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.

Waiting for Kia's proper off-road SUV?
By Andrew Chesterton · 21 May 2021
Kia's first proper off-road SUV is still years away from production, with the brand in Australia declaring the project "not a priority" with the focus instead on producing the brand's dual-cab ute.
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Kia and Hyundai ute arrival dates changed
By Andrew Chesterton · 21 May 2021
Kia's (and thus Hyundai's) new ute won't appear in 2022 as originally thought, with the brand in Australia telling CarsGuide the new model is now more likely to turn up in the "next couple of years" - if at all....The brand's tone in Australia has shifted
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Triton Ralliart will take Australia by storm
By Andrew Chesterton · 18 May 2021
Mitsubishi in Australia is pumped for the arrival of the Triton Ralliart, with the brand suggesting the new model will tap into this country's love of "fast, tough utes" as it attempts to unseat rivals like the Ford Ranger Raptor, the Nissan Navara Warrio
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Toyota's LC200 Series secret revealed
By Andrew Chesterton · 18 May 2021
The books are officially closed on the LC200 Series - and have been for some time - according to reportedly leaked documents out of South Africa, which would go some way to explaining why it's been so challenging, and expensive, to secure a V8 diesel LC20
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Power boost for Toyota LC300 V6 diesel!
By Andrew Chesterton · 18 May 2021
The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series' new diesel engine will be even more powerful than we expected, with reportedly leaked documents out of South Africa confirming LC200 Series-shaming power and torque for the new V6.Instagram account Land.Cruiser.300 has b
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Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series launching soon
By Andrew Chesterton · 17 May 2021
Toyota is not only having trouble keeping a lid on the mountain of 300 Series images that are now flooding the internet, the Japanese giant is also seemingly struggling to contain the launch date for the all-new LandCruiser, with purportedly leaked docume
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Toyota GR HiLux vs new Ford Ranger Raptor
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 May 2021
What will be an epic battle for dual-cab dominance is shaping in Australia, with Toyota's new GR HiLux and the next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor coming to throw down for the title of most hardcore hauler.
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Mitsubishi Triton Ralliart confirmed!
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 May 2021
Mitsubishi will launch the iconic Ralliart badge, using the performance sub-brand to launch a hardcore Triton that will finally take the fight to vehicles like the Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota GR HiLux.In news that will surely warm the hearts of fans of
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HiLux going hybrid?
By Andrew Chesterton · 11 May 2021
Toyota is primed to unveil a diesel-hybrid version of its popular Fortuner SUV in 2022, according to international reports, leading to the obvious question - will the top-selling HiLux follow suit?The news has surfaced out of Indonesia, where the first to
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LC 300 Series GR to score twin-turbo V8?
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 May 2021
Toyota has patented a serious new engine in the USA, with the Japanese giant working on a new twin-turbocharged petrol V8 that could potentially find its way into the performance variants of the LandCruiser 300 Series.While it would appear the engine appl
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