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.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport muscles up
By Andrew Chesterton · 24 Aug 2023
The clock is counting down to the official unveiling of the 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, with the Triton-based SUV to be one of the brand's most important new models.It will enter into a booming off-road segment across several marques and segments, with
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Kia thinks it has Tesla beat in Australia
By Andrew Chesterton · 23 Aug 2023
Kia Australia says there are several key areas its vehicles are "above" Tesla's best-selling models in Australia, listing the reasons customers would buy an EV6 or EV9 over the Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model Y.Elon Musk's electric vehicles are the best-sell
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2023 BYD Seal arrives in Australia
By Andrew Chesterton · 22 Aug 2023
Chinese brand BYD's mission to take on Tesla is about to step up a gear, with the fire-breathing Seal electric vehicle spotted at the brand's Sydney dealership ahead of the launch of the Model 3-rivalling sedan.The Seal will be the fastest, most powerful,
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Why the Kia Tasman will be our benchmark ute
By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Aug 2023
Kia says it long-awaited ute will be Australia's benchmark diesel dual-cab, telling CarsGuide that it's "not mucking around" in its mission to overtake segment favourites like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.Speaking at the local unveiling of the new EV9
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The Mazda CX-80 could be our best-looking SUV
By Andrew Chesterton · 18 Aug 2023
The new Mazda CX-80 will be revealed next month, according to new reports, with Japanese media pointing to September as the reveal date for Mazda's new premium SUV.It, with the CX-90, spells the end for the popular CX-9, but Mazda in Australia say the new
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Mahindra is coming for your HiLux and Ranger
By Andrew Chesterton · 18 Aug 2023
Mahindra has made no bones about just where it expects its new ute to sit in The Australian dual-cab line-up, saying it wants to go after the mainstream players like the Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger.
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The 2024 Kia EV9 will be made for Australia!
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 Aug 2023
A seven-month ride-and-handling program for the Kia EV9 has now been completed in Australia, and the brand says the result is a vehicle that drive better than its key rivals in the upper large SUV segment, the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.
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2024 Kia EV6 wait times slashed!
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Aug 2023
Kia Australia has unlocked extra production of the popular EV6 electric vehicle, with the brand promising wait times have been cut considerably.
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The tough-as-nails Toyota ute we want now!
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Aug 2023
Toyota has been on a LandCruiser rampage of late, unveiling the new Prado (or 250 Series in some markets), as well as a "heavily updated" 70 Series that will finally see the order books reopen for the brand's iconic workhorse.
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2024 Ram Dakota to get bigger and brawnier
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 Aug 2023
The Ram Dakota is expected to be bigger, tougher and more capable than the already revealed Rampage, according to new reports that point to the ute sizing up to better take on vehicle's like the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and US-spec Toyota Tacoma.
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