Articles by Justin Hilliard

Justin Hilliard
Head of Editorial

Justin’s dad chose to miss his birth because he wanted to watch Peter Brock hopefully win Bathurst, so it figures Justin grew up to have a car obsession, too – and don’t worry, his dad did turn up in time after some stern words from his mum.

That said, despite loving cars and writing, Justin chose to pursue career paths that didn’t lend themselves to automotive journalism, before eventually ending up working as a computer technician. But that car itch just couldn’t be scratched by his chipped Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7), so he finally decided to give into the inevitable and study a Master of Journalism at the same time.

And even with the long odds, Justin was lucky enough to land a full-time job as a motoring journalist soon after graduating and the rest, as they say, is history. These days, Justin happily finds himself working at CarsGuide during the biggest period of change yet for the automotive industry, which is perhaps the most exciting part of all.

In case you’re wondering, Justin begrudgingly sold the Golf R (sans chip) and still has plans to buy his dream car, an E46 BMW M3 coupe (manual, of course), but he is in desperate need of a second car space – or maybe a third.

Volvo C40 2023 review: Recharge Twin Motor long-term | Part 3
By Justin Hilliard · 16 Aug 2023
We've been living with the 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor for three months, during which the all-electric small SUV has proven itself to be an all-rounder - but what about on the driving front? Well, the Swedish EV offers the best of both worlds...
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Volvo C40 2023 review: Recharge Twin Motor long-term | Part 2
By Justin Hilliard · 19 Jul 2023
The 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor is an all-electric vehicle that has design firmly in focus. But even so, being a small SUV, it has to be practical - but is it? Styling may be subjective, but space isn't. Thankfully, this EV has plenty to offer.
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Volvo C40 2023 review: Recharge Twin Motor long-term | Part 1
By Justin Hilliard · 23 Jun 2023
The 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Motor is already shaping up as one of the most impressive new electric vehicles (EVs) we've tested, with the small SUV tempting buyers with some serious bang for their bucks.
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2023 Nissan Patrol Warrior revealed
By Justin Hilliard · 02 Jun 2023
The 2023 Nissan Patrol Warrior has been revealed in all is V8-powered, LandCruiser-tackling glory, courtesy of a series of social media snaps captured at a Nissan media and dealer event in Brisbane.
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Nissan Qashqai 2023 review: ST-L long-term | Part 3
By Justin Hilliard · 09 May 2023
After three months with the 2023 Nissan Qashqai ST-L, is it really the complete small SUV package? It just may be, but the coming 'ePower' hybrid version could still be worth waiting for.
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Nissan Qashqai 2023 review: ST-L long-term | Part 2
By Justin Hilliard · 17 Apr 2023
The 2023 Nissan Qashqai has a lot to offer on the design and practicality fronts. So, in this second long-term review instalment, we find out just how high its ST-L variant sets its standards.
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Nissan Qashqai 2023 review: ST-L long-term | Part 1
By Justin Hilliard · 16 Mar 2023
The 2023 Nissan Qashqai is a significant leap forward for the small SUV series, delivering the modern in-cabin technology its predecessor was missing. But we're spending three months with its ST-L variant to see if it has what it takes to handle city life. Spoiler alert: it's thoroughly impressive.
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Mazda CX-3 2023 review: Akari LE petrol long-term | Part 3
By Justin Hilliard · 25 Jan 2023
After three months with the 2023 Mazda CX-3 Akari LE AWD, it's finally time to say goodbye. And as this final instalment of our long-term review shows, the best-selling light SUV may have a timeless exterior design and surprisingly premium features, but it's fallen behind newer rivals when it comes to the driving experience.
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Mazda CX-3 2023 review: Akari LE petrol long-term | Part 2
By Justin Hilliard · 19 Dec 2022
The first-generation Mazda CX-3 is now eight years old, which means it's quite old in automotive terms. And while that may mean some of its key technology is dated, it's still a very stylish option in the Light SUV segment, albeit not a particularly practical one.
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Mazda CX-3 2023 review: Akari LE petrol long-term | Part 1
By Justin Hilliard · 25 Nov 2022
The Light SUV segment is dominated by the Mazda CX-3, which just celebrated its eighth birthday. But the Japanese crossover has a new Akari LE flagship that adds a little more luxury to its semi-premium formula. Yep, it's got a few nice surprises in store for buyers.
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