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.

2024 Toyota Prado has new on-board technology for better off-roading. Will this be the new 4x4 king and outplay the Isuzu MU-X, Jeep Wrangler and even the 300 Series LandCruiser?

10 February 2024 by Marcus Craft

Best aftermarket mods and products for your 4x4 off-roader revealed! How to kit out your Toyota LandCruiser, Ford Ranger or Nissan Patrol for a real off-road adventure | Opinion

4 February 2024 by Marcus Craft

Some off-road vehicles are capable of being driven straight out of the...Read more

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid over Tesla Model Y! Why buying a hybrid car instead of an electric car makes a lot of sense | Opinion

28 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

As much as some of us love them, internal combustion engine (ICE)...Read more

Everyone should own a 4WD! Here's why off-roaders like a Toyota Prado, Isuzu MU-X, Nissan Patrol and more should be the vehicle of choice for Australians | Opinion

27 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

Everyone should own a four-wheel drive (4WD).

There I’ve said it...Read more

Why you should buy an AWD SUV over a 4WD: Off-roaders like Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series are too much vehicle for most owners | Opinion

20 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

A lot of people buy a four-wheel drive (4WD) and then never drive it on...Read more

Nissan Patrol 2024 review: Warrior off-road Adventure test

16 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

A few years back, as part of Nissan Australia’s Warrior program, local automotive engineering company Premcar was given free rein to transform a good 4WD ute – the Navara – into a hard-core beast and the Navara Pro-4X Warrior was the result. Now, it’s the Patrol’s turn. The Patrol Warrior is bigger...Read more

Why the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon shouldn't be overlooked as your new 4WD | Opinion

13 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is one of those vehicles that occupies a...Read more

Jeep Gladiator 2024 review: Rubicon - off-road test

13 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

Vehicle marketers are guilty of tapping deep veins of hyperbole when talking about any vehicle that might have even a remote chance of venturing off a sealed surface. They use terms such as "off-road" and "adventure" and "off-grid" with such careless abandon these days that those utterances and the...Read more

Ultimate glamping companion? LG's Bon Voyage camper-trailer has a fridge, bed and much more!

11 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

High-tech glamping on wheels just might be the future of camping if LG...Read more

Watch out, Isuzu MU-X! Why the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport should be on your new 4WD shopping list | Opinion

7 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has never quite hit the sales heights that...Read more

Overlooked off-road SUVs: The 2024 GWM Tank 300 might be a cut-price Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender, but is it a genuine off roader? | Opinion

5 January 2024 by Marcus Craft

Suffice to say, the GWM Tank 300 has a fair few tongues a-wagging....Read more

Is the 2024 Nissan Patrol an overlooked 4WD? The Toyota LandCruiser rival might be big and bulky but here is why it's an ideal off-roader | Opinion

29 December 2023 by Marcus Craft

The Nissan Patrol is a large comfortable 4WD wagon – there’s no...Read more

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2024 review: Summit Reserve 4xe

28 December 2023 by Marcus Craft

Jeep Australia's first plug-in hybrid, the Grand Cherokee 4xe, has arrived at a time when the company’s sales figures need a decent shot in the arm. Though it’s seemingly spearheading a large and extra-large SUV hybrid push into the Aussie market, with the likes of a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series...Read more

Deciding between a new or used 4WD? These are the positives and negatives of both 4x4 buying options | Opinion

23 December 2023 by Marcus Craft

Buying a 4WD is one of the biggest purchases you could ever make in...Read more

Toyota RAV4 2024 review: Cruiser 2WD Hybrid

16 December 2023 by Marcus Craft

The Toyota RAV4 has long been one of the most popular medium SUVs on the Aussie market. In recent years, however, it has faced increasingly intense competition from its rivals. And as car buyers move towards alternative energy sources and lower emissions, the hybrid realm has swiftly become a hotly...Read more