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.

Toyota Fortuner GR Sport spotted
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Jul 2021
Toyota's promised GR Sport HiLux looks sure to spawn a Fortuner twin, with a muscled-up SUV complete with red brake calipers spied doing the rounds in India. The camouflage is the first give-away, given the Fortuner has long since been revealed.
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What's going on with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Jul 2021
Australia's former mid-size SUV heavyweight is undergoing something of a sales slump, with the mighty Toyota RAV4 comprehensively hosed by the Mazda CX-5 in the June sales results.
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LC300 inline for Australian police duty
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Jul 2021
Australia's boys and girls in blue will soon have a new vehicle at their disposal, with the new LandCruiser 300 Series a sure-fire starter to replace the LC200 in Australia's harder-to-reach destinations.The tough-as-teak Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series is
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Meet the new Kia Sportage
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Jul 2021
Kia has unveiled its new Kia Sportage, with a fresh look and a serious tech overhaul designed to take down Australia's mid-size SUV favourites like the CX-5 and RAV4.But while it will be packing all of the above and more when it launches in Australia in Q
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New Nissan 400Z NISMO coming
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Jul 2021
The record Nissan 400Z (or simply Z, as we expect it to be called) is yet to launch anywhere in the world, but that hasn't stopped Nissan working on a more hardcore model, with reports out of Japan suggesting a NISMO version will be unveiled this year.
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New-car market soars in June
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Jul 2021
The Australian new-car market has soared to above pre-pandemic levels in June, despite shock shortages crimping the traditional EOFY bonanza.
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Ouch! New LC300 accidentally crash-tested
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Jul 2021
It's barely on sale anywhere in the world, but the number of Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series available to purchase has just dropped by around eight, after a car carrier in Oman carried out some unplanned crash-testing on a Middle East freeway.
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Skoda Kamiq 2021 review: 110TSI Monte Carlo long-term
By Andrew Chesterton · 02 Jul 2021
The Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo might not be cheap, but it does promise plenty of premium-feeling motoring in a sensible and spacious package. Well, that's what it says on the tin, at least. So we asked our Chesto to put it to the long-term test to see how it measures up.
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Nissan going all-electric by 2023
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 Jul 2021
Nissan has unveiled a new electrifying vision for its entire passenger car range, vowing every model will be electrified by the end of 2023.
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New Nissan EV coming soon
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 Jul 2021
Nissan is set to launch another EV into the all-electric fray, announcing a new crossover that will join the LEAF and Ariya on the brand's zero-emissions fleet.
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