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.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2021 review: GXL off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 23 Nov 2020

Toyota's Prado is not the most exciting vehicle in the brand's 4WD stable, but it's certainly one of the best all-round quiet achievers in that mob. It's been looking and feeling a little bit old in recent years but Toyota is hoping a range refresh has remedied that problem. The new Prado has more power and torque, a bigger multimedia screen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Read the article

Aussie camper and caravan sales spike

By Marcus Craft · 22 Nov 2020

Caravan and camper-trailer sales are booming as travel-starved Australians hit the road – and the tracks – on their post-lockdown adventures.

Read the article

Volkswagen Touareg 2021 review: Adventure off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 09 Nov 2020

It's back and there are only 150 of them available: it's the VW Touareg Adventure and it's ready for off-road action. Or is it?Based on the 190TDI Premium, the Adventure packs a lot of driver-assist tech and off-road wizardry into a plush package that may be right up your dirt track.Among its features are a tweaked off-road system, a 90-litre fuel tank, and heavier-duty underbody protection.

Read the article

Top five most fuel-efficient utes

By Marcus Craft · 05 Nov 2020

After safety, a vehicle's fuel-efficiency is one of the major factors in a car buyer's decision-making process.

Read the article

Mazda BT-50 2021 review: GT off-road test

By Marcus Craft · 20 Oct 2020

Mazda's BT-50, once based on the Ford Ranger platform, is now essentially an all-new Isuzu D-Max with Mazda styling. As well, the new ute has a new look, a new engine (producing less power and torque than in the previous-generation BT-50), and it has a market-leading level of safety tech.The new D-Max has impressed us, but how will the BT-50, effectively the Isuzu's twin, perform on- and off-road?

Read the article

Volkswagen Amarok 2021 review: XXL GVM test

By Marcus Craft · 09 Oct 2020

Super-sized US-style pick-ups - like the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado - are hot stuff right now, but modified versions of existing Aussie-market utes are another way to get yourself into a jumbo utility. Adelaide-based Adaptive Manufacturing is responsible for VW-approved Amarok conversions, which add 650mm to the ute's wheelbase, and Pedders GVM upgrades, which boost GVM from 3080kg to 3305kg.

Read the article

What is a grey nomad?

By Marcus Craft · 08 Oct 2020

For a fair few years now, grey nomads have been doing their Big Lap (driving around Australia), or criss-crossing the country in their motorhome, SUV or 4WD, often with a caravan or camper-trailer in tow.

Read the article

Top five luxury utes

By Marcus Craft · 07 Oct 2020

'Luxury' and 'ute' are two words that, in the past, never spent any time in the same sentence together - and if they did there was always an uncomfortable silence between the two.

Read the article

Toyota HiLux 2021 review: SR Extra Cab 4x2 Hi-Rider

By Marcus Craft · 30 Sep 2020

The New Toyota HiLux has more power and torque, bigger and better multimedia screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, upgraded suspension and a bit of a new look – on the outside, at least. But it's still on an ageing platform and, in Australia's tough, extremely competitive ute market, are the new changes enough to keep HiLux fans faithful?

Read the article

Nissan Patrol 2020 review: Ti off-road

By Marcus Craft · 28 Sep 2020

We test the updated Nissan Patrol on- and off-road to see if it can regain ground in its traditional tussle for 4WD supremacy with long-time rival, the Toyota LandCruiser. The big Nissan wagon has more safety gear, but it also has a heftier price-tag, so it is worth your time and money?

Read the article