Articles by Stephen Ottley

Stephen Ottley

Contributing Journalist

Steve has been obsessed with all things automotive for as long as he can remember. Literally, his earliest memory is of a car. Having amassed an enviable Hot Wheels and Matchbox collection as a kid he moved into the world of real cars with an Alfa Romeo Alfasud.

Despite that questionable history he carved a successful career for himself, firstly covering motorsport for Auto Action magazine before eventually moving into the automotive publishing world with CarsGuide in 2008. Since then he's worked for every major outlet, having work published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Drive.com.au, Street Machine, V8X and F1 Racing.

These days he still loves cars as much as he did as a kid and has an Alfa Romeo Alfasud in the garage (but not the same one as before... that's a long story).

What do you get when you cross Tesla with Isuzu? The answer could be Australia's next big thing | Opinion

9 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Gang of youths: Why V8 fans should celebrate the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E and embrace the new, hi-tech coupe

6 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Ford's decision to build the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV caused an...Read more

Future classics: Why Ford is banking on iconic names like Bullitt and Mach 1 for Mustang

4 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley

The seventh-generation Ford Mustang hasn't landed in Australian...Read more

Australia is flooded with utes, and the solution is more utes! Why the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz would be game-changers in Australia | Opinion

3 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Australians love two types of vehicles at the moment - mid-size SUVs...Read more

Why MG could be about to change the face of new car safety in Australia | Opinion

2 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley

No-one should question the great work the Australian New Car Assessment...Read more

Ford Maverick 2024 review

1 September 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Is this the car Ford Australia is crying out for? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves from afar ever since the Maverick first appeared in the USA in 2021. In simple terms this is an SUV disguised as a ute, or if you prefer to look at it another way, a ute designed for the urban environment...Read more

Ford Performance Vehicles: How the Blue Oval is reviving its glory days | Opinion

27 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

There are hundreds of cars revealed every year that we write about here...Read more

MG prepared to skip five-star ANCAP rating to keep cars affordable

26 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

MG has vowed to continue to offer affordable models to Australian...Read more

Hyundai i30 2024 review: Sedan Hybrid

22 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Watch out, Toyota, Hyundai is trying to muscle in on your turf. Specifically, the booming market for hybrid vehicles, which at this point in time is dominated by Toyota and its Corolla, RAV4 and other models. Hyundai wants a piece of that action, and as we’ve already reviewed, the Tucson Hybrid is...Read more

MG to target Tesla and Mercedes-Benz with new premium push: Chinese car maker confident it can offer $100k EVs to Australian buyers

20 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Are you ready to pay more than $100,000 for an MG? The Chinese-owned...Read more

Why Honda is confident it will meet sales targets: New ZR-V and CR-V to lead resurgence for the Japanese brand

19 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Honda Australia is confident that the arrival of the all-new ZR-V and...Read more

The Ford Mustang didn't go electric - and that's great! Why the V8 'lone survivor' is worth celebrating | Opinion

13 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

And then there was one.

The Ford Mustang...Read more

MG MG4 Excite 64 2024 review: snapshot

12 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

The MG4 Excite 64 is the first step up the ladder in the range, priced at...Read more

Ford Ranger Raptor to get high-performance expansion based on off-road racing experience - including 300kW V8 'Desert Racer'

12 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Want to race a Ford Ranger Raptor? Soon you’ll be able to with Ford...Read more

MG MG4 2024 review

10 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

It’s not hyperbole to say the MG4 may be the most important new car launched in 2023. In fact, it may be the most important new model in recent years. Why? Because this is the car that will make electric vehicles affordable to the masses. We’ve already sampled the entry-level model in the range,...Read more

Ford F-150 2024 review

10 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Then there were three. First came the Ram 1500, then the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and now the third member of the American trinity of pickups is arriving in Australia - the Ford F-150. We're only weeks away from right-hand drive F-150s hitting Australian showrooms and owners' driveways, but...Read more

Ford Bronco 2024 review

8 August 2023 by Stephen Ottley

Have you seen that new Ford television commercial filled with its three most adventurous vehicles - the Ranger, Everest and Bronco - driving across a variety of Australian landscapes as people old and young alike have fun in a trio of the Blue Oval’s finest? No? That’s probably because it doesn’t...Read more