Serious Off-Road Luxury

I recently had the opportunity to drove the Lexus GX, Land Rover Defender 110, and INEOS Grenadier back-to-back-to-back. All three were driven within weeks of each-other in Los Angeles, CA – and I’ve previously taken all three off-road in the Rocky Mountains. Despite their two-box silhouette, beefy off-road chops, and macho swagger, they are completely different from each-other.

While I did do a comparison between the Lexus GX and INOES Grenadier in a recent post, the Land Rover 110 desperately needed to be part of a comparison as well. All three of these vehicles can hover around the $80,000-zone, and all three fight for a similar consumer demographic. That’s where their similarities drift apart.

Let’s break it down.

Old School vs New School vs Somewhere In Between

The Lexus GX sticks to tradition. It’s body-on-frame, uses a solid rear axle, and leans heavily into durability and long-term ownership. It feels like a modern interpretation of a classic Land Cruiser formula.

The Defender 110 is the opposite. It’s a unibody SUV packed with electronics, air suspension, and terrain management systems. It’s engineered to make off-roading easy, even for beginners.

Then there’s the Grenadier. This thing is unapologetically old school. Ladder frame, solid axles front and rear, mechanical locking differentials, and minimal electronic interference. It feels like something built for expeditions, not Whole Foods.

Three vehicles. Three completely different ideologies.

Off-Road Capability: Who Actually Wins?

Let’s be clear: all three are extremely capable. But how they get there matters.

The Defender 110 is probably the easiest to drive off-road. Its Terrain Response system, adjustable air suspension, and excellent traction control allow it to walk through difficult terrain with minimal driver input. Even with the totally inadequate wheels and tires provided by the automaker, it is remarkably capable.

The Grenadier is the purist’s choice. Solid axles, available triple locking differentials, and a proper low-range setup mean it thrives in slow, technical terrain. It requires more skill, but rewards it. This is the one you take into the middle of nowhere. There are compromises, but that’s part of its charm.

The GX lands somewhere in the middle. It has real hardware like a locking differential and advanced crawl systems, but it’s still tuned for comfort and usability. It’s extremely capable, just not as extreme out of the box as the Grenadier. If there were such a thing as, “Goldilocks” in this trio – it may be the GX.

If you’re asking which one is “best,” it depends on you.

If you want tech to do the work, it’s the Defender.
If you want to do the work yourself, it’s the Grenadier.
If you want a balance, it’s the GX.

On-Road Driving: The Reality Check

Here’s where things start to separate quickly.

The Defender 110 is easily the best daily driver. Its independent suspension and available air suspension give it a composed, comfortable ride that feels genuinely premium. Even the steel-spring versions I’ve driven in the past, are superior to the others. Simply put, the Land Rover handles more like a car than the others.

The Lexus GX is solid and refined, but you feel the body-on-frame roots. It’s comfortable, but not particularly sporty. It leans more toward traditional SUV driving dynamics. I do think it has the best highway ride, and it’s remarkably quiet inside. It’s the most comfortable a well.

The Grenadier is… a truck. Steering feel, ride quality, and general refinement all take a back seat to durability. Recent updates have improved it, but it still feels purpose-built rather than polished. It performs better on the highway than before, and it’s far easier to control, but it’s far more primitive than the others. It’s turning circle is still massive, and that’s after they improved the steering box.

If you commute every day, this matters more than you think.

Power and Performance

The GX’s twin-turbo V6 delivers strong torque and excellent towing capability, over 9,000 pounds in some configurations. It has a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine making 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission, both of which are sourced from the Tundra, but retuned for the GX.

The Defender offers the widest range of engines by far, from efficient four-cylinders to powerful inline-sixes and even a supercharged V8. It’s the performance leader here. I opted to compare the Defender X-Dynamic SE as the engine upgrade (from the 4-cylinder) is the P400. It’s a turbocharged, 3.0-liter Inline-6, with a mild hybrid that makes 395 HP and 406 lb-ft of torque. It’s rated to tow up to 8,200-lbs in this configuration.

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The Grenadier keeps it simple with BMW-sourced, 3.0-liter, inline-six engines. It makes 282 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. They’re solid and dependable, but not particularly quick. It’s paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain was specially tunned for use in the Grenadier. It’s rated to tow just over 7,700-lbs.

In a straight line, the Defender dominates. The GX is strong and usable. The Grenadier is adequate. Handling, it’s also all Defender. The GX is more than competent, but it feels as heavy as it is. The Grenadier… well, it’s a truck. Drives like one, steers like one and handles like one. Solid front and rear axles, and a beefy frame will do that.

Interior and Luxury

This is where the GX makes its case.

The Lexus interior is the most traditionally luxurious, with excellent materials, quietness, and build quality. It feels like it will still be solid a decade from now. If you opt for the Overtrail package, you get seating for five, otherwise, it’s a six or seven seater. Either way, the overall design is pleasing. It also features a 14-inch touchscreen display, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

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The Defender is modern and tech-forward. Big screens, clean design, and lots of clever storage solutions. It feels premium, but in a contemporary way. I find the seats to be a bit firm, but forgiving. This is one of the few vehicles in this class that finds parity with the external, and internal design. It now has a 13.1-inch curved glass touchscreen as standard across all models. It also supports standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Grenadier is intentionally utilitarian. Rubberized surfaces, millions of physical switches, and a focus on durability over design. It’s cool, but not plush. This is the only vehicle that offers a pickup truck variant (the Quartermaster), but no third-row option. The back seats are a little cramped, by comparison.

Luxury means different things here.

The Intangible Factor

This segment is as much about emotion as capability. That’s where everything seems to go askew. While the GX is, by far, the best compromise, it lacks that curbside appeal of the others. I think it’s handsome enough, but it doesn’t give off that nostalgic vibe of the INEOS Grenadier, or the Defender.

The INEOS Grenadier has become quite a statement among off-road enthusiasts AND people who want the newest, coolest thing. All this, before considering the consequences. I see tons of Grenadiers running around the swanky parts of Southern California. A majority are slated for commuting and grocery-getter work. I give this a bit of an emotional eye-roll, knowing the potential, and seeing it misused.

Honestly, many of the fashion forward elite who want that boxy, old-school look, but may falter as they pilot an actual truck, may find the Defender 110 to be a better choice. It can be made to look pretty cool, with a hint of nostalgia, while being thoroughly modern. You’ll find it an easier vehicle to commute, live with and park.

And that matters.

Final Thoughts

The Lexus GX, Land Rover Defender 110, and INEOS Grenadier are all legitimate off-road machines with luxury intentions. But they are not interchangeable, and they’re not for everyone.

• If you want the best all-around luxury off-roader, get the Defender.
• If you want comfort, durability and long-term ownership, get the GX.
• If you want the most hardcore, no-nonsense tool for real off-road work, get the Grenadier.

There is no wrong choice here, as long as you’re honest with yourself.

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