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.

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
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Y63 Nissan Patrol to get hardcore Warrior!
By Andrew Chesterton · 12 Sep 2022
The incoming Y63 Nissan Patrol will undergo the hardcore Warrior treatment from almost the moment it launches, giving Nissan a genuine rival to Toyota's LC300 GR Sport - and one that's been tuned and tweaked in Australia.The countdown is on to the long-aw
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Lexus RX 2023 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Sep 2022
One of Lexus' most popular SUVs has undergone the all-new treatment, with the fifth-generation RX now promising improved tech, a new look, and a focus on driver fun. But does it live up to those bold promises? We put the RX range to the test to find out.
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Is the Y63 Nissan Patrol going electric?
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Sep 2022
Nissan says its e-Power e-4ORCE system which will appear in the upcoming X-Trail represents the "pinnacle" of 4WD technology, and says the tech can be scaled up to vehicles like the Nissan Navara or the new Patrol.The brand has also flagged e-Power as its
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Nissan finally takes aim at RAV4 Hybrid
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Sep 2022
Nissan will have an electrified X-Trail in Australia in early 2023 as the company prepares to finally fire a shot across the bow of the sales chart-storming Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.Nissan's answer to the electrified question, though, isn't a traditional hybrid
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Toyota goes Rogue with new HiLux flagship!
By Andrew Chesterton · 06 Sep 2022
Toyota's flagship HiLux is only weeks away from launch, with the bigger, better Rogue model to hit showrooms in October.And in good news for this interested in Toyota's answer to the Ford Ranger, the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior and the incoming Mitsubish
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Can Lexus take on Mercedes-AMG and BMW M?
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Sep 2022
Lexus has begun a brand-wide performance overhaul, with the all-new RX 500h to lead a high-performance charge that take aim at Mercedes-AMG and BMW M.Lexus is now in the process of launching into a new performance-focused future - one that begins with the
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Mega hybrid headlines Lexus RX
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Sep 2022
Lexus has shone a light on its launch plans for the new Lexus RX SUV, with the brand to launch with two conventional hybrid powertrains and a petrol engine in early 2023 - but without a plug-in hybrid.The fifth-generation Lexus RX represents a model-wide
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All-new Y63 Patrol to take aim at LC300
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Sep 2022
Nissan says the incoming Y63 Patrol will double-down on its off-road and towing capability as Japan recognises as "how important this segment has become" in Australia.
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Who the hell needs Holden?
By Andrew Chesterton · 31 Aug 2022
Australia is in the midst of a local-manufacturing boom, with engineering house Walkinshaw now bigger and employing more people than Holden-backed HSV was at its peak.Take it as further evidence that Holden (and, by extension, HSV) weren't producing the k
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