Articles by Marcus Craft

Marcus Craft

Contributing Journalist

Raised by dingoes and, later, nuns, Marcus (aka ‘Crafty’) had his first taste of adventure as a cheeky toddler on family 4WD trips to secret fishing spots near Bundaberg, Queensland. He has since worked as a journalist for more than 20 years in Australia, London and Cape Town and has been an automotive journalist for 18 years.

This bloke has driven and camped throughout much of Australia – for work and play – and has written yarns for pretty much every mag you can think of.

The former editor of 4X4 Australia magazine, Marcus is one of the country’s most respected vehicle reviewers and off-road adventure travel writers.

This bloke has driven and camped throughout much of Australia – for work and play – and has written yarns for pretty much every mag you can think of.

The former editor of 4X4 Australia magazine, Marcus is one of the country’s most respected vehicle reviewers and off-road adventure travel writers.

Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain vs Isuzu MU-X LS-T 4x4 3.0 2025 comparison review

9 August 2024 by Marcus Craft

How many electric cars catch fire every year?

9 August 2024 by Marcus Craft

Electric vehicles (EVs) are popular. And for good reason because, let’s...Read more

Chevrolet Silverado 2025 review: 2500 HD - off-road test

7 August 2024 by Marcus Craft

The age of US pick-ups in Australia is upon us. Whether you like them or hate them is inconsequential because their popularity far outweighs any qualms you might have about their presence on our roads or any perception of their impact on the environment. You can’t argue with the suitability of a US...Read more

What are the typical dimensions of a parking space in Australia?

6 August 2024 by Marcus Craft

As you squeeze your yoga-toned backside into your 6387mm long, 2263mm...Read more

Can passengers travel in the back of a ute?

5 August 2024 by Marcus Craft

When I was a kid growing up in that Golden Age – the oh-so-sweet ’70s...Read more

Two car garage dimensions - What is the standard double garage size?

22 July 2024 by Marcus Craft

What are the standard two car garage dimensions in Australia?

The...Read more

Toyota HiLux 2024 review: Rogue V-Active - off-road test

15 July 2024 by Marcus Craft

If you’re waiting for the first Toyota HiLux hybrid to arrive in Australia get ready to wait a bit longer because this is not it. This is the new HiLux Rogue with 'V-Active Technology', which is a combination of a motor generator, 48-volt battery and DC/DC converter aimed at improving performance...Read more

Volkswagen Amarok 2024 review: TDI600 Style

10 July 2024 by Marcus Craft

The Volkswagen Amarok has been around since 2011 and has attracted its fair share of awards and fans through the years. It long ago set the gold standard for refinement in utes, but the rest of the pack eventually caught up. In fact, some of them surpassed it. But the new-generation Amarok is here...Read more

GMW Cannon Alpha 2024 review: Lux Diesel - off-road test

4 July 2024 by Marcus Craft

The biggest news about this new Chinese-built ute – the GWM Cannon Alpha – is that there’s a petrol-hybrid version available – check out Byron Mathioudakis' review of it . The other big news about the Alpha is that our test vehicle has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine , which is new...Read more

Why cheaper Toyota Prado alternatives like the GWM Tank 300 and Mahindra Scorpio Z8L might be a better buy

30 June 2024 by Marcus Craft

With its new-generation LandCruiser Prado, Toyota may have this time...Read more

Ford Ranger 2024 review: Sport V6

15 June 2024 by Marcus Craft

The Ford Ranger remains the top-selling model in Australia’s ute market. The mid-spec Sport variant offers an appealing value-for-money pick in a busy Ranger line-up, but should you opt for the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel or the more expensive 3.0-litre V6? I’ve driven Ranger and Everest variants...Read more

How many cars can you buy, sell and own?

14 June 2024 by Marcus Craft

How many cars can you buy in a year?

At time of writing, an...Read more

The best canopies for your Ford Ranger

14 June 2024 by Marcus Craft

Utes have become the Swiss Army knives of the vehicle world. People...Read more

GWM Tank 500 2024 review: Lux Hybrid - off-road test

11 June 2024 by Marcus Craft

Chinese vehicles are improving all the time and the latest to hit our shores is a first for Australia’s off-roading community. It’s a petrol-hybrid 4WD with seven seats, high- and low-range gearing and a rear diff lock. It’s also a body-on-frame ladder chassis design with a packed standard features...Read more

Is this the ultimate ute? 2025 BYD Shark kicks off plug-in hybrid ute war with Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton | Opinion

8 June 2024 by Marcus Craft

We all want to prevent the world from turning into a natural disaster...Read more

Lexus LX 2024 review: 500d + EP 7-seat - off-road test

30 May 2024 by Marcus Craft

The Lexus LX line-up has a solid reputation as off-road vehicles and towing platforms. And there’s plenty of excitement about the new-generation Lexus LX500d because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series – it’s built on the same platform as the 300 and even has...Read more