4XJournal Online Stories

Factory Form: GWM Cannon Hi4-T - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: GWM Cannon Hi4-T
There’s plenty to like about GWM’s plug-in hybrid Cannon. But after driving it, I’m more interested in how it delivers its power than how much it makes. Read more...
Factory Form: GWM Haval H7 - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: GWM Haval H7
With upright styling, electrified power and a locking rear differential, Haval’s new H7 has us thinking about the adventurous SUVs we grew up with. Read more...
Hankook Dynapro MT2: Built for the Journey - 4XJournal.com
Hankook Dynapro MT2: Built for the Journey
For Hankook ambassadors Hayden Jones and Ben Orchard, four-wheel driving has never been about building the biggest truck or tackling the hardest obstacle. Instead, it's about exploring New Zealand responsibly,... Read more...
Factory Form: Subaru Outback Wilderness - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: Subaru Outback Wilderness
As big-time Subaru fans, we get excited every time Subaru gives us something new. But who else does? Read more...
Nissan calls for 63 Patrols to gather at Muriwai - 4XJournal.com
Nissan calls for 63 Patrols to gather at Muriwai
From early classics to the outgoing V8-powered Y62, Nissan New Zealand is bringing generations of the Patrol together for a special gathering at Muriwai Beach. Read more...
Mid Canterbury 4WD club puts track care into action - 4XJournal.com
Mid Canterbury 4WD club puts track care into action
After off-track driving scarred a hillside near Ōtūwharekai/Ashburton Lakes, local four-wheel drivers worked with DOC to plant native trees and shrubs. The club did not cause the damage, but its... Read more...
GWM’s 3.0-litre diesel changes the game - 4XJournal.com
GWM’s 3.0-litre diesel changes the game
The Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 already had the 4WD hardware to be taken seriously. We drove both in and around Bunyip State Park to find out whether a new... Read more...
GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV lands below $60K - 4XJournal.com
GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV lands below $60K
With 310kW, 750Nm, a claimed 115km of electric range and 3500kg towing capacity, GWM’s latest plug-in hybrid ute will arrive in New Zealand later this month priced from $58,990 plus... Read more...
New Nissan Patrol lands from $120,990, with PRO-4X confirmed for NZ - 4XJournal.com
New Nissan Patrol lands from $120,990, with PRO-4X confirmed for NZ
The all-new Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in New Zealand with 700Nm, a 3700kg braked towing capacity and four grades, including the first Patrol PRO-4X offered here. Read more...
620Nm and 1800km-plus range: GWM’s new diesel Tank 500 is built to tour - 4XJournal.com
620Nm and 1800km-plus range: GWM’s new diesel Tank 500 is built to tour
GWM’s new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel produces a thumping 620Nm, while a massive 131-litre tank and claimed 7.1L/100km consumption gives the Tank 500 a theoretical range north of 1800km. Read more...
Defender Dakar brings Dakar-winning hardware to the road - 4XJournal.com
Defender Dakar brings Dakar-winning hardware to the road
Defender has pulled the covers off what could be one of the wildest factory 4x4s to wear number plates, revealing the first preview of the new Defender Dakar. Rather than... Read more...
GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV confirmed for New Zealand - 4XJournal.com
GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV confirmed for New Zealand
GWM is expanding its electrified ute range with the all-new Cannon Hi4-T PHEV, combining a 310kW plug-in hybrid powertrain, mechanical four-wheel drive and a claimed 115km of electric-only range. The... Read more...
All-new Nissan Patrol confirmed for New Zealand - 4XJournal.com
All-new Nissan Patrol confirmed for New Zealand
The next-generation Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in New Zealand in early 2027, bringing twin-turbo V6 power, adaptive air suspension and a major step forward in cabin technology. Read more...
GWM’s new 620Nm diesel outmuscles the Ranger V6 - 4XJournal.com
GWM’s new 620Nm diesel outmuscles the Ranger V6
GWM is preparing to introduce one of the most powerful diesel engines yet offered in a mainstream dual-cab ute, with its all-new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 170kW and a considerable 620Nm... Read more...
Campbell Pryce and the Rise of Surf Syndicate - 4XJournal.com
Campbell Pryce and the Rise of Surf Syndicate
Owning a Hilux Surf is a bit different to owning most four-wheel drives. The trucks themselves are easy enough to fall in love with. Finding the right parts, knowing what fits,... Read more...
Defender adds more choice for Kiwi adventurers with new Vertex flagship - 4XJournal.com
Defender adds more choice for Kiwi adventurers with new Vertex flagship
Land Rover has expanded its Defender range with a series of updates that continue to blur the line between premium SUV and genuine expedition vehicle. Leading the changes is the... Read more...
Discovery Landmark arrives as the new face of the iconic seven-seat SUV - 4XJournal.com
Discovery Landmark arrives as the new face of the iconic seven-seat SUV
For nearly four decades, the Discovery has carved out its own niche in the SUV market. It has always been the practical one in the Land Rover family, offering genuine... Read more...
Factory Form: 2026 Subaru Outback AWD Touring - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: 2026 Subaru Outback AWD Touring
In a way, I feel more qualified than most to write this story. I am, after all, a tragic Subaru enthusiast, having owned various models over the years. In total,... Read more...
Real-world tyre testing: Hankook’s off-road range PT2 - 4XJournal.com
Real-world tyre testing: Hankook’s off-road range PT2
Hankook Dynapro MT2 — wrap-up Back in Volume 006, we fitted a set of 265/70R17 Hankook Dynapro MT2 tyres to our Mitsubishi Pajero and spent time testing them, both on-road... Read more...
End of an Era: Last Chance to Buy a New V8 Patrol in New Zealand - 4XJournal.com
End of an Era: Last Chance to Buy a New V8 Patrol in New Zealand
For more than 60 years, the Nissan Patrol has been part of New Zealand's four-wheel-driving landscape. From farm tracks and forestry roads to remote touring routes and towing duties, generations... Read more...
Volume 007 is now available for pre-order - 4XJournal.com
Volume 007 is now available for pre-order
  Volume 007 has officially gone off to the printers. The next issue of 4XJournal is now available for individual copy pre-order, with copies expected to arrive later this month.... Read more...
Factory Form: JAC T9 PHEV Lands With 360kW, Triple Diff Locks, and a $59,990 Price Tag - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: JAC T9 PHEV Lands With 360kW, Triple Diff Locks, and a $59,990 Price Tag
JAC has officially pulled the covers off its new T9 PHEV at Fieldays, revealing a plug-in hybrid ute that combines impressive performance figures with a sharp launch price of $59,990... Read more...
GWM Doubles Down on Desert Durability with 2026 Taklimakan Rally Assault - 4XJournal.com
GWM Doubles Down on Desert Durability with 2026 Taklimakan Rally Assault
The Chinese manufacturer is once again taking on one of the world's toughest rally raids as it pushes to develop its next generation of off-road vehicles. Read more...
Factory Form: Nissan Navara PRO-4X - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: Nissan Navara PRO-4X
Nissan's toughest-looking ute asks a simple question: how much adventure do you want from the factory? Read more...
Factory form: GWM Cannon XSR - 4XJournal.com
Factory form: GWM Cannon XSR
With so many bog-standard utes coming out these days, it’s genuinely getting harder to be excited about new releases. Some lack so much character that we can’t wait to hand... Read more...
Toyota’s First Battery Electric Hilux Is Coming To New Zealand - 4XJournal.com
Toyota’s First Battery Electric Hilux Is Coming To New Zealand
Toyota New Zealand is preparing to open pre-orders for its first fully electric Hilux, with the new Hilux BEV joining the ninth-generation ute range in SR and SR5 trim. Read more...
GWM isn’t playing the cautious game anymore - 4XJournal.com
GWM isn’t playing the cautious game anymore
That became immediately obvious during the launch drive program for the new GWM Tank 300 PHEV, where the brand laid out not only its latest drivetrain technology, but also its ambitions... Read more...
The lifelong project: James Rule’s 24-year journey with his BJ42 - 4XJournal.com
The lifelong project: James Rule’s 24-year journey with his BJ42
Photos: Glen McNamaraOriginally published in Volume 001For many New Zealanders, memories of clunky farm trucks and weekend trips to the local market are tied to the iconic BJ42 Land Cruiser.... Read more...
Factory Form: GWM Tank 300 PHEV Hi4-T - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: GWM Tank 300 PHEV Hi4-T
We love a Tank. We’ve reviewed and driven the Tank 300 HEV and diesel variants, as well as the larger Tank 500, both on and off-road. All capable models, built... Read more...
V8 power confirmed for GWM Tank 700 - 4XJournal.com
V8 power confirmed for GWM Tank 700
GWM has confirmed a V8-powered Tank 700 is on the way, with Australia and New Zealand firmly in the frame. Speaking to ANZ media at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show,... Read more...
GUMAD the Kunekune - 4XJournal.com
GUMAD the Kunekune
Super tourer gone wild — Brad Wall’s Nissan Patrol is one of the most well-rounded in the country, with a bucket load of power on tap, and camping mods to... Read more...
Factory Form: LDV Terron9 Premium - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: LDV Terron9 Premium
New utes and vehicles are flying at us faster than we can keep up. As a consumer, I can imagine how difficult it must be keeping up with the new... Read more...
Factory Form: Nissan Navara ST-X review - 4XJournal.com
Factory Form: Nissan Navara ST-X review
We need to get it out of the way from the outset. Yes, the latest Nissan Navara is essentially a rebadged and updated Mitsubishi Triton of the same generation. Yes,... Read more...
Real-world tyre testing: Hankook’s off-road range - 4XJournal.com
Real-world tyre testing: Hankook’s off-road range
Choosing the right tyre is one of the most important decisions a four-wheel driver makes. It affects how a vehicle handles on the road, how confidently it performs off it,... Read more...
GWM sharpens its ute offering with limited-run Cannon-XSR - 4XJournal.com
GWM sharpens its ute offering with limited-run Cannon-XSR
GWM New Zealand has added a harder edge to its Cannon line-up, unveiling the Cannon-XSR as a limited-run variant aimed squarely at buyers who want more than just a dressed-up... Read more...
Taiwan tests the region as Defender Trophy finalists head for Africa - 4XJournal.com
Taiwan tests the region as Defender Trophy finalists head for Africa
The mountains above Kaohsiung set the scene for Defender Trophy’s Asia-Pacific regional final, where 24 competitors from across the region were put through two days of driving, endurance and teamwork... Read more...
DUAL-TEK: One wheel, two jobs, zero compromise - 4XJournal.com
DUAL-TEK: One wheel, two jobs, zero compromise
To view the entire Dirty Life Range, click here. Read more...
Five From Five — GWM Returns to Beer O’Clock Hill - 4XJournal.com
Five From Five — GWM Returns to Beer O’Clock Hill
Beer O’Clock Hill has become something of a measuring stick in Australia’s off-road scene. The steep Queensland climb is notorious for exposing weaknesses in traction, gearing, and driver patience. Loose... Read more...
Subaru Outback Unleashed - 4XJournal.com
Subaru Outback Unleashed
A fairly hectic title, sure. But what you need to understand is Subaru are launching the all-new Outback at a testing ground most modern utes are launched at. Drop-offs, slippery... Read more...
Top 5 4×4 Vans You Should Consider in New Zealand - 4XJournal.com
Top 5 4×4 Vans You Should Consider in New Zealand
New Zealand’s compact roads, challenging back-country tracks and growing appetite for self-contained touring make 4×4 vans an increasingly compelling segment. Beyond mainstream 2WD folks movers, there’s a handful of vans... Read more...
Defender Makes Dakar History with Stock Class Victory on Debut - 4XJournal.com
Defender Makes Dakar History with Stock Class Victory on Debut
Defender Rally has recorded a notable result at the 2026 Dakar Rally, finishing first and second in the Stock class in the team’s first competitive entry at the world’s most... Read more...
Stockist Spotlight: Terraquip NZ Ltd - 4XJournal.com
Stockist Spotlight: Terraquip NZ Ltd
About the Business Can you tell us a bit about Terraquip NZ Ltd? How did it all start?Terraquip NZ Ltd was founded in May 2010 after recognising an opportunity to... Read more...
Power Simplified: Inside REDARC’s all-new, plug-and-play, 12-volt revolution - 4XJournal.com
Power Simplified: Inside REDARC’s all-new, plug-and-play, 12-volt revolution
Figuring out a fixed 12-volt system in your 4WD can be a bit of a mission. What brands to mash together, how many amps you actually need, what fuses go... Read more...
2025 Nissan Patrol Y62 — still relevant? - 4XJournal.com
2025 Nissan Patrol Y62 — still relevant?
Ah, Nissan, you beauty. 5600cc of pure V8 power under the bonnet of a vehicle that I can understand. No bings, no bongs, and no annoying safety features constantly nagging... Read more...
A New Era for the Navara: Nissan Reveals Its Next-Generation Ute for Oceania - 4XJournal.com
A New Era for the Navara: Nissan Reveals Its Next-Generation Ute for Oceania
After nearly four decades on Australasian roads, tracks, farms, and worksites, the Nissan Navara enters a new chapter. The next-generation model has been revealed ahead of its local arrival in... Read more...
Defender Dakar D7X-R: The Brand’s New Desert Weapon - 4XJournal.com
Defender Dakar D7X-R: The Brand’s New Desert Weapon
Defender has revealed its most focused model to date, the Dakar D7X-R. Built from the OCTA platform and transformed for rally raid competition, it will line up at the Dakar... Read more...
Kia Tasman X-Pro: On-Road Drive Review - 4XJournal.com
Kia Tasman X-Pro: On-Road Drive Review
The launch of the Kia Tasman into New Zealand has been a polarising one. On one side, people cannot stand the appearance of the Tasman; on the other side, people... Read more...
First Drive: MG U9 in Sydney — Comfort Meets Capability - 4XJournal.com
First Drive: MG U9 in Sydney — Comfort Meets Capability
Twenty-Four Hours in Sydney Sydney set the stage for the MG U9 launch, with Glenworth Adventure Park providing the backdrop. Our itinerary was tight: 24 hours on the ground, four... Read more...
Unlocking Simplicity: Part-Time Conversion with McLeod Motors Offroad Garage - 4XJournal.com
Unlocking Simplicity: Part-Time Conversion with McLeod Motors Offroad Garage
Words and photos: René Vermeer For years, the 100 Series Land Cruiser has been a backbone of Kiwi off-road travel. Strong, comfortable, and as reliable as the sunrise, it’s the sort... Read more...
4x4 Outdoor Expo Christchurch 2024 - 4XJournal.com
4x4 Outdoor Expo Christchurch 2024
With every ‘scene’ here in New Zealand and abroad, there’s usually an underlying support network that holds the community together. A place where enthusiasts can get together, share stories and... Read more...