Articles by Marcus Craft
16 September 2020 by Marcus Craft
Toyota's Landcruiser 76 Series wagon occupies a small, very specific niche all of its own: it's very capable off-road but it's not pretty, it's not that comfortable, it drives like a truck, and it offers few, if any, real concessions to occupant safety. However, I reckon those characteristics are...Read more
3 September 2020 by Marcus Craft
This is the new D-Max – and when I say 'new' – I mean it. It has a new exterior, a new reengineered engine – producing more power and more torque than the previous-generation D-Max – and it now has a rear diff lock... and that's a new and much-needed addition! The new D-Max officially went on-sale...Read more
28 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
The D200 is the base-spec diesel variant in the new Land Rover Defender...Read more
28 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
The D240 is the mid-range diesel variant in the Defender range. It has a 2...Read more
28 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
The Land Rover Defender has always been synonymous with off-road adventure. All of us have a Defender memory or experience – or perhaps many memories and many experiences – and all of us have, at least, one friend or relative who is a mad-keen, die-hard Defender-lover. Even those people with little...Read more
28 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
The P400 is the petrol MHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle) variant in the...Read more
17 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
In a van market bustling with multi-skilled variants from plenty of marques, Peugeot more than holds its own. Sure, the brand is beloved of many Europeans and Pomgolians (those who reside in the UK), but Peugeot sure has its own fan base here in the Antipodes as well. We tested a Peugeot Partner...Read more
17 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
Toyota's C-HR set hearts a-racing and tongues a-wagging when it launched here a few years back. Here was a super-stylised compact that wowed the crowds, and it rattled the cage of the mini SUV market, good and proper... but since then, as with all things, the small SUV pack has moved on and...Read more
11 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
In a hotly-contested ute market, the Nissan Navara sits comfortably somewhere in the middle of the pack – in terms of many aspects, including pricing, quality and reputation. Since March this year, Nissan reckons the new Navara line-up has benefitted from improved NVH (noise, vibration and...Read more
6 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
If you’re a fan of the Toyota LandCruiser – and, let's face it, who isn't...Read more
4 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
A tweaked 200 Series is expected here soon-ish, but the next generation Toyota LandCruiser, the 300 Series, is expected here in the not-too-distant future, and that will reportedly have a smaller engine (a choice of V6 diesel, petrol or petrol/hybrid) and an even bigger price-tag all-round than the...Read more
3 August 2020 by Marcus Craft
The Toyota Prado is very popular with surburbanites and adventurers, because it manages to strike a decent balance between being a nice-driving and practical family mover and a very capable 4WD. The entry-level Prado , the GX, lacks many of the additions, substantial and otherwise, that are in the...Read more
24 July 2020 by Marcus Craft
The LandCruiser Troop Carrier has been around for donkey's years - it's part of Toyota's legendary 70 Series range – but it was last refreshed in 2016 as part of the line-up's rejuvenation at the time. Its 4WDing heritage is undeniable and this tourer's status as a solid bush-tourer is further...Read more
22 July 2020 by Marcus Craft
The Suzuki Jimny needs no introduction. This small, go-anywhere fun machine captured people's hearts, minds and cash when it arrived here rebooted last year and since then demand for them has been so high, some people are still waiting for their new Zook. Patience is apparently the name of the game...Read more
14 July 2020 by Marcus Craft
Using a vehicle every day – driving it, parking it, and packing it with groceries and kids (mostly your own, of course, and sometimes their mates) – you get a real sense of its strengths and weaknesses. Dual cab utes – Ranger , BT-50 , Amarok , D-Max , Navara , et al – are increasingly...Read more
14 July 2020 by Marcus Craft
When you’re out in the bush or at sea and you’re lost or someone in...Read more
10 July 2020 by Marcus Craft
No matter how near or far your off-road adventures may take you – whether you’re only heading into a national park 50km from your house, or you’re tackling a two-week expedition across the Simpson Desert – you always need several levels of reliable communication. A fully-charged / chargeable...Read more
10 July 2020 by Marcus Craft
Towards the budget end of the ute market is pretty busy and the quality of these cheaper and cheerful workhorses is improving all the time. The new Chinese-built LDV T60 Trailrider 2 has had a few minor styling changes, but the big news is the new smaller engine – at 2.0-litre – is smaller than...Read more
