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.

MG HS+EV 2023 review: Essence long-term | Part 2
By Andrew Chesterton · 13 Dec 2022
You need to be plugging in as often as you can, and preferably every night, to get the full benefit. And so that's exactly what I did this month, charging the MG HS+EV as often as I could and then letting the vehicle figure out the rest.
Read the article
Mazda's two-model charge at the Toyota RAV4
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Dec 2022
The Mazda CX-60 won't replace the mega-popular CX-5, with both mid-size SUVs to fight side-by-side against rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. 
Read the article
When you'll see the Nissan Patrol Warrior
By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Dec 2022
Work on Nissan's first-ever Patrol Warrior continues, with the brand to finally launch the home-grown hero variant in 2023.
Read the article
Can Toyota wear the performance Crown?
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Dec 2022
A performance king needs a crown, and fresh reports out of Japan suggest Toyota will soon be getting exactly that, with the brand to roll out a hardcore GR variant of its new Crown flagship.
Read the article
Bigger Toyota Kluger to debut in February
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Dec 2022
Toyota is preparing to whip the covers off a bigger version of its popular Kluger - called the Highlander in the USA - with the sized-up family SUV to debut in February.
Read the article
HiLux tops Ranger in dual-cab duel
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Dec 2022
The Toyota HiLux reclaimed its crown as Australia's best-selling vehicle in November, holding off the new Ford Ranger to finish in first place.
Read the article
Return of the Mazda3 MPS?
By Andrew Chesterton · 02 Dec 2022
Mazda is investigating a proper performance-car program that could take on Toyota and it's GR Corolla and GR Yaris, with the company's Mazda Spirit Racing brand to act as an umbrella for sportier product.The program, which is currently still under study,
Read the article
Honda Civic Type R 2023 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 30 Nov 2022
The Honda Civic Type R has long been the front-drive hot hatch that all others are measured by.
Read the article
Can Nissan take Toyota's Prado customers?
By Andrew Chesterton · 25 Nov 2022
Nissan says its new Pathfinder will lure customers from tough off-roaders like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest – but it says it knows it won't get all of them.
Read the article
Peugeot 308 2023 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 24 Nov 2022
Forget the mainstream players, Peugeot says its 308 hatch and wagon is ready to take on, and take down, Australia's premium brands. What's more, in wagon guise, they reckon it's a better, and smarter, answer than an SUV. Bold claims, sure. But are they right? We put the new Peugeot 308 to the test to find out.
Read the article