Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Mazda says the its new CX-5 has done enough to maintain its status as one of Australia's best-selling vehicles – and to hold back the tide against the waves of newcomer Chinese brands – despite the lack of radical changes or updates.

Fresh from conquering just about every segment Australia has to offer – from micro cars like the Picanto to performance cars like the 130 N and Ioniq 5 N and even big, electric SUVs like the EV9 and Ioniq 9 – Kia and Hyundai have now set their sights on only unexplored frontier left; the off-road crowd.

The long-promised electric revolution appears to have been pushed back, at least for a couple more years, with established brands and Chinese newcomers alike doubling down on big ICE-powered SUVs and utes – some without any electrification at all.

Surprising reports out of Japan suggest Toyota could be about to build what could be the word's toughest people-movers, with international media now referring to the "LandCruiser of vans".

For so long seen as purely a tool-of-trade, in recent decades the ute has grown into a Swiss Army-style work/family/lifestyle multi-purpose machine. And in his second month with the Ford Ranger Platinum, Andrew Chesterton is appreciating the family side of its character more than ever.

Nissan will develop a fleet of new ladder-frame SUVs to take on everything from the Ford Everest to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, according to new reports out of the USA.In fact, the brand is working on a plan that will use an American factory to tap into the tough off-roader market, according to US site Automotive News.According to the site, the brand will manufacture two "flagship" SUVs in the USA rather than Japan – presumably the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80 – but will also develop two new ute-based SUVs.Ute-based means they will use a ladder-frame chassis as an underpinning, much like the Ford Everest and Toyota LandCruiser Prado.One vehicle is suggested to be the SUV version of the recently revealed Nissan Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute, which was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show in April.That plug-in powerhouse develops a substantial 300kW and 800Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a single electric motor.The second model remains something of a mystery, but is expected to be another ladder-frame SUV, powered by either Nissan's e-Power hybrid tech, or a PHEV system. It would potentially sit above the Frontier-Navara-based model, giving the brand three models that step from, in Toyota parlance, Fortuner, Prado and LC300.While Nissan is yet to officially confirm the plans, a person with knowledge of the plan told Automotive News that the brands is developing a “comprehensive body-on-frame product strategy” for the US plant.Further, a Nissan representative told the site that it is “actively exploring” ways to develop body-on-frame vehicles.The news fits neatly with the word earlier this year that the Xterra is at the top of the brand's product wish list, with one of the brand's most senior executives pushing for a "functional and affordable" ute-based SUV that would take on the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.Chairman of Nissan Americas, Christian Meunier, said he recognised buyers want "a return to authenticity and simplicity, not having all the gizmos and gadgets" in a ute-based SUV.Asked what white space Nissan has in its American lineup, the executive told Automotive News that "if I could bring a car tomorrow, it would be the Xterra", referencing the Navara-based SUV that was discontinued in 2015 before being reborn in the Middle East in 2021."This is a white space because many competitors target the higher end of the adventure market. People desire a sense of freedom," he said."There‘s a return to authenticity and simplicity, not having all the gizmos and gadgets. People want a comfortable, functional and affordable vehicle."

Mazda opted to develop its new hybrid powertrain for the CX-5, rather than utilise Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid system as the brand does with the CX-50 in the USA, because it wanted to ensure its most popular vehicle was more dynamic to drive than its Japanese rival.

The MG QS is the Chinese brand's first three-row SUV in Australia, meaning it will do battle with seven-seat favourites like the Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger. In the MG's corner is space, and lots of it, a stacked equipment list and the longest warranty period in the country. But will that be enough to challenge the main players in this segment?

Ok, so it is looking like it might be time for a little mea culpa from me on the whole HiLux thing.

The hardest, fastest M4 that has ever been has arrived in the shape of the M4 CS, which sheds weight, increases power and activates just about every performance add-on you can think of. In less happy news, it also ups the price significantly. So is the BMW M4 CS the best pound-for-pound performance car around? We put it to the test to find out.