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.

Toyota has officially gone bananas!
By Andrew Chesterton · 28 Aug 2022
A series of rapid-fire announcements made this week by Toyota in Australia prove the country's biggest new-car force has officially transformed from boring to bananas.While we're still reeling from the brand's sudden transition from safe and sensible to a
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Toyota GR Yaris power boost!
By Andrew Chesterton · 25 Aug 2022
One of the world's wildest hot hatches is about to get a little bit wilder, with Toyota in Japan revealing an "upgrade" to the GR Yaris that boosts the vehicle's already impressive torque outputs.Detailed as an optional upgrade, the work includes the inst
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Toyota HiLux GR Sport confirmed!
By Andrew Chesterton · 24 Aug 2022
Toyota has confirmed it will soon launch a HiLux GR Sport that will go head-to-head with the Ford Ranger Raptor (and the Nissan Navara Warrior and Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme), with the brand finally naming its new "apex off-road variant".Billed as a "hardco
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Audi plotting high-end ute
By Andrew Chesterton · 23 Aug 2022
Audi could be about to follow Mercedes-Benz down the premium ute pathway, with fresh reports out of Japan claiming the German brand is working on a one-tonne ute that will wear the brand's famous four-ring badge.
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Has BYD buggered up?
By Andrew Chesterton · 23 Aug 2022
One of Australia's most hotly anticipated electric vehicle brands has come under fire from some fans and customers after revealing a new-car warranty that stretches just 160,000kms and servicing costs on-par with some internal combustion vehicles.BYD - or
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Meet the Mitsubishi Walkinshaw Triton Xtreme
By Andrew Chesterton · 19 Aug 2022
Mitsubishi and Walkinshaw have confirmed their collaboration on the toughest Triton ever, with the locally engineered Triton Xtreme set to take the fight to hardcore off-roaders like the Ford Ranger Raptor.
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Toyota Yaris Cross 2022 review: Urban AWD hybrid long-term | Part 2
By Andrew Chesterton · 19 Aug 2022
The biggest challenge for any city-focused micro-car is a longer-distance trip, and the time has at last come to put the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid to the test.
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How Holden and GM robbed Australia
By Andrew Chesterton · 17 Aug 2022
Holden is no more, and while the pain of its departure is now beginning to fade, it is quickly being replaced by a new and furious anger over the fact that - as is becoming increasingly obvious - we really got a raw deal, and then some.
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Kia is coming for Australia's dual-cab kings
By Andrew Chesterton · 15 Aug 2022
Kia would be aiming for the title of one of Australia's best-selling utes with a diesel dual cab, with the brand expected to benchmark the all-new Ford Ranger and reigning sales champ the Toyota HiLux to ensure its workhorse is perfectly fit for duty.Toyo
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Don't expect an EV Toyota HiLux or LC300
By Andrew Chesterton · 11 Aug 2022
Don't expect to see a fully electric HiLux or LandCruiser anytime soon, with Toyota suggesting BEV technology isn't yet suitable for its vehicles that are expected to tow or haul goods.The band instead take a "balanced approach to electrification" - inclu
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