• My 4WD: the family obsession
    Karl Goodall’s owned his Raptor 1 buggy since 2021. He’d gone to photograph the very first Ultra4 event in New Zealand and got hooked. “My wife and I had the opportunity to buy the Raptor buggy from...
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  • KIA shows offroad ideas
    KIA has shown off a pair of concept vehicles that reach out for some off-road credibility. The first is called the “Advntr” concept and is based on Kia’s EV9 electric three-row SUV, while the second...
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  • JAC ute arrives
    NZ’s newest 4WD ute is the JAC T9 ute, and it arrives with a single high spec model and a sharp sub-$50k price
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  • VW shows off Scout 4WDs
    VW has shown off its new Scout EV 4WDs in America. The company will build a double cab pickup and a four door SUV, with vehicles going on sale in late 2026 or early 2027. Why the long lead time? One...
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  • Overall NZ4WD of the Year 2024 and Large SUV of the year: Ineos Grenadier
    The first mistake an Ineos Grenadier owner makes is about time management. For every trip to Bunnings or the supermarket, add at least 30 minutes for dealing with questions from auto and 4WD...
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News and General
Toyota’s 4WD Hiace van gets a restomod
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Back in the day, it wasn’t just Mitsubishi building off-road capable 4WD vans.

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New and tested 4WDs
JAC disrupts the ute market
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

The company is better known in New Zealand for its light truck range, but JAC is making a strong pitch for the ute market with its new T9 4WD double cab ute.

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Products
Ironman’s 4X4 shock absorber range expands
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Ironman 4X4’s heritage is built on suspension solutions dating back to 1958.

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Tech Talk
Transmission ratios: eight is enough
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

It’s a shifty business. Looking for a new or pre-loved 4WD is a chance to choose which fuel, which engine, and which transmission best suits the planned use of that vehicle.

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Adventure NZ
High country adventure
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

One of the many good things about retirement is that you can make a spur of the moment decision to go see a place you have not been before.

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Products
Redarc: power redefined
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

When deep in the heart of the New Zealand wilderness, where the air is crisp and the stars are endless, the hustle and bustle of the city is a distant memory.

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Motor Sports
Southern Trailblazers Rally
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

The sun was shining but the obstacles were deep, deep mud.
Southern Trailblazers held its annual 4x4 rally on Southland’s “landslip” in November 2024.

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News and General
A caravan for every offroad adventure
Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Christchurch’s GLI Caravans sells lift-top campers, camper trailers and caravans and has just expanded into selling inflatable boats.

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News and General
Medium 4WD SUV of the Year: Land Rover Discovery Sport
Sunday, 15 December 2024

The 2024 version of the ‘Disco Sport’ is a revelation.

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New and tested 4WDs
D-Max vs Triton, finding the finest mainstay 4WD
Friday, 06 December 2024
When we first drove the new Triton, it impressed for its tech, spec and engineering, particularly for the latest versions of the 2.4-litre biturbo diesel engine and 4WD system.
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New and tested 4WDs
The annual guide to the 4WD market
Friday, 06 December 2024
The Annual contains a comprehensive 10 page Buyers Guide to all the AWD and 4WD SUV's, Wagons and Utes available in New Zealand
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New and tested 4WDs
Toyota Hilux SR5 hybrid tested
Monday, 11 November 2024
It’s been a while since NZ4WD tested a Hilux, and getting acquainted with the 2024 Hilux was informative. This one came on the back of the very good wide-body Hilux SR5 Cruiser we tested recently....
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Adventure NZ
Adventuring in the south
Friday, 06 December 2024
My good friend Gordon Colmore and I try to get away midweek for an overnight trip once a fortnight or so.
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Adventure NZ
Overland in the south
Friday, 06 December 2024
After nearly 40 years in Europe, 4x4 Explorer Adventures owner Richard Soult returned to New Zealand in 2014 and began overlanding around the South Island.
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Adventure NZ
Special tours in the south
Friday, 06 December 2024
Great scenery, great company, great yarns. South Island Tours offers this and more on its small group off-road tours.
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