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.

BYD's chilling warning for 'legacy brands'
By Andrew Chesterton · 30 Nov 2025
BYD says the "seismic shift" occurring in Australia will result in big brand "fallout", as a wave of new Chinese brands combines with tightening emissions to squeeze household name car makers.
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Is Toyota giving up on HiLux?
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Nov 2025
Toyota appears to be tempering expectations surrounding the new HiLux, seemingly forecasting a significant sales drop and conceding its unlikely to be the country's – or even the brand's – best-selling vehicle.
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Three new Shark 6 utes ready to hurt HiLux
By Andrew Chesterton · 27 Nov 2025
BYD says its ready to climb the ute rankings in Australia, with the Chinese giant readying three new variants to take on the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.
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BYD Atto 2 Premium 2026 review: snapshot
By Andrew Chesterton · 24 Nov 2025
The Premium sits atop the two-model Atto 2 range, listing at $35,990, before on-road costs. It's important to note it shares its motor, battery and driving range with the cheaper Dynamic, so what you're paying for is more included features.
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Subaru Forester 2026 review: AWD Touring Hybrid long-term | Part 2
By Andrew Chesterton · 23 Nov 2025
Subaru says its "strong hybrid" technology is finally on-par with the best family SUVs in the business. But is it? We put the Forester Touring Hybrid to the long-term test to find out.
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We're as good as Toyota: Chinese brand
By Andrew Chesterton · 23 Nov 2025
New Chinese brand GAC says it has a secret weapon to crack the competitive Australian market, saying it has learnt from Toyota and will launch with vehicle quality that matches that of the Japanese giant.
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BYD Atto 2 Dynamic 2026 review: snapshot
By Andrew Chesterton · 22 Nov 2025
The BYD Atto 2 Dynamic is the cheapest electric SUV in Australia, listing at just $31,990, before on-road costs.
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BYD Baby Shark 6 mystery deepens
By Andrew Chesterton · 22 Nov 2025
BYD has broken the hearts of anyone hoping a "Baby Shark" will join the fleet to sit below the Shark 6 in Australia, with one of the company's top executives pouring cold water on reports the new model was incoming.
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Toyota RAV4 2026 review: Australian preview drive
By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Nov 2025
This is a big moment for Toyota in Australia. The arrival of what the company promises will be the country's best-selling vehicle for years to come. But does the new RAV4 Hybrid live up to the hype? We put it to the preview-drive test to find out.
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BYD Atto 2 2026 review: Australian first drive
By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Nov 2025
If you instantly associate electric vehicles with an inflated price tag it's time to think again. The compact BYD Atto 2 SUV has taken the crown of Australia's most affordable new EV and we've had a revealing first drive.
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