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.

Hyundai's $35k EV!

By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Jul 2022

Hyundai is developing a new EV that could prove one of the most affordable to date, with the brand targeting a $35,000 price point for it i10-sized city car.It will be music to the ears of the EV faithful who have watched as electric vehicle prices have g

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Toyota Yaris Cross 2022 review: Urban AWD hybrid long-term | Part 1

By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Jul 2022

The Toyota Yaris Cross Urban Hybrid is a perfect city-friendly small SUV in lots of ways - except for its near-$40k asking price. So we asked Andrew 'Chesto' Chesterton to put it to the long-term test to see whether it's worth the investment.

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Kia's diesel dual-cab ute isn't done yet!

By Andrew Chesterton · 17 Jul 2022

Kia appears to be about to make good on its diesel dual-cab ute plan, suggesting a traditional ICE-powered ute will join its global fleet to do battle with tray-backed titans like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.The news comes as Hyundai doubles-down on

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Did Toyota just confirm a GR HiLux?

By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Jul 2022

Toyota's new "apex off-road" version of its top-selling HiLux will almost certainly be Australia's first GR-branded ute, with the Japanese giant readying for battle with the new Ford Ranger Raptor.Rumours have begun to swirl around the incoming off-road m

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Chinese brand Chery goes BIG on Australia

By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Jul 2022

Chinese brand Chery is ready to make its move against brands like MG, BYD and Great Wall - as well as the mainstream Japanese and Korean brands - in Australia, with a fleet of evaluation vehicles on route about to the country ahead of the nationwide launc

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What to expect from new hardcore HiLux

By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Jul 2022

Toyota is working on a new "apex off-road" version of its HiLux ute to take on the Ford Ranger Raptor, setting the rumour mill alight that a GR-branded ute could finally be about to appear.It's no secret that Ford has had the hardcore off-road segment all

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Kia Niro 2023 review

By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Jul 2022

The Kia Niro is back, with the Korean brand sharpening the line-up to just two models (hybrid and electric), upping the cabin tech and delivering genuinely peaceful drive experience. But there's a price hurdle here. Can the Kia Niro clear it? We put it to the test to find out.

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Kia Niro Hybrid 2023 review: snapshot

By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Jul 2022

The Niro Hybrid version comes in S or GT-Line trims, and it will set you back $44,380 or $50,030 respectively. And yes, you can buy a lot of RAV4 Hybrid for that money, should you be lucky enough to actually get one.The range starts with the Hybrid S, which gets cloth and artificial seat trim, LED DRL’s and LED rear taillights (but halogen headlights), a 4.2-inch digital driver display and and 8.0-inch central touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker stereo. You also get dual-zone climate, 16-inch alloys and electric mirrors and windows.Stepping up to the Hybrid GT-Line adds a whole bunch of nice stuff, including twin 10.25-inch screens (one for the driver, the other for infotainment), bigger 18-inch alloys, perforated bio-leather seats, LED headlights, a better steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats.The Hybrid is pretty conventional, pairing a 1.6-litre engine with a 1.32kwH battery and electric motor for a combined output of 104kW and 265Nm. It gets a six-speed DCT auto and front-wheel drive. A sprint to 100km/h is pretty leisurely, taking more than 10 seconds.

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Kia Niro EV 2023 review: snapshot

By Andrew Chesterton · 08 Jul 2022

The Kia Niro Full Electric model is available in S or GT-Line, and it’s priced at $65,300 or $72,100. For reference, the brand’s flagship electric vehicle, the EV6, can be yours (for now, at least) for around $2.5k more for the Air or for the GT-Line in RWD version respectively.The Full Electric trim levels largely match the hybrid’s specifications, except both ride on 17-inch alloys, and even the S model gets the twin-screen infotainment set-up, The All Electric GT-Line also gets a better eight-speaker stereo, a sunroof, and what the brand calls a Premium Relaxation Front Passenger Seat — which tilts back so you can get comfy while charging.It gets a big 64.8kWh battery and a front-mounted motor that produces 150kW and 255Nm, the latter of which arrives instantaneously, helping drop the sprint to 100km/h to just 7.8secs - and that’s despite carrying almost half a tonne of battery with you.Kia reckons the Niro EV will deliver 460kms in driving range when fully charged. And when it does come time to plug in, a 7kW Wall Box at home will take nine hours and 25 minutes to go from empty to full, or a 100kW DC charger (also the charging max), will take 45 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent.

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Your 300 Series is safe!

By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Jul 2022

Toyota has confirmed Australian production of the mega-popular LandCruiser 300 Series is "open and unchanged", with the recent suspension of orders in Japan only impacting domestic deliveries of the brand's Nissan Patrol rival.In great news for Australia

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