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.

Why your next car will be Made In China
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Oct 2022
Chinese-built cars were the third most common vehicle type sold in Australia last month, beating cars from Korea – like Hyundais and Kias – and Europe – like BMWs or Mercedes –as brands like MG and Great Wall boom.
Read the article
Australian car market: Car sales, statistics and figures
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Oct 2022
We Australians have a long and proud history of punching above our collective weight on the world stage, somehow defying our tiny population and minnow status to triumph when least expected.
Read the article
Can the all-new Toyota HiLux save diesel?
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Oct 2022
Toyota is reportedly beavering away on a method to extend the life of its diesel engines, with the brand to launch the all-new HiLux-based Fortuner with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system ahead of a full diesel-electric powertrain.
Read the article
Five-door Suzuki Jimny launch date revealed
By Andrew Chesterton · 30 Sep 2022
An electrified five-door Suzuki Jimny could be announced as early as January 2023, with fresh reports out of Japan at last pointing to a likely launch date for the long-wheelbase version of the popular 4WD.
Read the article
Bargain-basement Toyota bZ3 EV coming soon
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Sep 2022
Toyota will launch an affordable EV before the end of the year, with reports pointing to the incoming bZ3 being a more affordable alternative to the Tesla Model 3.
Read the article
Toyota Yaris Cross 2022 review: Urban AWD hybrid long-term | Part 3
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Sep 2022
And so it comes to the end of our time with Toyota's Yaris Cross Hybrid, a car that might just be the perfect urban SUV for us city folks that still like to venture further afield every now and again.
Read the article
Nissan Ariya international pricing revealed
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Sep 2022
Pricing for Nissan's brand-defining electric SUV, the Ariya, has been confirmed in the USA, giving us our best hint yet at just what the new EV would cost in Australia.
Read the article
All-new Toyota C-HR Hybrid takes shape
By Andrew Chesterton · 27 Sep 2022
Toyota will reportedly launch an all-new C-HR into the hotly contested small SUV segment next year, acting as a funky and stylish alternative to the incoming Corolla Cross Hybrid.
Read the article
New Ram 1200 is coming soon
By Andrew Chesterton · 26 Sep 2022
Ram's long-awaited mid-size ute rival to the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger is close to reality, with the brand working on a concept to show its US dealers ahead of an anticipated 2023 or 2024 launch.
Read the article
China's best (or worst) knock-off yet!
By Andrew Chesterton · 26 Sep 2022
A truck that has borrowed heavily from the Toyota Tundra playbook has surfaced in Japan, with the new SVH Tundar clearly borrowing in both its looks and its name.According to reports, SVH stands for Sino Vehicle Hub Co, with the company clearly unafraid t
Read the article