Articles by Stephen Ottley

Is it the magic solution to save driving as we know it? Or a fool’s errand that some of the biggest carmakers in the world are wasting billions on?

You don’t need to be a car industry analyst or mathematician to realise the cost of cars is rising. With every new model, car makers take the opportunity to add new equipment, new styling and that usually comes with a higher asking price.

‘I’ve never had a customer tell us they want less choice.’

One of the most common questions I get asked as a motoring journalist is ‘what’s the worst car you’ve driven?’  To be honest, it’s not a hard question to answer because I was one of the unfortunate few to have driven the original Chery J1 hatchback.

Sound has never been a hotter topic in the world of cars than it has been in the past decade. From the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles to even the more muted soundtrack of modern F1 cars, the noise cars make has become a major talking point.

Is this the car to change Hyundai’s electric fortunes in Australia?

How much does an electric vehicle (EV) cost? It’s a bit like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’, because obviously EVs come in various shapes, sizes and brands, but there has been a common answer in recent years - too much.

Whoever said ‘you can never have too much choice’ clearly never saw the Australian new car market in 2025. The country is being inundated with not only new models, but seemingly new brands every month.In 2025 alone we’ve had the introduction of Cadillac, Deepal, Geely, GMC, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Omoda and Xpeng to our roads. These join other relatively new arrivals which include (but aren’t limited to) BYD, Chery, Chevrolet, Cupra, JAC and Zeekr, with more reportedly on the way.While competition is great, and certainly there are many very likeable cars from most of these brands, I’m starting to feel like we’ve reached breaking point in Australia. We buy just over one million new cars each year, and that number won’t rise sharply anytime soon, so each new brand only splits the market into even smaller pieces.When you factor in Toyota accounts for around 20 per cent of the market each year, and that too doesn’t look like changing anytime soon, then you have nearly 70 brands fighting over 80 per cent of what’s left. While there’s certainly some major positives to this booming industry, namely the increased competition, especially the brands from China, have slowed down the dramatic price rises we’ve seen post-pandemic. The market was already headed that way before 2020, with many brands working out it makes better financial sense to sell fewer cars but at a higher profit than it does to sell lots of cars for less margin. Without question, a major factor in the growth of Chinese cars in Australia is thanks to the highly competitive pricing strategy brands like MG, GWM, BYD and others have engaged in.These new brands do give choice, but the downside of so much choice is it makes it harder for you, the new car customer, to know what to buy. Obviously we do our best here at CarsGuide to keep you informed, but frankly there are so many new brands - both those with history and reputation and those without - that buying is simply getting more and more complicated.One of the biggest challenges with new brands, as in brands with no history in developed car markets, is that a new model that seems solid and good value now may age terribly and give you no-end of problems. Or, alternatively, it could be great and problem-free - but it’s an expensive gamble to find out.But the cold, hard fact remains, the new car market is only so big and unless all brands not named Toyota prepare for a smaller market share, then not all will survive in all likelihood. In recent years Holden has gone, so too has Chrysler and Citroen, and there are seemingly several more hanging on with shrinking sales numbers. That will almost certainly leave customers facing an uncertain future for parts, servicing, etc, not to mention it will likely tank resale value. So, yes, choice is great, but too much choice can ultimately make life harder for everyone involved. Because at what point do we stop - 80 brands? 100? It may sound silly but at the rate some of these newer brands are multiplying with spin-offs and sister-brands, there appears to be no end in sight - and that’s not necessarily good news…

What is dual-clutch transmission?

Can you drive a manual car with an automatic license in Australia?Like Ford vs Holden, the debate between manual vs automatic was once a great divide in Australia. But in recent years more and more people have chosen to skip learning how to drive and change gears themselves, and opted for an automatic-only license. But what exactly are the rules around it in each Australian state and territory? In this article we’ll break down the key questions, like, ‘do you need a manual license?’ And find out ‘can you drive manual on full license?’ The rules are fairly straightforward, but it is important to know exactly what they are before you get behind the wheel.Naturally, if you break rules the penalty for driving manual on auto license can be significant but it varies from state-to-state and will be determined by the individual circumstances, but expect both a fine and demerit points. If you decide to get your New South Wales provisional P1 driver’s license in an automatic-equipped car you cannot drive a manual unless you are being supervised by someone with an unrestricted license.  Alternatively, you can wait until you get your P2 or unrestricted license, at which point you are free to drive either an automatic or manual vehicle. If that’s taking too long, your final option is to sit your P1 test again but do so in a vehicle equipped with a manual gearbox.In Victoria an automatic-only license is known as an ‘A condition’ license and is valid during your probationary period. Once you complete your probationary period, you are free to drive a manual vehicle without any further testing.Things are slightly stricter in Queensland, with anyone wanting to drive a manual transmission vehicle needing to pass a specific test, even if they have their open license. To achieve this you will need to learn with supervision from someone with an open license or when you are a learner with L plates displayed.South Australia has a simple approach - your driver’s license (not your provisional license) allows you to drive either type of transmission. Western Australia follows a similar strategy to Queensland, with a clear difference between a manual (C class) and automatic (C-A class) licence. In order to drive a manual you must pass the specific practical test, even if you have your full licence.Tasmania has some of the strictest practices in this regard, with drivers on an automatic licence required to spend at least three years (without any suspensions or disqualifications) before they are allowed to drive a manual without any additional testing.Even if you have your full licence, to practice driving a manual vehicle on an automatic licence you will need to display an L plate, be restricted to 90km/h and be accompanied by a qualified manual driver.However, if you need to drive a manual sooner than three years, you will need to pass a driving assessment in a manual vehicle.The nation’s capital is another to take a firmer stance. It’s automatic only until you pass a specific manual test regardless of what licence you have.In the Northern Territory you are able to drive a manual vehicle on your provisional automatic licence, provided you are supervised by a manual-licence holder. You can choose to take a manual driving test during your 12-month probationary licence period, or when you graduate to your full licence the restriction is removed anyway.