Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.

But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.

And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.

When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.

But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.

More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.

And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.

More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.

It's Tundra time at last, Australia! Toyota's mega hybrid ute with 326kW and 4.5-tonne towing arrives to put the hurt on the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 as full lease costs and specification details confirmed

8 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Yes you van: 2024 Ford Transit Custom Australian pricing, specification and launch timing confirmed for Toyota HiAce, VW Transporter rival

7 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

The 2024 Ford Transit Custom will touch down in quarter two next year,...Read more

Wild hybrid! 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance priced for Australia, and with a four-cylinder this bonkers you won't be pining for a V8

7 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance will land in Australia from...Read more

"Old, superseded technology": BYD hammers Toyota hybrids as it prepares to launch its own hybrid ute and SUV to take on the HiLux and RAV4 - and the Chinese brand says it wants Toyota's number-one sales crown!

4 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

BYD has fired a not-so-subtle shot at Toyota and its hybrid fleet,...Read more

Australia's new hybrid car king? Hyundai i30, Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe hybrids to take on everything from the RAV4 to the Corolla Cross

4 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Hyundai is about to go hard on hybrids in Australia, with the brand to...Read more

Operation LandCruiser Prado: New XRT nameplate hints Hyundai is about to go hardcore in Australia

1 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Hyundai looks set to go hardcore in Australia, with a new trademark...Read more

Hyundai Kona 2024 review: Hybrid

1 December 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

This is the car Hyundai (and I suspect many of you) has been waiting for. It’s the Kona , of course. But this is the hybrid version , which was delayed for a few months after the launch of the regular petrol-powered models earlier this year. And as you probably know, hybrids are pretty damn popular...Read more

A road-focused LandCruiser with a car-based chassis? The 2025 LandCruiser Se could be Toyota's biggest gamble ever

29 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

The Toyota LandCruiser Se is reportedly firming for a 2025 launch, with...Read more

"It's been huge": The 2024 Suzuki Jimny five-door is the hottest ticket in Australia - but there's good news if you want one, including a delivery early mark!

28 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

We are still a week or so away from learning the full pricing and...Read more

Cheap, tough, epic: Toyota LandCruiser FJ will change the off-road game in Australia

27 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

When it comes to bite-sized 4WD options, your choices are the Suzuki...Read more

Did you know your Toyota Corolla Cross, RAV4, HiLux or LandCruiser is eligible for a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty? Here's what you need to do

27 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Toyota has upped it warranty period to seven years and unlimited...Read more

"If you think 100km/h in 5.3 seconds is good..." bonkers Kia EV9 GT electric car incoming as Australia's wildest 4WD nears

24 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

A flagship Kia EV9 GT is around 12 months away from launch in Australia...Read more

"It is a game-breaker": BYD's mega plug-in hybrid dual-cab ute priced to "blow you out of the water"

22 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

BYD in Australia is set to take a razor to the price of its first ute,...Read more

Australia's cheapest electric vehicles are a "puddle" filled with Chinese challenger brands and "we don't want to go back there", says Kia

21 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Kia has no interest in entering into the battle to deliver Australia's...Read more

Holden who? Aussie automotive manufacturing now AS BIG as the final days of Commodore and Falcon as Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Nissan Patrol spark massive local auto boom

19 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Australian automotive manufacturing could now employ more people than...Read more

McLaren 750S 2024 review

15 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Like most people in this day and age, I like to consider myself fairly...Read more

China calls in the Aussie experts! Ford and Holden engineers are developing BYD's first ute to ensure the dual-cab can take on the HiLux and Ranger in Australia

13 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

BYD has called in the Aussie experts for its first dual-cab ute, with...Read more

Kia EV9 2024 review: EV test

9 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

This is big news in the world of EVs. And I mean that literally, of course. Because this Kia EV9 is pretty bloody big – about the same size as a full-size 4WD, like a LandCruiser or Patrol. But this one is a three-row, seven-seat, all-electric SUV, and one that, with a price tag that starts at just...Read more

Game-changer: Here comes the $40k Tesla Model 2

9 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Elon Musk has reportedly confirmed work will now begin on the long-...Read more

Reckon BYD's first ute will flop against Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger? More than 20,000 Australians are ready to prove you wrong as plug-in hybrid dual-cab firms as top seller

6 November 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

BYD's bullish claims about its first-ever ute appear to be striking a...Read more

Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

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