Daniel Gardner

Contributor

Daniel Gardner is a former staff writer and contributor for Wheels, WhichCar and 4x4 Australia.

With a degree in mechanical design, Daniel has enjoyed tenures as a mechanic and engineer – but he eventually realised writing about cars is far better than a real job.

Many cars have passed through his garage over the years. All of them produced more power than the manufacturer intended, and most of them ended up in a hedge.

Ten years on the spanners in both the UK and Australia has given Daniel a unique perspective of the constantly changing automotive landscape and a genuine insight into what customers want and need.

If you’re after a new set of wheels, he’s all ears. Just don’t ask to borrow his socket set.

Young couple buying car
Opinion

What you really need to know when buying a car

Buy the car you want, not the one everyone else thinks you should, says Daniel Gardner.

Reviews

2025 Mazda CX-80 review: First international drive

Premium, practical and punchy but is it too much, too late?

Opinion

Opinion: Defining the supercar

Exactly how Super does a supercar need to be?

Features

The star cars of China's big auto show

Think motor shows are dead? Seems someone forgot to tell Beijing... After a four-year hiatus, Auto China rebounds with gusto

News

M-Hero 1: 800kW/1400Nm LandCruiser killer targets Australia

Dongfeng's planned M-Hero sub-brand is set to come to Australia, starting with an electric off-roader with wild looks and wild performance

News

Mini family keeping it to three models for now

Countryman facelift next in line for Mini family

News

2025 GWM Haval H9 seven-seat SUV lines up for an Australian return

GWM Haval could offer two seven-seat, off-road-focused SUVs inside 12 months

News

Aion launching in Australia in 2025

Aion V electric SUV spearheads Aion Chinese brand into Australia next year

News

Updated Haval Jolion and H6 imminent

Jolion hybrid to get its own unique look, H6 facelift coming within 12 months

News

GWM Tank 700: Flagship $100K 4WD eyes Australia

Tank 700 under consideration for Australian launch, heralding new flagship for GWM and its first model costing six figures

Opinion

OPINION: There's a lot of overrated stuff out there

Can we talk about undeserved reputations?

Reviews

2024 Mini Countryman review: Electric and JCW petrol models

With the transition to electric, Mini’s third-gen Countryman is both practical and the obvious performance pick

Opinion

Despite rising fines, the road toll is rising too

Speed limits continue to go south while the fines go north and yet the road toll continues to rise

Reviews

2024 BMW X2 & iX2 EV review: International first drive

BMW’s X2 returns with an electric stablemate as well as a level of technology and interior space to worry cars from the class above

Opinion

Politics and safety policy: The deadliest piece of the road toll

The problem with putting politicians in charge of road safety is that we end up with politics, not policy

Opinion

Carbon fibre as decoration is getting out of hand

Is the other carbon economy a busted flush?

Features

Artura vs science: The design of McLaren's daring new supercar

McLaren Artura designer Joao Dias explains the intrinsic connection between engineering and design

Opinion

OPINION: They said we'd have flying cars in the future...

Personal mobility aircraft sound brilliant, but the whole thing really is a pie-in-the-sky concept, scoffs Dan

Opinion

Opinion: Emojis as positive reinforcement for speed limit enforcement

Rather than defaulting to a ticket in the mail, Andorra's speed limit enforcement will whip you into shape by holding you up at the lights – but get it right and they'll blow you a kiss.

Opinion

Embracing our mistakes makes for great reading

On the colourful journey to racking up seven decades, what’s the occasional bent supercar between friends?

Reviews

2023 Ferrari Roma Spider review: First international drive

Ferrari’s first front-engined soft top in half a century is expensive, but sacrifices almost nothing compared with its coupe cousin

Reviews

2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i review

BMW’s baby SUV finally comes of age and beats its bullies

News

Mini Moke and multi-seater model under development

Moke homage, larger multi-seat model, and electric convertible are all on the Mini drawing board

News

Petrol-powered Mini due for final facelift, no new platform coming

The 'old-school' combustion-powered Mini will get one last facelift before going out to pasture, not an all-new platform