Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.

But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.

And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.

When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.

But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.

More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.

And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.

More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.

Australia punching above its weight on Kia Tasman development! Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux on notice as Kia Australia says new dual-cab ute is its most Australian-influenced vehicle ever

20 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Forget the Tesla Model Y, the 2024 BYD Seal U hybrid SUV is going after the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester

17 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Fresh from disrupting the electric vehicle market with the Atto 3 and...Read more

"I'd lock myself in": The bonkers way McLaren F1 ace Oscar Piastri trained to beat the heat at the 2023 Singapore GP

16 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

When Australian F1 star Oscar Piastri made his Singapore F1 debut in...Read more

Subaru Outback 2023 review: Sport XT long-term | Part 2

15 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

It is month two with my trusty Outback XT Sport, and I find myself in a position to report on something I didn’t see coming. And I mean that literally — I really didn’t see the elderly gentlemen who crashed into the back of my Subaru while I was stopped at a crossing coming, but I certainly felt...Read more

Were you one of Toyota's two most-important Australians? Neck-and-neck battle for Australia's top-selling ute means YOU could have been the one who put the HiLux ahead of the Ranger last month.

15 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

The battle between the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger is as close as it's...Read more

Cleared for launch: Bargain BYD LandCruiser Prado rival one step closer as Fang Cheng Bao 5's incredible specs revealed

14 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

BYD's cut-price answer to vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado,...Read more

Kia Tasman double act! Korean brand to launch turbo-diesel AND all-electric utes in Australia as brand takes aim at everything from the Toyota HiLux to the Ford Ranger Lightning and BYD

10 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Kia will deliver a two-pronged ute strategy in Australia, with the...Read more

Could the all-new Toyota Stout be the Brumby breakthrough you've been waiting for? A new baby HiLux-based Brumby is high on Subaru's wish list

9 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Subaru Australia will be first in the queue for a Toyota Stout-based...Read more

Toyota's huge HiLux hints! Diesel set to live on for all-new 2025 Toyota HiLux as brand leaves electric utes to Kia and Hyundai

7 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

The all-new 2025 Toyota HiLux looks certain to stick with a diesel...Read more

What happened to the Tesla Model Y? Electric car wave washed away by dual-cab utes as Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max shine in August

5 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Normal new-car broadcasting returned to Australia in August, with the...Read more

BYD's off-road SUV bargain! Would you pay $65k for this hybrid Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Kia EV9 rival?

5 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

BYD has reportedly confirmed international pricing for its rugged and...Read more

BYD goes mainstream! Chinese brand's Seal U electric SUV to launch into one of Australia's most popular segments, where reigning champs the Tesla Model Y and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid await

4 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

The BYD Seal U electric SUV has been unveiled for Europe overnight,...Read more

Family SUV battle! All-new Subaru Forester Hybrid to finally take aim at Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with 'new hybrid technology'

1 September 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

An all-new Subaru Forester will finally introduce "new hybrid...Read more

The big Kia ute question: Will a four-cylinder turbo-diesel be enough to take on the dual-cab heavyweights like the Toyota HiLux GR Sport and Ford Ranger Raptor?

31 August 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

Kia has made no bones about its incoming ute, likely called the Tasman...Read more

Subaru Outback 2024 review: Sport XT long-term | Part 1

30 August 2023 by Andrew Chesterton

I reckon the highest praise a motoring journalist can pay any vehicle they test is to utter that mega-rare phrase, “you know what, I’d have one of these.” It actually happens far less often than you might think, but it’s not because there aren’t lots of cars that we like. The Toyota GR Yaris is a...Read more