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.

Jeep throws down the off-road gauntlet
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Apr 2022
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee might be yet to touchdown in Australia, but the brand is confident it will be the supreme adventure vehicle when it arrives later this year.
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Mazda silences critics: "We're going premium"
By Andrew Chesterton · 03 Apr 2022
Mazda's premium push has really only just begun, but already the brand is confident it has silenced its doubters, saying "it has exactly played out the way we thought it would".While some argued the brand's shift upmarket was off to a rocky start - when t
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New ute power wars!
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Mar 2022
Ram's parent company Stellantis has whipped the covers off a fire-breathing new twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine that is heavily tipped to make its way to the brand's pick-up truck portfolio.And should it make its way into the brand's incoming mid-size (think
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Boom! Toyota GR Corolla launch date revealed
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Mar 2022
The Toyota GR Corolla is not only finally officially confirmed, but it's got a live unveiling date - and the wait is almost over to finally see Japanese giant's answer to the VW Golf GTI and Hyundai i30 N.It's felt like it has been on a teaser schedule si
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These are Australia’s biggest new-car fails
By Andrew Chesterton · 27 Mar 2022
It's safe to say that, generally speaking, car companies get it pretty right most of the time.
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Mazda CX-5 2022 review
By Andrew Chesterton · 25 Mar 2022
Mazda's CX-5 has undergone a little nip and tuck for the 2022 model year, but is that enough to keep up with Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester and Kia Sportage? We put the new model to the test to find out.
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Ram is ready to rumble!
By Andrew Chesterton · 20 Mar 2022
The long-awaited Ram 1200 is finally getting ready to rumble, with the brand's Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival to begin launching in South American markets in early 2023.
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Elon Musk justifies Tesla price hikes
By Andrew Chesterton · 17 Mar 2022
Elon Musk has today explained Tesla's recent price hikes, with global price increases seeing the cost of the Tesla Model 3 soar in Australia and around the world.In Australia, the Model 3 has been on a bad run in pricing terms, with price increases coming
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Queensland confirms new $3k EV subsidy!
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 Mar 2022
The Queensland Government will join NSW and Victoria in offering a substantial EV subsidy to inspire electric vehicle sales, with a $3k rebate to apply from July 1.But unlike its neighbours, the Queensland Government's subsidy will only apply to vehicle p
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Just how big can Tesla get?
By Andrew Chesterton · 16 Mar 2022
Tesla's booming popularity shows now signs of slowing down, with the latest registration data showing Elon Musk's EV brand out-performed mainstream premium players like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus so far this year.According to US site Automotive News - u
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