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.

Sneaky fines and massive penalties coming
By Andrew Chesterton · 26 Jun 2025
Australian drivers nation-wide face penalty increases for a string of driving offences from July 1, with the move said to be designed to lower the country's road toll – though the increased revenue will surely be a motivator, too.
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Competition no problem for for Kia Tasman
By Andrew Chesterton · 22 Jun 2025
Kia Australia concedes the ute market is more crowded and competitive than ever before, but the number of new players and products hasn't dampened its expectations for the Tasman, with the brand saying it welcomes the competition.
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Kia Sportage GT-Line 2025 review: snapshot
By Andrew Chesterton · 21 Jun 2025
The GT-Line sits atop the Sportage tree, above the S, SX and SX+ grades, with the flagship grade getting the best of the comfort and safety equipment.
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2025 Toyota LandCruiser FJ locked for October unveil
By Andrew Chesterton · 21 Jun 2025
The long-awaited Toyota LandCruiser FJ project is reportedly about to bear fruit, with the new model – codenamed the Toyota 500D – to finally be unveiled at the Tokyo Mobility Show in October ahead of an on-sale date early next year, according to new reports.
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Ford Ranger 2025 review: Platinum long-term | Part 1
By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Jun 2025
Utes are, apparently, no longer mere tools of the trade. They're increasingly lifestyle-friendly family vehicles for those who want to take advantage of the space and practicality on offer. And given Andrew 'Chesto' Chesterton's family has just grown by one, who better to put the Ford Ranger Platinum to the family test?
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Kia Sportage SX+ 2025 review: snapshot
By Andrew Chesterton · 19 Jun 2025
The SX+ might be the sweet spot in the Kia Sportage range, sitting below only the flagship GT-Line and above the S and SX.
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How much for the Toyota LandCruiser Hybrid?
By Andrew Chesterton · 18 Jun 2025
The new Toyota LandCruiser Hybrid is shaping as the most expensive model to ever wear the badge in Australia, after confirmed international pricing provided a guide as to what we might pay in Australia.
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Kia Sportage SX 2025 review: snapshot
By Andrew Chesterton · 17 Jun 2025
The SX is the second rung on the Sportage ladder, sitting above the entry-level S and below the SX+ and GT-Line.
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Mazda warns of industry-rocking price rises from NVES
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 Jun 2025
Mazda warns that Australian consumers don't fully understand the impacts of the incoming New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), suggesting cots will almost certainly rise, with brands to decide between absorbing those increases, or passing them onto the consumer.
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Kia Sportage S 2025 review: snapshot
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Jun 2025
The S opens the four-model Kia Sportage line-up, and it’s available only with a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engine. There are turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains offered elsewhere in the range, but the entry-level Sportage misses out.
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