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.

'It's a ute': Toyota hits back at HiLux haters
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 Nov 2025
Toyota says HiLux buyers want "a ute, not a Rolls-Royce", as criticism over the brand's long-awaited workhorse's update mounts on the brand's own channels. 
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Toyota's stone-cold RAV4 Hybrid prediction
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Nov 2025
Toyota says its new RAV4 Hybrid – and its plug-in hybrid sibling – will be Australia's best-selling vehicle, out-selling the new Mazda CX-5, the Ford Ranger, and all other comers.
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Toyota HiLux 2026 review: Australian preview drive
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 Nov 2025
Finally, a new HiLux! A vehicle Toyota has been plotting and planning for a decade. And I know what you must be thinking: what the hell were they doing with the other nine-and-a-half years?
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Price shock for new HiLux as costs blow out
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Nov 2025
There are major price rises right across the board for the new Toyota HiLux, with some grades of the all-important Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and BYD Shark 6 rival increasing by thousands of dollars.
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New Toyota RAV4 price warning
By Andrew Chesterton · 11 Nov 2025
The new Toyota RAV4 range will introduce the brand's first plug-in hybrid model as well as a high-performance GR Sport trim level in a radical shake-up for the country's best-selling SUV.
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Family friendly Toyota SUV axed in Australia!
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Nov 2025
A family friendly Toyota SUV has been axed in Australia, just as an update to the ageing model looms.
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"Most Aussie HiLux ever": 2026 Toyota HiLux detailed
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Nov 2025
Toyota has whipped the covers off a vehicle some 10 years in the making, with the brand's new-generation workhorse described as "the most Australian Toyota HiLux ever".
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Nissan's plug-in hybrid ute bargain!
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Nov 2025
Nissan's first global plug-in hybrid ute, the China-built Frontier Pro, has been priced in its home country, with the electrified workhorse shaping as something of a bargain. 
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Another Chinese ute steps up
By Andrew Chesterton · 02 Nov 2025
Chinese brand Leapmotor says it is studying a dual-cab ute to drive sales in international markets, with Australia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil all expected to join forces in fuelling the pickup truck's development.
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Alfa Romeo says its reliability better than rivals
By Andrew Chesterton · 31 Oct 2025
Alfa Romeo says its quality and reliabilty on the Tonale small SUV is "far ahead" of its German rivals in BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
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