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.

MG4 2024 review: Excite 51
By Andrew Chesterton · 17 Jul 2023
It's boom times for cheap Chinese EVs in Australia, and few (in fact, only one) are cheaper than the MG4 Excite 51. Will this budget-friendly electric vehicle be a game changer for EV uptake in Australia? We put it to the test to find out.
Read the article
How the Prado will outshine the LC300
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 Jul 2023
The 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado looks set to shake off its 'little brother' tag, with the new off-road SUV to debut a high-tech powertrain not found in its bigger rivals, like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol, according to the latest
Read the article
Meet the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster ute!
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 Jul 2023
Upstart off-road brand Ineos has unveiled its first double-cab ute, with the Grenadier Quartermaster revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.
Read the article
2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport to power up
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Jul 2023
The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton is set to revealed in full by the end of this month, with the new workhorse then paving the way for a more powerful Pajero Sport that would finally take the fight to vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
Read the article
2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado takes shape
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Jul 2023
The 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado is on track for a full unveiling in the months ahead, before an expected on-sale date of late 2023 or early 2024, and if these renders are anything to go buy, it's time to get excited.First published by Kolesa.ru, the new
Read the article
Kia Seltos 2023 review: GT-Line long-term | Part 3
By Andrew Chesterton · 11 Jul 2023
To paraphrase a (traditionally pretty naughty) saying, it's not so much the size that matters in the new-car world, but more what you can do with it.
Read the article
Early mark for all-new LandCruiser Prado!
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Jul 2023
The long-awaited Toyota LandCruiser Prado could launch sooner than expected, with the international reports now pointing to a 2023 debut for the Japanese giant's off-road icon.
Read the article
Hybrid Toyota HiLux could be its best ute yet
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Jul 2023
Toyota will launch its first electrified diesel ute in Australia next year, when the 48-volt HiLux touches down to continue its Battle Royale with the Ford Ranger.But while the details on just how the system will work have been thin on the ground, CarsGui
Read the article
Why buying a Tesla is like buying crypto
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Jul 2023
Whenever Tesla drops its prices - like it did over the past week with the Model Y and Model 3, again - we in the media generally celebrate the move, applauding the fact that the most popular electric vehicles in the country have become cheaper and more ac
Read the article
Model Y outsells Ranger as car market booms
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Jul 2023
The days of diesel dual-cab utes dominating Australia's sales charts could be coming to an end, with the Tesla Model Y outselling the Ford Ranger in June, and closing gap to the all-conquering Toyota HiLux.
Read the article