Keki is looking to move from her Ford Falcon to a smaller car that is easier to park and has a tall driving position. She quite likes Toyota RAV4 three-doors but they don't offer the safety features she wants (most notably stability control) or align with her budget.

The budget

About $25,000

The shortlist

We'll get the bad news out of the way first – there really isn't a small three-door SUV that stacks up to Keki's requirements.

The newest three-door RAV4s are now more than 10 years old and, as she's discovered, too cheap and lacking her desired contemporary safety kit.

Suzuki's Jimny is for off-road devotees only, and its Grand Vitara sibling is also more for buyers who'd like to rough it up, though to a lesser degree. She'd probably love Range Rover's Evoque three-door but it's too expensive.

Now the good news – with $25k in her pocket, she can have her pick of the increasingly competitive light-SUV class. Wrong number of doors aside, they stack up perfectly to her needs.

Honda HR-V, from $24,990

This Honda might just be the best of both worlds for Keki – it's a five-door but its swooping roofline and hidden rear door handles mean it looks like a three-door from some angles.

It makes a strong case for being the most practical light SUV – it has good back-seat space, a large 439-litre boot and Honda's 'Magic' back seat, which flips and folds every which way to open up all kinds of storage possibilities.

It has no massive performance, driving or ride niggles, and all models have stability control, curtain airbags and a reversing camera. Service costs are fixed for five years/100,000km (intervals are yearly/10,000km).

But it's also merely good rather than great to drive, and better performance and economy can be found elsewhere. You need to step up to the $27,990 VTi-S to get contemporary safety aids like autonomous emergency braking.

Read Drive's Honda HR-V reviews:

Honda HR-V road test

Baby SUV road-test comparison

Mazda CX-3, from $19,990

This Mazda doesn't have the overt coupe touches of the Honda but it's about as svelte-looking as light SUVs come.

Its frisky and thrifty petrol drivetrain, and agile and engaging road manners, add up to one of the best drives in the class.

All the key safety boxes can be ticked at this budget (curtain airbags, stability control, reversing camera) and every model can be optioned with low-speed autonomous emergency braking – a significant advantage in this company.

Mazda's fixed-price servicing regime is for the life of the vehicle (intervals are yearly/10,000km), where its rivals in this contest come with a use-by date.

But the CX-3 loses points with a cramped back seat and small boot (264 litres). It isn't the quietest light SUV in open-road scenarios.

Its promise of unmatched choice in this class (petrol/diesel, 2WD/AWD) isn't a reality at this budget because diesel and AWD models are out of bounds.

Read Drive's Mazda CX-3 reviews:

Mazda CX-3 sTouring road test

Baby SUV road-test comparison

Suzuki Vitara, from $21,990

This Suzuki doesn't make any pretence at being a coupe but two-tone paint and other personalisation options give it a character all its own.

Its base petrol drivetrain delivers a good mix of verve and economy, and it's able and entertaining to drive.

Its cabin and 375-litre boot earn solid practical points – it's not quite as roomy or clever as the Honda but it's rather less restrictive than the Mazda. All models have curtain bags, stability control and a reversing camera.

Just don't expect a bigger safety serve than that – to-the-minute driver aids like autonomous emergency braking aren't available.

Suzuki's five-year/100,00km fixed-price servicing regime has this group's shortest intervals (six-monthly/10,000km).

Read Drive's Suzuki Vitara reviews:

Suzuki Vitara first drive

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The Honda balances its benchmark practicality with less praiseworthy underbonnet and driving characteristics. The Mazda tickles the driving bone but forces you to live with less than remarkable practicality.

These stark compromises keep both of these light SUVs off the top step of this contest, though the Mazda's more attainable safety aids inch it into second spot.

The Vitara can't claim to be perfect, not the least because it lacks the safety technology of its rivals here while potentially asking for more visits to the dealer. But in doing most other things well and nothing badly, and throwing in a little charm as well, it does just enough to bag the win.