Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist

CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton is an award-winning Australian automotive reporter with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, digital publishing and automotive corporate communications.

Andrew began his journalism career at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, reporting across business, courts, crime, property and state politics before moving into automotive journalism.

He joined Top Gear Australia as its online editor in 2008, later being appointed editor of Top Gear New Zealand. He subsequently worked as an assistant editor during the Australian launch of the Daily Mail Australia, and as communications manager at FCA Australia, now Stellantis.

His experience on both sides of the media industry gives him an unrivalled understanding of the automotive industry, and the relationship between car manufacturers, the media, and Australian consumers.

Andrew’s work has appeared across leading automotive, news, business, luxury, travel and lifestyle publications, including CarsGuide, EV Central, DMARGE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Top Gear, GQ Australia, The Australian, WISH Magazine, Boss Hunting, The West Australian, The Nightly, Women’s Day Australia, Carsales, NRMA, Men’s Health, CEO Magazine, Australian Financial Review and more.  

Andrew specialises in industry news, vehicle reviews, policy,  performance and luxury cars, electric vehicles, automotive technology, EVs hybrid and plug-in hybrids, and the broader Australian new-car marketplace.

In 2025, Andrew was named Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year and was a finalist for the overall Journalist of the Year award.

Earlier honours include Website of the Year wins at the Australian Magazine Awards and ACP Awards, the ACP Rising Star Award and recognition in the Bauer Media and News Ltd journalism awards.

Expertise

  • Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles
  • Performance, luxury and supercars
  • New-car reviews and road testing
  • Australian automotive industry and new-car sales
  • Chinese automotive brands and emerging manufacturers
  • Utes, SUVs and family vehicles
  • Automotive technology
  • Policy

Awards

  • 2025 Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year

Featured Publications

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Is Abarth Australia's coolest EV?
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Mar 2022
Australia could welcome its coolest EV to date next year, with news Abarth will launch its first electric vehicle next year - a battery-powered and hi-po version of the Fiat 500.Italy's answer to the retro-cool Honda e will reportedly swap range for power
Read the article
Kia’s diesel ute is closer than you think
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 Mar 2022
More details are beginning to emerge around Kia's huge EV pick-up announcement, with international reports now pointing to a proper HiLux-sized ute that will have both internal combustion and electric applications.In the official announcement, Kia made re
Read the article
New Subaru WRX won't get an STI variant
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Mar 2022
The new Subaru WRX won't get a fire-breathing STI variant, with the Japanese car maker shelving its performance sub-brand until electrification arrives.While the STI brand hasn't been killed off entirely, it won't return with petrol power again.
Read the article
Chevy Blazer SS paints electric future
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Mar 2022
GM and Holden's iconic SS performance brand will live on in an electric future, with Chevy teasing a Blazer SS EV.The bade that adorned the flanks for go-fast Commodores was lost to Australia with Holden's factory closures, but it has new lease on life in
Read the article
Is this Kia’s Kluger and Prado punisher?
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Mar 2022
Kia's epic EV9 has been all-but confirmed for an Australian launch, with the three-row, full-size SUV expected to touch down locally in 2023.Billed as an all-electric answer to vehicles like the Toyota Kluger and Toyota LandCruiser Prado, the EV9 has alre
Read the article
Kia and Hyundai's diesel dual-cab ute
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Mar 2022
Kia's diesel dual-cab ute dreams might not be over yet, despite the brand globally confirming plans for an all-electric ute pair of pick-ups earlier this week.Kia has long flagged a proper diesel dual-cab that will take on the segment's traditional heavy
Read the article
Australia's cheapest EVs are coming soon
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Mar 2022
Kia says a new era of cut-price electric vehicles will soon arrive in Australia, but the catch is that the Korean brand isn't sure it will be the one selling them.Kia stamped its mark on Australia - and has been growing its footprint ever since - by feedi
Read the article
Here comes Hyundai's ute!
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Mar 2022
Hyundai now appears odds-on to launch an electric ute that will sit alongside Kia's new EV dual-cab, with the brand confirming an all-electric "light commercial vehicle" the day before its sister brand confirmed its own pick-up plans.While Hyundai is yet
Read the article
Polestar 02 Concept wants to film you driving
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Mar 2022
EV upstart Polestar has whipped the covers off its latest concept vehicle, with the very cool O2 performance vehicle acting as the "hero car" for the brand.
Read the article
Kia Picanto, Rio and Cerato safe in Oz
By Andrew Chesterton · 02 Mar 2022
Kia's push into the premium EV space is now officially underway with the launch of the EV6, but the shift to electric powertrains won't come at the cost of the Korean brand's cut-price petrol-powered models.
Read the article