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.

Isuzu D-Max 2023 review: LS-U cab chassis - off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 21 Sep 2022

The D-Max LS-U crew-cab-chassis 4x4 automatic is a new mid-spec variant in Isuzu's ute range. Cab-chassis utes offer owners a different level of flexibility in terms of load-carrying and this ute has an automatic transmission, a part-time 4WD system, and it certainly looks built for purpose - so, does it tick all of your boxes for a work-and-play ute?

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Kia Sorento 2023 review: Hybrid AWD - off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 14 Sep 2022

With affordable EVs some time away, car makers are busy trying to fill the void with hybrid electrical vehicles (HEVs).HEVs bridge the gap between internal combustion engine vehicles, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full-blown EVs.The Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is part of a new HEV wave that offers refinement, plenty of features, and impressive fuel consumption in an attractive package.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee 2023 review: L Summit Reserve - off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 14 Sep 2022

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has, in the past, been a popular tow vehicle, but with the top-spec seven-seater L Summit Reserve suffering a big drop in towing capacity from the previous-gen line-up's 3500kg mark to 2268kg, will this premium Grand Cherokee retain any favour with buyers?

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Volkswagen Caddy California 2023 review

By Marcus Craft · 11 Aug 2022

The VW Caddy California Maxi is the new compact camper van set to tap into the global appeal of #vanlife.Even though this kind of vehicle isn't a camper in the strictest of terms - it lacks everything beyond a bed - that hasn't fazed any owners of camper vans, or compact camper vans, or even those who are enamoured with the idea of car camping, more so than ever actually doing it.

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Isuzu D-Max 2022 review: LSU+ 3500km on and off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 05 Aug 2022

The D-Max is well established as a decent all-rounder and a solid touring and towing platform, but Isuzu has now boosted its ute line-up with some new variants, one of which is the LS-U+.The LS-U+ slots in at second-from-the-top-shelf and is equipped as standard with a tow bar receiver, and an extra 100kg of GVM (gross vehicle mass) over the 21MY D-Max LS-U.

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Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2022 review: GLS 2WD - off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 11 Jul 2022

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is one of the Australian 4WD market's quiet achievers and yet it's a big seller. Now two-wheel-drive five- and seven-seater variants have been added to expand the SUV wagon range.So, is a 2WD Pajero Sport worth checking out? Or does the absence of Mitsubishi's Super Select II 4WD system rob this SUV of much of its appeal?

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Audi Q5 2022 review: 35 TDI

By Marcus Craft · 24 Jun 2022

The Q5 35 TDI limited edition has arrived on our shores just as fuel prices hit new highs and so Audi's timing couldn't be more perfect. Because this entry-level Q5 is the most fuel-efficient diesel SUV in the Australian market, with an official combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km, Audi reckons. Too good to be true? There's only one way to find out...

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Volkswagen Touareg 2022 review: 210TDI R-Line - off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 20 Jun 2022

Contemporary large all-wheel drive SUVs, especially premium examples, are a pleasant balance of agreeable styling, supreme on-road comfort and at least some sort of capability to cope with traction-compromised surfaces. The 2022 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line has a price-tag upwards of $100k so a top-quality all-round driving experience is guaranteed, right?

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what3words comes to JLR

By Marcus Craft · 15 Jun 2022

Remote-area travellers taking their Land Rover Discovery or Defender out of phone-signal range needn’t worry about becoming lost in the middle of nowhere ever again.

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Nissan Patrol 2022 review: Ti - off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 04 Jun 2022

The Nissan Patrol mightn't be the newest off-road wagon on the market, but it is one of the best out-of-the-box 4x4 SUVs you can buy.

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