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.

What you'll REALLY pay for your LC300
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Aug 2021
Top-spec Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series' models will cost Australian buyers more than $150,000, with local dealers confirming drive-away prices for the new LC300.
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We were wrong about Mazda's premium push
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Aug 2021
Mazda copped some flack a couple of years back - about the same time as the new Mazda3 was unveiled - about its well-publicised push into premium territory, along with the increased prices that invariably go along with such a move.And for a while there, i
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The most popular Land Cruiser ever?
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Aug 2021
Fears the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series would be less popular with die-hard fans of the nameplate seem pretty wide of the mark, with the brand reporting huge interest in the new model ahead of its official on-sale date.
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LC300 Australian pricing confirmed
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Aug 2021
Toyota has confirmed LandCruiser 300 Series pricing for Australia, with the expected price hikes arriving right across the LC300 range.
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Toyota drops biggest GR HiLux hint yet
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Aug 2021
The LandCruiser 300 Series 3.3-litre turbo-diesel V6 appears headed for the brand's ute and truck portfolio, after the brand in the USA dropped a diesel explainer video at about the same it previewed its upcoming Tundra pick-up truck.What has set tongues
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How long will you be waiting for your LC300?
By Andrew Chesterton · 02 Aug 2021
The booming popularity of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series around the world is already wreaking havoc on delivery timings, with early shoppers in Japans facing delays of "more than a year" on the LC200 replacement.
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Toyota Land Cruiser and HiLux going hybrid
By Andrew Chesterton · 02 Aug 2021
Toyota's HiLux, LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series will begin to be equipped with diesel hybrid engines from as early as 2023, with the Japanese giant keen to roll-out its electrification strategy to its diesel-powered line-up, according to new
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Special-edition Land Cruiser 70 Series!
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 Aug 2021
Toyota is celebrating the LandCruiser 70 Series' big b'day with style, unveiling a new special edition designed to commemorate the iconic off-roader's 70th birthday.While it can sometime feel like the 70 Series we drive today is around 70 years old, the m
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Strict resale ban not ruled out for LC300
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 Aug 2021
Toyota in Australia is yet to rule out attempting to enforce a similar LC300 pledge to then one currently being rolled out in Japan, with the unique "pledge" designed to stop you reselling your LandCruiser 300 Series, and threatening a brand-wide ban if y
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Toyota confirms bizarre LC300 pledge!
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Jul 2021
Toyota has confirmed the bizarre pledge it will ask its customers to sign is in effect in Japan, while the brand's Australian arm is yet to rule out attempting to establish a similar agreement with its local customers.
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