Crafting Reviews by Marcus Craft

Preparation for a vehicle review is a matter of necessity every time and, by design, it’s different for every vehicle. The lion’s share of my time is spent testing and reviewing off-road vehicles so my preparation for a review will likely differ considerably to that of someone who only drives and reviews vehicles in an urban setting. My preparation process involves mapping out appropriate on- and off-road driving routes (taking into account fuel stops, weather-affected terrain, etc) and the estimated times those routes will take to complete; organising and packing gear (vehicle-recovery equipment, fully stocked first-aid kit, a tyre-repair kit, an air compressor, tools, spares and more) to suit the specific test and route planned; devising a back-up plan in case weather negatively impacts the day’s planned driving route; as well as ensuring communication tools (handheld radios, a sat phone or the equivalent) are in good working condition; and much more. But the preparation phase also involves comprehensive research into a vehicle’s specifications, including familiarising myself with new or revised driver-assist technology onboard the new vehicle; as well as changes in vehicle design, engineering, or materials used, or even changes to dimensions that may alter the new vehicle’s driving characteristics compared to its previous iteration.