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.

Alfa Romeo Tonale 2026 review: International first drive
By Andrew Chesterton · 30 Oct 2025
The Alfa Romeo Tonale has come in for its first facelift, with the brand promising a car that feels like a car, and not a "computer with four wheels", with driver engagement coming first, and computing power coming second. But can this small SUV finally rise above the premium pack in Australia? We put it to the test to find out.
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Made in China better than Made in Europe: Carmaker
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Oct 2025
Leapmotor says its advanced manufacturing processes mean that Made in China is better than Made in Europe when it comes to new vehicle production.
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Leapmotor B10 2026 review: International first drive
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Oct 2025
A Chinese EV that doesn't drive like one? That's the promise of the Leapmotor B10, which the brand says takes a Chinese approach to value and a European approach to driving dynamics. But does it live up to that promise?
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China's 400kW LandCruiser, Patrol smasher
By Andrew Chesterton · 27 Oct 2025
Leapmotor says its D19 will be a "desert-ready" 4WD that has the "crazy champions" (the Y63 Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series) firmly in its sights thanks to its potent range extender powertrain and off-road capability.
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Mini Y63 Patrol incoming!
By Andrew Chesterton · 27 Oct 2025
Nissan is doubling-down on an off-road focused future, with the reports the brand will toughen-up the nex-generation Pathfinder with a ladder-frame chassis and real off-road credibility to act as pseudo smaller Y63 Patrol that can take the fight to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
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Mitsubishi drops huge Pajero hint
By Andrew Chesterton · 26 Oct 2025
Mitsubishi in Australia seems to have dropped a hint as to what to expect from the new Pajero, telling CarsGuide that monocoque platforms produce "durable off-road vehicles", as the new model prepares for testing in Australia.
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Tesla’s secret weapon against BYD
By Andrew Chesterton · 19 Oct 2025
Elon Musk has reportedly green-lit not one but two new and cheaper models in the Tesla portfolio as the brand seeks to safeguard itself against falling sales and the threat of BYD.
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Ford Ranger Stormtrak PHEV 2026 review: long-term test
By Andrew Chesterton · 17 Oct 2025
The Ford Ranger Stormtrak launches into an increasingly congested plug-in hybrid ute market, but it promises to do things a little differently to the top-selling BYD Shark 6.
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Subaru Forester 2026 review: AWD Touring Hybrid long-term | Part 1
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Oct 2025
The previous Subaru Forester hybrid copped heat for not being hybrid enough, but this new-generation rights those wrongs, debuting a new "Strong Hybrid" powertrain that, on paper, puts it on a collision course with the Toyota RAV4. We put the flagship Forester Hybrid Touring to the long-term test to see how it measures up.
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New SUV promises 'maximum pleasure'
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Oct 2025
Alfa Romeo’s new Tonale promises to reinject the “Alfa Romeo driving appeal” into its small SUV, with a new generation doubling down on the driving fun in an effort to lure in more customers.
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