Articles by James Cleary

James Cleary
Deputy Editor

James Cleary is CarsGuide's Deputy Editor, with over four decades’ experience across automotive editorial, marketing, product planning and creative advertising.

He has written for national and international titles including Wheels, Drive, Carsales, Motor and Top Gear Australia providing everything from new product assessment and feature writing to industry analysis, news content and expert advice.

He’s spent time as an advanced driving instructor, and had the opportunity to experience rare and valuable classics here and overseas.

James worked in the PR and advertising/sales promotion teams at Mercedes-Benz Australia and has managed the Marketing Communications and Product Planning functions for Peugeot Australia. He also directed advertising client service for Hyundai Motor Company Australia and Volvo Australia.

James has a Bachelors Degree in Communications from Macquarie University and driving qualifications from multiple advanced schools, including Ian Luff Motivation.

He has been a member of the CarsGuide team for 10 years and as Deputy Editor manages everything from sub-editing to back-end platforms while creating written and visual content.

Expertise

  • New product assessment
  • Industry analysis
  • News content
  • Expert advice
  • Feature writing

Experience

  • BMW Performance Driving School
  • Lamborghini Winter Accademia
  • Master Maserati Driving School
  • Mercedes-AMG Snow Performance School
  • Porsche Level 4 Master training
  • Volkswagen Driving Experience program

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts (MassComm) | Macquarie University | 1981-1984

Featured publications

JC's Top 5 picks for 2023
By James Cleary · 22 Dec 2023
This year’s top five was a relatively straight-forward selection process. Yes, there were one or two new arrivals on the edge of the cut, but in the end the five below stood out.
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Mazda CX-3 2024 review: Evolve
By James Cleary · 21 Dec 2023
The 'light' SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Australian new-car market and the Mazda CX-3 leads it in sales by a country mile. But heading into its ninth year, is this evergreen performer still ahead of the ravenous pack? We spent a week with the mid-spec Evolve model to try and find out.
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Kia Picanto loses budget price crown to MG3!
By James Cleary · 21 Dec 2023
Kia Australia has confirmed pricing for its heavily updated third-generation Picanto city car, with cost-of-entry now higher than MG's light-car market-leading MG3 Auto hatch.Priced from $20,690 drive-away, the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, entry-grade Picant
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Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate 2024 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 13 Dec 2023
the flagship Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate is priced at $45,990 drive-away.
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Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Elite 2024 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 11 Dec 2023
The mid-spec Tiggo 7 Pro Elite is priced at $41,990 drive-away.
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Alfa's compact EV SUV coming in early 2024!
By James Cleary · 08 Dec 2023
Alfa Romeo's long-running social media teaser campaign, hinting at the arrival of its new small SUV, appears to be closing in on an early 2024 reveal.
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Newcomers pass tougher 2023-'25 ANCAP test
By James Cleary · 07 Dec 2023
The latest new cars to be assessed against ANCAP’s current 2023-2025 testing criteria have come through with flying colours to score maximum five-star ratings.
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New Merc CLE coupe gets the AMG treatment
By James Cleary · 06 Dec 2023
Powered by a twin-charged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine producing 330kW and up to 600Nm, the Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ Coupe is a new model from the three-pointed star’s hot rod specialists in Affalterbach designed to “combine the agility and sportiness of the C-Class with the space and status of the E-Class”.
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Suzuki Jimny three-door auto back on sale!
By James Cleary · 05 Dec 2023
Having pressed the pause button on local sales in January this year, Suzuki Australia has confirmed the four-speed automatic version of its Suzuki Jimny, in current three-door guise, is once again available for immediate sale.
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Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Urban 2024 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 03 Dec 2023
Priced at $39,990 drive-away, the entry-level Tiggo 7 Pro Urban boasts a pretty handy standard equipment list.
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