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.

New 2024 'Holden' Colorado, Trax and more!
By Byron Mathioudakis · 16 Jul 2024
Holden may be gone, but – as Opel/Vauxhall’s recently-announced Frontera reminds us – it’s clear that a handful of the old names survive. They grace other, inevitably newer models from both within and beyond the broader GM family that once, of course, also included Holden. What do they look like today? Would fans of their Australian namesakes even recognise any sort of connection?
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Suzuki seeks cheaper hybrid hatches for Aus
By Byron Mathioudakis · 14 Jul 2024
Suzuki has considering an inexpensive globally-available version of its latest Alto Kei-car.
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Ford Ranger next-gen diesel engine coming
By Byron Mathioudakis · 13 Jul 2024
Ford is going against the wave of anti-diesel sentiment with confirmation that it is developing a cleaner diesel engine for future commercial vehicles – including Ranger, Everest and Transit Custom.
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Suzuki Fronx mild-hybrid finally here in 2025
By Byron Mathioudakis · 12 Jul 2024
The Suzuki Fronx mild-hybrid is on its way to Australia for a 2025 assault against other small and/or entry-level SUVs, including the Kia Stonic, Hyundai Venue and MG ZS.
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Oof! 2025 Hyundai i30 Hatch now $36,000
By Byron Mathioudakis · 11 Jul 2024
Hyundai’s long-awaited i30 Hatch facelift is almost in Australia, with the point of entry rocketing up from $24,000 (all prices are before on-road costs) to $36,000. That’s because all the base grades, including the popular old Active that started from $27,500 and Elite from $30,800, are gone. But it's not all bad news...
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Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo 2024 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 07 Jul 2024
The Trofeo is the slightly more track-honed version of the Maserati GranTurismo, costing from $450,000, before on-road costs, compared to $75,000-cheaper base Modena.
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Why the Ford Transit Custom PHEV matters
By Byron Mathioudakis · 07 Jul 2024
Ford is considering launching the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of its acclaimed Transit Custom in Australia – and in the near future at that.
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Is the Suzuki Swift Sport over?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 06 Jul 2024
Is the Suzuki Swift Sport over? Here’s what we know about the future of our favourite bargain baby hot hatch
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Best 4x4s, off-roaders and vans of 2024
By Byron Mathioudakis · 05 Jul 2024
Whether they're for work or for play, we are officially a nation of outdoorsy adventurers.
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Maserati GranTurismo Modena 2024 review: snapshot
By Byron Mathioudakis · 05 Jul 2024
The Maserati GranTurismo is a grand touring coupe that costs as much as, and slots neatly between, models as disparate as the Porsche 911 and Bentley Continental GT.
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