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

Volkswagen Golf Trendline 2017 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 17 Jul 2017
Close to 4.6 metres in length, the Golf wagon is around 30cm longer than the hatch, but only nudges up 15mm in the wheelbase, so passenger accommodation is virtually identical.
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Volkswagen Golf Highline hatch 2017 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 15 Jul 2017
Sitting at the peak of the (non-performance) Golf hatch pyramid, the Highline hatch is priced at $35,990 for the petrol-powered 110TSI version, and $38,490 for the 110TDI diesel.
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Volkswagen Golf Comfortline hatch 2017 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 13 Jul 2017
Second from the top in the four grade Golf hatch line-up, the 110TSI Comfortline costs $29,990 drive-away.
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Volkswagen Golf Trendline 2017 Review
By James Cleary · 11 Jul 2017
The Golf 7 was a very good proposition, and Golf 8 is a way off, so Volkswagen has opted for a nip-and-tuck half step, the Golf 7.5 - tested here in 110TSI Trendline guise - rather than a reinvention.
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Volkswagen Golf 110TSI 2017 review: snapshot
By James Cleary · 09 Jul 2017
The entry-point to the Golf 7.5 line-up has been tagged with an ultra-competitive (introductory) drive-away price of $23,990 for the six-speed manual.
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Volkswagen Golf 2017 review
By James Cleary · 07 Jul 2017
The Golf 7.5, as the name implies, is a substantial mid-life upgrade of the current model. To raise the stakes, and sales (they hope), VW has injected new life into its marquee small-car player.
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Nissan Patrol Ti 2017 Review
By James Cleary · 03 Jul 2017
The Nissan Patrol Ti is so clearly built for the ‘Murican market it’s a safe bet the human hairpiece has one in the presidential fleet. It should have had us sneering, but all we could do was smile.
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Audi A5 Coupe 2.0 TDI quattro 2017 review
By James Cleary · 28 Jun 2017
The first generation Audi A5 Coupe set a new standard for understated refinement in a mid-size premium coupe. Does the new version, launched in March this year, crash and burn or soar even higher?
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Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 2017 review
By James Cleary · 27 Jun 2017
The GTC4 Lusso is Ferrari's latest take on a rapid, luxurious, four seat coupe. It's fast, suitably furious, and able to take family or friends on a fast blast to anywhere you choose to go.
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BMW 530d 2017 review
By James Cleary · 16 Jun 2017
The seventh-gen version of the evergreen 5 Series arrived here in March, offering a choice of four and six cylinder petrol and diesel models. The 530d is a diesel; the higher spec of two in the range.
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