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.

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.

Kia Stonic 2026 review: Australian first drive
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Dec 2025
The Kia Stonic has just come in for a very big upgrade, without being a complete model changeover. But is it enough to compete with the top-selling Chery Tiggo 4 and new Mahindra XUV 3XO?
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BYD's beast arrives: Denza B8 priced for Australia
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Dec 2025
Denza has confirmed pricing for its Toyota LC300 and Nissan Patrol rivalling B8 4WD, with the plug-in powered off-roader launching at $91,000.
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Prado punisher? 2026 Denza B5 priced for Australia
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Dec 2025
Denza's Toyota LandCruiser Prado-hunting 4WD, the B5, has officially been launched in Australia, with the plug-in hybrid powerhouse from BYD's luxury brand priced from $74,990.
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Toyota Australia opens door to HiLux Mini
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Dec 2025
Toyota in Australia has left the door open for the long-rumoured HiLux Mini to launch in our market, with one of the brand's most senior executives telling the media "there's always space for something".
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BYD's next top model? Prado-sized 4WD incoming
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Dec 2025
BYD appears to have subtly confirmed the tough-looking TI 7 large SUV will debut in Australia, with the dots now connecting on comments the brand’s Australian boss recently made to CarsGuide.
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New-car carnage for established brands in Oz
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Dec 2025
Newcomer Chinese brands are making a real impact on Australia's new-car market, with several household name brands falling behind in November.
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New Chinese brand could be bigger than BYD!
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Dec 2025
One newcomer Chinese brand is planning a multi-model takeover of Australia's new car market, leaning on its global partnership with Toyota to launch into 10 vehicles segments over the next five years.
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BYD's chilling warning for 'legacy brands'
By Andrew Chesterton · 30 Nov 2025
BYD says the "seismic shift" occurring in Australia will result in big brand "fallout", as a wave of new Chinese brands combines with tightening emissions to squeeze household name car makers.
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Is Toyota giving up on HiLux?
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Nov 2025
Toyota appears to be tempering expectations surrounding the new HiLux, seemingly forecasting a significant sales drop and conceding its unlikely to be the country's – or even the brand's – best-selling vehicle.
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Three new Shark 6 utes ready to hurt HiLux
By Andrew Chesterton · 27 Nov 2025
BYD says its ready to climb the ute rankings in Australia, with the Chinese giant readying three new variants to take on the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.
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