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.

Nissan Kicks hints at bigger small SUV for Oz
By Byron Mathioudakis · 29 Mar 2024
Is this small crossover the next-generation replacement for the Juke in Australia? Nissan Australia isn’t saying for now, but the completely redesigned Kicks has broken cover in North America this month, shaping up to be a more globally-available proposition.
Read the article
GWM Tank 500 2024 review: Hybrid
By Byron Mathioudakis · 28 Mar 2024
Australia's first-ever hybrid seven-seat off-road wagon, GWM's Tank 500 Hybrid is something genuinely different against more expensive and conventionally powered rivals like the Toyota Prado. And it isn't just good for going bush, with decent on-road manners, a nicely presented interior, heaps of space and loads of standard kit. Sure, the GWM has some issues, but it is an impressive effort, too.
Read the article
Update on the Nissan Pathfinder Warrior
By Byron Mathioudakis · 25 Mar 2024
Do you want to see a Warrior version of the Nissan Pathfinder? With the ongoing success of Navara Warrior midsized ute as well as the very promising start experienced by the Patrol Warrior full-sized 4x4 wagon launched at the tail end of last year, Nissan Australia admits that it is now looking at – and crunching the numbers for – such an edition of its vastly-improved large seven/eight-seater SUV
Read the article
Nissan calls for rethink of child-seat ADRs
By Byron Mathioudakis · 23 Mar 2024
Nissan reckons that pulling out barriers including the child-seat tether-enforcing ADR 34 would only hasten the arrival and decrease the cost of future models.
Read the article
Are utes changing Australians forever?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 16 Mar 2024
Are utes changing the fabric of modern Australia? Are they contributing to the affordability crisis? Are we moving too closely towards American values?
Read the article
Nissan Qashqai 2024 review: e-Power
By Byron Mathioudakis · 14 Mar 2024
Nissan is late to the hybrid party, but - like the brilliant X-Trail e-Power - the smaller Qashqai Ti e-Power is a revelation, combining real-world efficiency with a muscular and enjoyable driving experience. Beautifully presented inside and out, it differs from more traditional rival small SUV hybrids like the Honda ZR-V and Toyota C-HR by being EV-first, providing a unique ownership experience.
Read the article
Unbelievable! Suzuki Jimny wait times chopped
By Byron Mathioudakis · 13 Mar 2024
Great news for buyers sick of waiting the best part of a year for a new Suzuki Jimny - for some models, deliveries on orders placed today will only take a few weeks.
Read the article
2025 Hyundai i30 Tourer wagon a no-go for Oz
By Byron Mathioudakis · 10 Mar 2024
Hyundai has said no to the return of the i30 wagon for Australia, citing consumer disinterest in an ever-contracting passenger-car market. With the company’s decision to source all i30 hatchback production globally out of the Czech Republic for 2024, there had been some conjecture that the stylish Tourer/estate model might have made a return to the local line-up.
Read the article
2025 Hyundai Casper EV looms for Australia
By Byron Mathioudakis · 04 Mar 2024
The pieces of what exactly Hyundai's affordable city-sized SUV electric vehicle (EV) will be like are falling into place at last, as the world's number three carmaker steps up against Chinese brands like BYD, MG and others.
Read the article
What will the 2025 Hyundai i30 Hatch be like?
By Byron Mathioudakis · 02 Mar 2024
What’s going on with the Hyundai i30 hatch? Why can’t we buy the regular one right now? When will it come back? What will it look like? And how much will it cost? These are questions that seem to have been vexing the local arm of the company as much as everybody else. And the confusion over what was Australia’s bestselling small car last year isn’t over yet, either.
Read the article