Articles by Laura Berry

Laura Berry

Senior Journalist

Laura Berry is a best-selling Australian author and journalist who has been reviewing cars for more than 15 years.

Much more of a Hot Wheels girl than a Matchbox one, she grew up in a family that would spend every Friday night sitting on a hill at the Speedway watching sprint cars slide in the mud. The best part of this was being given money to buy stickers. She loved stickers… which then turned into a love of tattoos.

Out of boredom, she learnt to drive at 14 on her parents’ bush property in what can only be described as a heavily modified Toyota LandCruiser.

At the age of 17 she was told she couldn’t have a V8 Holden ute by her mother, which led to Laura and her father laying in the driveway for three months building a six-cylinder ute with more horsepower than a V8.

Since then she’s only ever owned V8s, with a Ford Falcon XW and a Holden Monaro CV8 part of her collection over the years.

Laura began her career as a journalist in the entertainment industry writing about music for The South China Morning Post; television for tvChoice; fashion and celebrities for The Mirror before combining her passion for cars with her profession and moved into motoring.

In 2008 she joined News Custom Publishing as Managing Editor of its motoring titles, including Australia’s Best Cars and the official programs for V8 Supercars, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

In 2011 she joined CarsGuide (for the first time), back when it was part of a newspaper, and learnt to test and review cars.

This followed a move to Motor as Production Editor, then Wheels as News Editor while also writing for Street Machine and Top Gear Australia.

As the media landscape shifted she left print journalism and joined online motoring publication GoAuto as a senior writer.

A brief stint in automotive public relations then followed before she joined CarsGuide in 2015 (for the second time) as Senior Journalist where she remains to this day.

A wife and mother, and author of two books, her current daily driver is a chopped 1951 Ford Tudor with a V8, of course.

You can find Laura on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.

Expertise

Performance and custom cars
Family cars and SUVs

Education

Bachelor of Arts | Macquarie University

Featured Publications

The Mirror (UK) | 2002-2006
South China Morning Post | 2004-2006
tvChoice (UK) | 2004-2006
TVQuick (UK) | 2004-2006
Mercedes-Benz Magazine | 2005-2006
Australia’s Best Cars | 2008-2010
V8 Supercars Official Program | 2008-2010
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Official Program | 2008-2010
Australian MotoGP Official Program | 2008-2010
Motor | 2012-2013
Street Machine | 2012-2015
Wheels | 2013
Top Gear | 2013-2014
GoAuto | 2014-2015
CarsGuide | 2015-present

Subaru Outback Touring 2023 review: snapshot

By Laura Berry · 18 Feb 2023

The Touring is the top grade in the Outback line-up and has a list price of $50,990.This isn’t the most expensive Outback in the range, however. The Touring XT is more expensive because it’s the turbocharged version of the Touring.The Touring has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 138kW and 245Nm, with a continuously variable auto transmission. Like all Outbacks the Touring is all-wheel drive, too.Subaru says that after a combination of open and urban roads the 2.5-litre engine should use 7.3L/100km.Coming standard on the Touring are LED headlights, LED fog lights and LED running lights, roof rails, privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside there’s an 11.6-inch central touchscreen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, power front seats, a proximity key, push-button start, 'X-Mode' drive modes, paddle shifters, power tailgate, heated front seats and sports pedals.The Touring grades also has nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a heated steering wheel and Nappa leather seats. The Touring also comes with a CD player… yes, really.All Outbacks come standard with an excellent array of advanced safety tech including Subaru’s 'Eyesight' system which uses two cameras to scan the road ahead. There’s AEB, autonomous emergency steering, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert with reverse auto braking and blind-spot warning.

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Here's when you can have a Chery Omoda 5 EV

By Laura Berry · 17 Feb 2023

Chinese brand Chery has just returned to Australia with its Omoda 5 small SUV, but something’s missing - the electric version.

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Chery returns for another bite of Australia

By Laura Berry · 16 Feb 2023

Chinese car-maker Chery has spearheaded its return to Australia with the reveal of its Omoda 5 small SUV with drive-away pricing set to start from less than $40,000, and backed by a seven-year warranty.Australians will be among the first in the world to b

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Subaru Outback Sport 2023 review: snapshot

By Laura Berry · 16 Feb 2023

The Sport grade sits above in the entry model Outback in the range with its list price of $47,190.Don’t confuse the Sport with the Sport XT. While both have the same standard features, the XT is the turbocharged version and costs more.The Sport has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 138kW and 245Nm, with a continuously variable auto transmission. Like all Outbacks the Sport is all-wheel drive, too.Subaru says that after a combination of open and urban roads the 2.5-litre engine should use 7.3L/100km.Coming standard on the Sport are LED headlights, LED fog lights and LED running lights, roof rails, privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside there’s an 11.6-inch central touchscreen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, power front seats, a proximity key, push-button start, 'X-Mode' drive modes, paddle shifters, a power tailgate, heated front seats and sports pedals.A cool feature in the Sport grade is water-repellent seats. All Outbacks come standard with an excellent array of advanced safety tech including Subaru’s 'Eyesight' system which uses two cameras to scan the road ahead. There’s AEB, autonomous emergency steering, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert with reverse auto braking and blind-spot warning.

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Hate SUVs? Here's who to blame

By Laura Berry · 16 Feb 2023

The world is obsessed with SUVs with almost every carmaker now from Porsche to Peugeot not just making them but relying on them to make money.

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Subaru Outback 2023 review

By Laura Berry · 14 Feb 2023

The Subaru Outback has been loved by those looking for a bit of adventure and now the new updated range has added a turbo engine which offers better towing capability and faster acceleration.

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Bring back the Brumby!

By Laura Berry · 14 Feb 2023

The Subaru Brumby will return if customers really want it, Subaru Australia's managing director has hinted, reigniting the possibility of a 21st century version of the little ute.

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Are media screen dangerous to use?

By Laura Berry · 05 Feb 2023

Tesla wasn't the first to put an electronic display in a car but the brand set the new benchmark for screen size that the other car makers have been adopting in everything from prestige cars such as Mercdes-Benz and BMW to more affordable options like Kia, Hyundai and Haval. But are these screens making our lives easier or more dangerous when we're behind the wheel?

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BMW 330e 2023 review

By Laura Berry · 03 Feb 2023

Is the BMW 330e M Sport a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that takes a classic BMW model and equips it for an electric future? We tested it to see if the 330e is as good as it sounds - which apparently, is a lot like a UFO.

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We want mini utes!

By Laura Berry · 28 Jan 2023

Australia has long been the home of the ute. Not only did the ute originate here back in 1934 but year-in and year-out the best-selling car in Australia is a ute.

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