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.

Is BYD risking EV fanbase by adding PHEVs?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 21 May 2024
BYD is about to roll the dice and gamble with its reputation as a credible alternative to the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 by releasing a fossil-fuelled third model in Australia. But will the EV fanbase accept the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) midsized SUV?
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Hyundai Santa Cruz ute set for Australia
By Byron Mathioudakis · 18 May 2024
For the first time since the demise of the locally-made Holden VF Commodore Ute in 2017, smaller, sub-Ford Ranger-sized utes are returning to Australia, starting with the Hyundai Santa Cruz. CarsGuide understands that Hyundai previewed a so-called “Tucson Ute” at a recent dealer event, as part of a slew of upcoming new models earmarked for our market over the next few years.
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Is BYD planning two utes for Australia?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 18 May 2024
The BYD Shark ute, which is expected to be released here by the end of this year, may not be the only dual-cab pick-up the company is preparing.
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Will the BYD Seagull be our cheapest EV?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 17 May 2024
Will BYD release an even cheaper version of its Dolphin and wade into the electric vehicle (EV) price war that currently sees the GWM Ora from $35,990 driveaway and MG’s 4 and ZS both not too far behind at $39,990 driveaway?
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BYD Sealion 6 hybrid set to be a bestseller
By Byron Mathioudakis · 16 May 2024
The Sealion 6 PHEV SUV is set to be BYD's bestselling model in Australia, as the Chinese brand chases volume in a big way.
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BYD Sealion 6 2024 review
By Byron Mathioudakis · 16 May 2024
BYD is gatecrashing the growing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market with the Sealion 6 - a five-seater family-sized medium SUV. With two 1.5-litre petrol engine choices, at least one electric motor and a large battery for up to 92km of EV-only NEDC-rated driving range around town, or about 1100km per tankful of fuel, it should prove popular, especially when factoring in pricing and equipment levels.
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What a 2025 Commodore might have looked like
By Byron Mathioudakis · 05 May 2024
Is this what next year’s Holden Commodore would be if General Motors hadn’t pulled the plug in 2020?
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Why the Subaru Liberty mattered so much
By Byron Mathioudakis · 04 May 2024
With production ending in 2025 after 36 influential years, the Subaru Liberty has had an impact, not just for the brand, its class, the market and, ultimately, even the wider world, but also in important and even culturally significant ways. Here, then, are the 10 major legacies left by the Subaru Australians know as Liberty.
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Subaru BRZ 2024 review: tS auto
By Byron Mathioudakis · 30 Apr 2024
Completely redesigned inside and out, and with a bigger engine, extensive chassis updates and more safety tech, the second-gen Subaru BRZ rights most of the (admittedly very few) wrongs of the 2012 original. Now, there's the tS flagship, bringing minor suspension and brake upgrades to an already sharply accomplished driving package, but no more performance. Has one of the best become even better?
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BYD Atto 3 Extended Range price drop
By Byron Mathioudakis · 30 Apr 2024
BYD importer EV Direct has dropped the price on selected versions of the higher-grade Atto 3 crossover electric vehicle (EV). Prices now start from just $45,990 drive-away for the Extended Range variant - excluding Western Australia (where it costs $2000 more) - down from $51,011 before on-road costs.
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