Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

Byron Mathioudakis
Contributing Journalist

Byron started his motoring journalism career when he joined John Mellor in 1997 before becoming a freelance motoring writer two years later.

He wrote for several motoring publications and was ABC Youth radio Triple J's "all things automotive" correspondent from 2001 to 2003.

He rejoined John Mellor in early 2003 and has been with GoAutoMedia as a senior product and industry journalist ever since.

With an eye for detail and a vast knowledge base of both new and used cars Byron lives and breathes motoring.

His encyclopedic knowledge of cars was acquired from childhood by reading just about every issue of every car magazine ever to hit a newsstand in Australia.

The child Byron was the consummate car spotter, devoured and collected anything written about cars that he could lay his hands on and by nine had driven more imaginary miles at the wheel of the family Ford Falcon in the driveway at home than many people drive in a lifetime.

The teenage Byron filled in the agonising years leading up to getting his driver's license by reading the words of the leading motoring editors of the country and learning what they look for in a car and how to write it.

In short, Byron loves cars and knows pretty much all there is to know about every vehicle released during his lifetime as well as most of the ones that were around before then.

Mazda CX-60 Azami 2025 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 08 Jun 2025
The CX-60 Azami is the flagship model in Mazda’s medium-to-large-sized five-seater SUV.
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Mazda CX-60 GT 2025 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 06 Jun 2025
The CX-60 GT is the overtly sporty version of the Hiroshima brand’s big mid-sized SUV.
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Family SUV faces the chop
By Byron Mathioudakis · 06 Jun 2025
It now seems inevitable that one of world’s longest-running family SUV badges may soon be retired in Australia. With low sales and high pricing pressures due to unfavourable exchange rates and ongoing geo-political uncertainties, the Nissan Pathfinder is facing an uncertain future, as it continues to stumble against popular alternatives in the large, seven-seater SUV segment like the Ford Everest,
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Will the 2027 Mazda CX-20 replace the CX-3?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 03 Jun 2025
A bold successor for the Mazda CX-3 is in the wings at last. Believed to be badged the CX-20, the company’s smallest SUV and second best-selling model after the evergreen CX-5 mid-sizer is set to surface sometime before the end of next year, as a 2027 model.
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Mazda CX-60 Touring 2025 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 02 Jun 2025
The CX-60 Touring is another new version of the largish, medium-sized SUV from Japan.
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Mazda CX-60 Evolve 2025 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 31 May 2025
The CX-60 Evolve is the mid-spec version of the longitudinal-engined, rear-drive-biased Mazda all-wheel-drive SUV, which is a bit larger than other most mainstream mid-sized SUVs.
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Mazda CX-60 Pure 2025 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 29 May 2025
The CX-60 Pure is the entry-level version of the larger-than-normal mid-sized Mazda SUV. It is a new addition to a range that has been upgraded to be more comfortable and smoother to drive thanks to extensive suspension and transmission calibration work.
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Mazda CX-60 2025 review: Australian first drive
By Byron Mathioudakis · 26 May 2025
One of the biggest letdowns in recent times has been the Mazda CX-60. Big, spacious, safe and powerful, with a plug-in hybrid option to boot, it should have slayed the medium SUV set. But, instead, high prices, a hard ride and indecisive transmission marred what might have been a premium alternative to the Toyota RAV4 and BMW X3 alike. Now a host of changes have landed. Is the CX-60 finally fixed?
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Nissan Patrol 2025 review: Australian first drive
By Byron Mathioudakis · 23 May 2025
Now in its 15th year since production commenced, the Y62 Patrol still has a story to tell, gaining modern multimedia tech and improved safety as part of a MY25 update. It's also likely the last change before the all-new Y63 arrives, and also the V8 petrol's last hurrah. With all that in mind, the changes improve a large, powerful, spacious and very off-road capable 4WD family wagon.
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Ford Ranger Super Duty chases Isuzu N-Series
By Byron Mathioudakis · 17 May 2025
Are you an owner/driver of an Isuzu N Series, Fuso Canter or Hino 300 small truck? Then this might be for you, because Ford is banking on breaking into the light duty (LD) truck class with something completely different to the cab-over chassis norm with the coming Ranger Super Duty.
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