choose from a more utilitarian Trialmaster variant, or a more luxurious Fieldmaster, both priced from $95,495 plus on-road costs with two seats, or $96,495 with five.

While all models are equipped with LED headlights, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and climate control, advanced safety features such as autonomous emergency braking or lane-keeping assistance will not be available on any variant.

Autonomous emergency braking will be mandatory for all new passenger and light commercial vehicles launched in Australia from March 2023 – but the Grenadier’s late 2022 planned launch will see it beat this deadline.

Ineos Asia-Pacific boss Justin Hocevar has previously told Drive the company will fit “as much safety equipment into the vehicle as possible,” including “airbags and other contemporary safety systems that you’d find in other vehicles.”

However, a specification sheet published by Ineos Australia only lists safety features such as six airbags, and the government-mandated anti-lock braking and electronic traction/stability control systems – with front parking sensors not standard across the range.

With no autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring or any other advanced safety aids, a five-star ANCAP safety rating for the new off-roader will be unlikely – making it off-limits to many fleet buyers.

As reported previously, Ineos is understood to be hoping its low sales volumes will see it avoid the scrutiny of Australian and European NCAP safety authorities.

Ineos will initially sell its vehicles in Australia through a network of 28 showrooms – made up of traditional car dealers, four-wheel-drive specialist retailers, and agricultural equipment dealers in metro and regional areas (detailed here) – with non-negotiable, fixed prices.

The Grenadier will be offered with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing to be conducted through Ineos retailers, plus a number of Bosch service centres and specific 4WD workshops around Australia.

Service intervals are every 12 months in normal conditions, or six months “for continuous use in tough environments”.

Powering the Grenadier is a choice of two BMW engines: a 3.0-litre ‘B58’ turbo inline six-cylinder petrol with 210kW and 450Nm, or a 3.0-litre ‘B57’ twin-turbo inline-six diesel quoting 183kW and 550Nm.

Above: Grenadier Utility Wagon base model.

Both engines power all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission designed by Germany’s ZF – shared with everything from BMWs and Land Rovers to Volkswagens and Ram utes – and permanent four-wheel drive.

Highlights for off-road buyers include a two-speed transfer case, up to three differential locks (centre is standard, front and rear optional), solid beam axles from Italy’s Carraro (which supplies tractor companies), Eibach coil-spring suspension and a steel box-section frame.

Other highlights include a choice of Bridgestone or BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres, brakes from Italy’s Brembo, CV joints and propshaft suspension parts from off-road specialist Dana, and Off-Road and Wading drive modes.

Above: Grenadier Fieldmaster five-seater.

Off-road specifications are as follows: 36.2-degree approach angle, 28.2-degree breakover, 36.1-degree departure, 264mm of ground clearance, 800mm maximum wading depth, more than 600mm of suspension travel, and nine degrees of front and 12 degrees of rear axle articulaton.

All models are capable of towing 3.5 tonnes, with a braked trailer attached.

The two-seat (but still five-door) Utility Wagon can house a standard Euro pallet – with a total of 2088 litres of space – while the five-seat Station Wagon offers 1152 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats up, or 2035 litres with the second row down.

Payload (without driver) ranges from 810kg in the diesel five-seater, to 906kg in the petrol two-seater. 150kg of dynamic and 420kg of static roof load is supported.

Above: Grenadier Trialmaster five-seater.

Order books for the 2023 Ineos Grenadier are due to open on 18 May on Ineos’ website – with a $5000 deposit required, which is refundable until the vehicle contract is signed.

The first cars are expected to reach customers’ hands in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2022 (October to December).

The Grenadier will be built in a factory in Hambach, France – formerly owned by Mercedes-Benz, and used for its Smart car range – from July 2022. Over 1.8 million kilometres of testing has occurred globally, Ineos says, in regions from Sweden and Austria to the Middle East and Australia.

2023 Ineos Grenadier Australian pricing

Grenadier (base) Utility Wagon two-seater – $84,500
Grenadier (base) Station Wagon five-seater – $85,500
Grenadier Utility Wagon Trialmaster Edition two-seater – $95,495
Grenadier Station Wagon Trialmaster Edition five-seater – $96,495
Grenadier Utility Wagon Fieldmaster Edition two-seater – $95,495
Grenadier Station Wagon Fieldmaster Edition five-seater – $96,495

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs. Petrol and diesel engines available for the same price.

2023 Ineos Grenadier standard features (base model):

Choice of BMW petrol or diesel engines
17-inch steel wheels with full-size spare
Bridgestone all-terrain tyres
Centre differential lock
Front, rear and fuel tank skid plates
LED headlights, daytime-running lights and tail-lights
30:70 split rear doors
Roof rails and protection strips
12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and digital radio
Pathfinder off-road navigation
Cloth and vinyl upholstery
Eight-way manually-adjustable Recaro front seats
Automatic climate control (with second-row vents in five-seater)
Auto up/down electric windows
Manually-adjustable mirrors
Heated rear window
Heavy-duty flooring with drain valves
Water-resistance interior
10 (five-seater) or 12 (two-seater) interior tie-down points
Two front USB ports and one 12-volt port
Two front and two rear towing eyes
Auxiliary switch panel
Front, front-side and curtain airbags (six in total)
Anti-lock brakes and traction/stability control
Reversing camera
Rear parking sensors
Manual cruise control
Tyre pressure monitoring
Off-road and wading modes
Uphill and downhill control modes

2023 Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster Edition adds (over base):

Rough Pack (includes front and rear differential locks, and BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres)
Smooth Pack, which includes:
- Front parking sensors
- Heated electric side mirrors
- Heated windscreen washer jets
- Lockable centre storage box, Interior ambient lighting
- Exterior puddle lighting
- Auxiliary charge points
- Advanced anti-theft alarm and immobiliser
Exterior utility belt
Access ladder
Interior utility rails
Class III 1-7/8″ NAS tow hitch and electrics
Auxiliary battery
Compass with altimeter
Raised air intake

2023 Ineos Grenadier Fieldmaster Edition adds (over base):

Smooth Pack only
17-inch alloy wheels
Locking wheel nuts
Access ladder
‘Safari’ top-side windows (on edge of roof)
Leather upholstery (black or grey/black)
Heated front seats
Carpet floor mats
Compass with altimeter
Class III 1-7/8″ NAS tow hitch and electrics

For a full list of every standard feature, optional extra and accessory available with the Ineos Grenadier, see the galleries below.

The post 2023 Ineos Grenadier price and specs: Petrol or diesel power, but no advanced safety tech appeared first on Drive.

2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition review

The Skoda Kamiq lines up against some big players in a competitive small SUV segment and it doesn’t come cheap, even for the entry-level Ambition, so is it worth the coin?

What we love

Standard features are plentiful
Spacious interior with ample boot space
Modern styling is a head-turner

What we don’t

The dual-clutch transmission is jerky and no match for the engine
No DAB digital radio
Costly for an entry-level small SUV offering

Introduction

We recently got the keys to the Skoda Kamiq. There are three models on offer, and the one I’ll tell you all about here is the 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition, which opens the range.

A small SUV attracts a broad audience – not just working as the bridge from a small hatch to a city car, but it serves as a family car and everyday urban runabout too.

While not saturated, buyers are spoiled with choice with 17 brands swimming in the small SUV pool. Interestingly, it’s not just the mainstays filling the top spots, with challengers such as MG dominant in the class with the now popular MG ZS.

The Skoda Kamiq may not be frequenting the top three positions, but the brand owes a lot of its success in Australia to this car, with 33 per cent of last year’s sales attributed to this compact SUV.

As mentioned, the one we tested was the base model. It starts at $37,990 drive-away with an automatic transmission.

This sounds fairly costly for a non-prestige small SUV, seeing as though its competitors open their ranges at a more cost-effective price point, with the MG ZST Excite starting at $25,490 drive-away, but sits closer to something like the Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure that starts at $33,376 drive-away (in Melbourne).

For a fairer comparison, though, we’ll put the Skoda Kamiq up against the range-topping MG ZST Essence at $33,490 drive-away and the Mazda CX-30 G20 Evolve, one step up from the Pure, at $36,770 plus on-roads.

While the Skoda is not the cheapest offering in the category, there’s plenty to sway you if you’re shopping down this aisle. A stylish, sporty-looking SUV, it’s not just its looks worth boasting about, it’s a pragmatic vehicle too.

In the way of standard features, you get bang for buck as they’ve really packed plenty into a lower-grade model.

These include interior ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, keyless entry and push-button start, height-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, power tailgate, multifunction flat-bottom steering wheel, automatic headlights, privacy glass, silver roof rails, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, to name a few.

If you want to add some extra frills, then you can pay for a panoramic roof that will set you back $1300, plus there’s the optional tow bar for an additional $2000.

Key details	2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition
Price (MSRP)	$37,990 drive-away
Colour of test car	Candy White
Options	None
Price as tested	$37,990 drive-away
Rivals	MG ZST \| Mazda CX-30 \| Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Inside

First impressions last, and I got a really good feeling when I first jumped in the cabin of this Skoda. The interior is a really pleasant place to be, keeping in mind that this isn’t one of the available higher-grade models.

With clever contrasting of materials on the dash, seats and doors, they’ve managed to cover any nasties well. While not leather, the fabric upholstery on the seats is aesthetically pleasing and the seats themselves offer plenty of support – the front-row seats aren’t electric, but do offer lumbar support.

What’s more, the cabin is simplistic with very few buttons and dials cluttering the surfaces. The steering wheel has a real presence – flat-bottomed, sporty-looking and wrapped in leather. The steering wheel buttons are just enough and not too convoluted like many other brands.

The front row scores ample storage for a vehicle of this size with a cubby in between the two cupholders, decent-sized door bins, centre compartment and glovebox. Other accoutrements include a wireless charging pad and the pop-out umbrella in the door – a nice surprise and very Rolls-Royce-esque.

The rear seats offer more than enough space for adults in the way of leg and head room. You’ll only find seat heating in the higher-grade models; however, there are two USB-C ports, seat back pockets, dedicated air vents, door bins, and ISOFIX mountings points on offer.

The 400L boot can be accessed via a power tailgate. With the rear seats folded there’s 1395L on offer. A real winner up against its head-to-head rivals with the MG at 359L and the Mazda at 317L.

Not only is the boot large but it’s deep too, with storage on both sides, plus it comes complete with top tether points and hooks for added convenience. One thing it lacks, though, is a space-saver spare wheel.

	2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition
Seats	Five
Boot volume	400L seats up / 1395L seats folded
Length	4241mm
Width	1793mm
Height	1531mm
Wheelbase	2651mm

Infotainment and Connectivity

There’s good and bad news – let’s start with the bad first. I still can’t get my head around the fact that a lot of the Volkswagen Group vehicles still don’t offer DAB radio.

So no, the Kamiq is not equipped with this. Good news, it does have both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired). Note that if you don’t have a newer iPhone, this car is equipped with updated USB-C ports only… Time to upgrade your cable!

All of this can be accessed within the 8.0-inch infotainment display – a high-resolution and easy system that you should become familiar with pretty quickly. Functions such as connecting Bluetooth and flicking through menu options are all simple to grasp.

One nifty addition is the full-sized 10.25 digital instrument cluster, which is a real stand-out in the cabin and allows for effortless switching between the different screens.

Safety and Technology

In the way of safety, the Skoda Kamiq is equipped with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, fatigue detection, multi-collision brake, rear manoeuvre braking assist, adaptive cruise control, and rear-view camera.

None of these functions startled me or were too intrusive, which is a tick in my eyes. Similar to vehicle styling, though, this comes under the personal choice column.

The Kamiq was awarded five stars from ANCAP in 2019 and is rated a 9/10 from How Safe Is Your Car. Keep in mind that since 2019, ANCAP scoring has becoming much more stringent.

	2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition
ANCAP rating	Five stars (tested 2019)
Safety report	Link to ANCAP

Value for Money

Every Skoda is supported by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Services occur every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first). The warranty is on par with industry standards and in line with Mazda; however, brands like MG and Kia offer seven years, and Mitsubishi up to 10 years.

In terms of servicing, buyers also have the option of service packs – three years/45,000km for $800, or five years/75,000km at $1400.

At a glance	2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition
Warranty	Five years / unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs	Three years (45,000km) for $800, or five years at $1400

Fuel consumption is an area where the Skoda Kamiq shines with the brand claiming a combined 5.6L per 100km. We returned a very respectable reading of 5.5L per 100km.

While there are a bunch of alternatives on offer in the market, the price tag seems fairly justified for the ample features on offer. Depending on how far you can stretch your budget, you won’t have to go trawling through an options list to add bits and bobs. It’s economical, has ample safety, and is a stylish alternative to others in the segment.

Fuel Useage	Fuel Stats
Fuel cons. (claimed)	5.6L/100km
Fuel cons. (on test)	5.5L/100km
Fuel type	95-octane premium unleaded
Fuel tank size	50L

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Driving

First things first, let’s take numbers. The Skoda Kamiq packs a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which is capable of 110kW at 6000rpm and 250Nm at 1500–3500rpm. This is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

The ride height and seat positioning are near perfect making for comfortable outings. The front and side visibility get a tick, but the rear is a little hampered due to its smaller rear window design.

While the turbo provides some bite, the engine isn’t always well-matched to the transmission. The dual-clutch is jerky in some conditions and stops you from gaining that immediate power that would otherwise be there off the line. That’s the only real shortfall.

Once you get up to speed, the response improves remarkably providing a smooth, much more sporty drive. Even without a Sport drive-mode option, it cruises with plenty of punch and delivery feels linear.

The ride is impressive offering a balanced and defined drive, with the 18-inch wheels capable of plenty of grip through corners, with tyre noise rarely plugging into the cabin when on coarser roads.

Speaking of which, there’s no throw-around on the bumpier surfaces either. The Kamiq takes to harsher roads well, proving to be more than just an urban hopper – it works on longer drives out of town too.

Bottom line, my gripe with the Skoda is its transmission. That aside, you’ve got yourself a pretty neat drive – nice steering, a good engine, and an overall pleasant cruise behind the wheel.

Key details	2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	110kW at 6000rpm
Torque	250Nm at 1500–3500rpm
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Transmission	Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
Power to weight ratio	88.9kW/t
Weight (tare)	1237kg
Tow rating	1250kg braked, 630kg unbraked

Conclusion

The Skoda Kamiq, while a little costly in its class, has plenty of impressive facets that might win you over even in this entry model. Its standard features alone speak for themselves.

It’s also a more stylish and sporty offering in its segment, offers ample safety, is economical, and overall a very handsome package.

The post 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition review appeared first on Drive.