Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

Byron Mathioudakis

Contributing Journalist

Byron Mathioudakis connected with cars right from the start.

His earliest memory is a dream of him driving an Austin A30. Soon after, Byron fell in love with movies watching Duel (1971) where a Valiant sedan takes on a murderous Peterbilt truck. Meanwhile, at Tottenham Primary, teacher Mr Chitty prised opened his world with Wheels magazines, later leading him to perform a one-person musical about the then-new Ford XD Falcon. Everyone thought he was strange.

Eager to keep his car passion separate from work, he graduated from Advertising at RMIT, but wasn’t happy in that industry, so did the ‘90s Gen X thing of back-packing, with stints in hospitality, exploring his love of music working in a record store, tending bar, acting, dancing, modelling and even being a singing telegram, thankfully in faraway Canada.

His eventual YouTube debut happened as an extra in a Violetine video of that era, You Know.

Anyway, by 28, Byron realised he wanted to write about cars and nothing else, and on the eve of his 30th, landed a job at John Mellor’s Australian Automotive Business, a predecessor to GoAuto, where he still feels he belongs after four decades, breaking through with an unsolicited road test of his mother’s Peugeot 306.

Going freelance in 1999, he worked at the long-defunct eauto.com.au (it’s still on Wayback Machine), then picked up a gig at Wheels magazine, citing 11 years of Car of the Year judging as a life-changing employment experience. Among scores of amazing people, it was there he became great friends with Peter Robinson, the editor of that first car magazine he devoured back in ’77. Do meet your heroes.

In 2020, Byron started at CarsGuide, where he is a Contributing Journalist to this day. Other regular media outlets he writes for include the RAC WA and Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine.

Note: though Byron has many old cars he loves, he has never owned an Austin A30, Valiant, XD Falcon or Peugeot 306. To paraphrase Bjork, to do so may break the charm.

You can find Byron on LinkedIn.

Education

Associate Diploma in Advertising, RMIT | 1987-1990

Awards

2024 Newspress Australia Road Tester of the Year

Featured Publications

GoAuto | 1997-2022
Wheels | 2009-2021
CarsGuide | 2020-present
RAC WA
Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine

Kia Stonic 2021 review: Sport

By Byron Mathioudakis · 24 Feb 2021

Though four years late to the light SUV party, Kia's Stonic has been worth it, with super-keen pricing, generous equipment and a strong showroom presence that should see buyers flocking to it. If you need an easy and stress-free urban crossover, this surely is it. But feeble performance when pressed, along with sub-average economy, a firm ride and too much road noise, rub away some of the shine.

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2021 SsangYong Rexton: Oz details revealed

By Byron Mathioudakis · 18 Feb 2021

SsangYong has teased Australian-specific details of the imminent Rexton facelift, revealing new front-end styling and increased equipment levels on one hand, but also likely higher pricing and a reduced range on the other.

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Mazda 3 2021 review: Astina X20 hatch

By Byron Mathioudakis · 17 Feb 2021

Mazda is trying to evolve the internal combustion engine with Skyactiv-X - a petrol engine that switches between spark ignition and diesel-like compression ignition combustion. Armed with a supercharger, it is meant to be a low-emissions eco alternative to diesel. In range-topping (for now) Astina guise, it provides subtlety muscular performance, in a compact, luxurious and refined package.

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Hybrid battery remanufacturing exchange here

By Byron Mathioudakis · 12 Feb 2021

Big news for owners of the popular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, Corolla Hybrid and C-HR Hybrid.

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Subaru XV hybrid 2021 review: L

By Byron Mathioudakis · 10 Feb 2021

The Subaru XV Hybrid L gains a number of subtle upgrades for 2021, with a more responsive transmission, improved ride and more better steering leading the changes. Equipment levels have also risen, but not performance - and this may disappoint some. Pure EV range is also negligible. However, the net result is a polished, comfortable, frugal and fun compact crossover offering quality and value.

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Mercedes-Benz GLA 2021 review: 250 urban test

By Byron Mathioudakis · 09 Feb 2021

Mercedes-Benz invented the premium small-crossover segment, taking cues from the Subaru XV to create an A-Class based high-riding hatchback offering a wide array of performance options. The bestseller by some margin is the mid-range GLA 250 4Matic, with strong performance and the surety of all-wheel drive. The smoother, second-gen version for 2021 is safer, roomier and faster than ever before.

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Mini Countryman 2021 review: Cooper S LCI

By Byron Mathioudakis · 05 Feb 2021

One of the more popular sellers in the Mini range, the Countryman attempts to widen the appeal of the British icon, with more space and practicality, yet without losing too much of the driving and dynamic brio that has endeared the brand to enthusiasts for decades. For MY21, several minor but effective updates keep the small SUV competitive, while the stylish Signature adds some much-needed class.

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Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2021 review: LS AWD urban test

By Byron Mathioudakis · 19 Jan 2021

For 2021, the Mitsubishi ASX-based Eclipse Cross has been improved in a number of areas. For instance, the complete rear-end redesign looks far better. A larger touchscreen has been fitted while the fiddly old trackpad has been binned. The rear suspension gains larger dampers, the steering has been retuned and more equipment has been added. But are these enough to boost this SUV's popularity?

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Tesla Model 3 2020 review: Long Range

By Byron Mathioudakis · 31 Dec 2020

Why is history's bestselling electric vehicle the Tesla Model 3? The brand's smallest and most affordable model normalises the EV experience for mainstream consumers, without alienating the early adopters who desire progress. But even more than that, the American midsized sedan offers extraordinary range, performance and dynamics, in a package that's as easy to drive as it is to live with.

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Honda HR-V 2021 review: VTi-LX

By Byron Mathioudakis · 30 Dec 2020

The Honda HR-V might be getting on - it first broke cover in Oz in early 2015 - but clever design and packaging combined with sharp pricing and specification have helped keep the Thai-sourced small SUV at the pointy end of the sales charts. With the next-generation model not too far away, and ever-newer rivals breathing down its neck, we take a long hard look at the top-line VTi-LX version.

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