4XJournal Online Stories

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...
First drive off-road: The all-new Kia Tasman - 4XJournal.com
First drive off-road: The all-new Kia Tasman
Oozing with tech, an all-diesel powertrain, and a highly-specced interior, how does the controversial-looking Kia Tasman stack up off-road? Kia New Zealand flew us down to Wellington to put the... Read more...
GWM Tank 300 Diesel — better than the 255kW petrol hybrid? - 4XJournal.com
GWM Tank 300 Diesel — better than the 255kW petrol hybrid?
When I first drove the GWM Tank 300 Petrol Hybrid, I was genuinely shocked and surprised by its performance. With 255kW on tap, it’s a seriously potent road-going SUV that... Read more...
You Can’t Talk About the New Subaru Forester Without Talking About People - 4XJournal.com
You Can’t Talk About the New Subaru Forester Without Talking About People
By Grace Reeves There are vehicles built for roads, and vehicles built for people. The all-new Subaru Forester Hybrid AWD, with its e-Boxer engine, is unapologetically both. Rooted in Subaru’s... Read more...
4WD on a Budget: The Best Starter Trucks Under $15K in NZ (2025 Edition) - 4XJournal.com
4WD on a Budget: The Best Starter Trucks Under $15K in NZ (2025 Edition)
Getting into 4WDing doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. With prices creeping up across the board, it's tempting to think the entry point is now $25k+. But there are... Read more...
Respect the Ruts: 42 Traverse Closes for Winter - 4XJournal.com
Respect the Ruts: 42 Traverse Closes for Winter
It’s a tough reality check, but a necessary one — the 42 Traverse is now closed to four-wheel drives until 1 December. While it’s always disappointing to lose access to... Read more...
What to Look for in a Budget 4WD (NZ Edition) - 4XJournal.com
What to Look for in a Budget 4WD (NZ Edition)
Words: 4XJournal Shopping for your first four-wheel drive? Whether you’re eyeing up your first adventure rig or chasing something cheap and cheerful for the trails, the hunt for a budget... Read more...
10 Must-Have Tools for Beginner 4WD Enthusiasts - 4XJournal.com
10 Must-Have Tools for Beginner 4WD Enthusiasts
10 Must-Have Tools for Beginner 4WD Enthusiasts So, you've bought your first four-wheel drive and you're ready to hit the trails. Maybe you've scoped out some beach runs or plotted... Read more...
Locked Gates Ahead: Potential changes inbound for Macetown - 4XJournal.com
Locked Gates Ahead: Potential changes inbound for Macetown
There are few high-country tracks in Aotearoa that stir the imagination quite like Macetown Road. With 22 river crossings in just 15 kilometres, towering schist gorges, and a destination steeped... Read more...
Now on sale: 4XJournal Volume 003 - 4XJournal.com
Now on sale: 4XJournal Volume 003
The latest issue of 4XJournal is here — and it’s our most action-packed volume yet. From backyard builds to remote adventures, Volume 003 dives even deeper into New Zealand’s off-road... Read more...
Beauden Barrett Joins Defender Family as OCTA Launches in NZ - 4XJournal.com
Beauden Barrett Joins Defender Family as OCTA Launches in NZ
Last night, we joined a select group of automotive media, rugby fans, and industry insiders in Auckland for the New Zealand launch of the Defender OCTA — the most powerful... Read more...
Why Subscribe to 4XJournal? Here’s What You’ll Get - 4XJournal.com
Why Subscribe to 4XJournal? Here’s What You’ll Get
Why Subscribe to 4XJournal? Here’s What You’ll Get If you’ve picked up a copy of 4XJournal or spotted us on social media, you probably already get the vibe. We’re not... Read more...
Beginner 4WD Tracks in New Zealand (North + South Island Picks) - 4XJournal.com
Beginner 4WD Tracks in New Zealand (North + South Island Picks)
Start your off-road journey the right way — without biting off more than your truck can chew. Read more...
Built to capture adventure — the 4XJournal Toyota Land Cruiser - 4XJournal.com
Built to capture adventure — the 4XJournal Toyota Land Cruiser
It’s the truck that started it all and helped shape this very magazine into what it is today. Introducing the 4XJournal Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series. You’ll be seeing a... Read more...
JAC T9 — Finally, a Decent Chinese Ute? - 4XJournal.com
JAC T9 — Finally, a Decent Chinese Ute?
Ah, another Chinese ute. They’re flooding the country in quick fashion these days, and some are better than others. How will the JAC T9 stack up against the competition and... Read more...
Bowden’s Own — Hilarious product names, serious products - 4XJournal.com
Bowden’s Own — Hilarious product names, serious products
As much as we like getting 4WDs dirty here at 4XJournal, we equally enjoy keeping them clean. So, we were stoked when Bowden’s Own reached out asking us to put... Read more...
GWM Unveils Game-Changing Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid at Auto Shanghai 20 - 4XJournal.com
GWM Unveils Game-Changing Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid at Auto Shanghai 20
Words: 4XJournal At Auto Shanghai 2025, Great Wall Motors (GWM) made a bold move by unveiling its first-ever twin-turbocharged V8 plug-in hybrid engine—an announcement that’s set to shake up the... Read more...
Stockist Spotlight: Fenix Radiators - 4XJournal.com
Stockist Spotlight: Fenix Radiators
About the Business Can you tell us a bit about Fenix Radiators — How did it all start? Fenix Radiators started in 2004, supplying New Zealand with OEM replacement cooling... Read more...
Kia Tasman Ute: Local Pricing Announced Ahead of Q3 Launch - 4XJournal.com
Kia Tasman Ute: Local Pricing Announced Ahead of Q3 Launch
Words: 4XJournal Following its recent public debut at the Melbourne Motor Show, Kia New Zealand has announced local pricing for the all-new Tasman — the brand’s first foray into the... Read more...
4x4 Outdoor Expo — Our two cents... - 4XJournal.com
4x4 Outdoor Expo — Our two cents...
Last weekend, 4XJournal attended New Zealand’s largest four-wheel drive event of the year — 4x4 Outdoor Expo. With plenty of coverage planned in Volume 003, we just wanted to share... Read more...
Ford Ranger Super Duty: A Factory-Built Overlander With Brawn to Match the Badge - 4XJournal.com
Ford Ranger Super Duty: A Factory-Built Overlander With Brawn to Match the Badge
If you thought the Ford Ranger Raptor was the most extreme iteration of Ford’s mid-sized ute, think again. The newly revealed Ranger Super Duty isn’t here to jump dunes. It’s here... Read more...