The dilemma

Angelo is in the market for a small used car. It's destined for mostly urban, short-distance commuting and needs to be economical and reliable. Maximising safety within his modest budget range is a big priority.

The budget

About $3500

The shortlist

We'd recommend Angelo lower his sights from the small to the city-car class. He'll be able to aim for later year, lower kilometre stock, which will give him the twin-pronged benefit of better reliability prospects and more contemporary safety features.

There are plenty of potential candidates to sift through even with on this modest budget, but not all of them are a good fit with his criteria. Early-noughties European tiddlers that can be had for this money (Pug 206, Citroen C3, VW Polo) can't always be counted on to deliver the bulletproof reliability Angelo is craving.

Korea's light-car efforts in this price range, like the Hyundai Getz and last-generation Kia Rio, miss out on the safety gear offered by some Japanese alternatives, and in any case simply aren't as good.

2002-08 Honda Jazz, from $1500*

This Honda is economical, agile and easy to drive. Its cabin has excellent occupant and boot space, plus a back seat that folds flatter and is generally more versatile than rival setups.

Angelo can focus on economy with the base GLi, powered by a frugal 1.3-litre petrol engine, or get more poke, toys and still-impressive thrift with a 1.5-litre VTi or VTi-S.

But Jazz's safety fitout of twin airbags and anti-lock brakes – while decent for a city car of the time – doesn't quite match up to the benchmark offerings of its rivals here.

Its overly light steering, wooden ride and the 1.3's lack of low-rev grunt are driving niggles that can be avoided in other light cars, too.

Read Drive's Honda Jazz reviews:

Honda Jazz used

2002-07 Mazda 2, from $1800*

This Mazda's road manners land on a great mix of comfort and agility, and its one-size-fits-all 1.5-litre petrol engine is more responsive than the city-car norm.

Significantly here, it offers a path to side/curtain airbags, which were added to the topline Genki in 2004 and to the options list of the base Neo and middle-tier Maxx at the same time.

Like the Jazz, the 2 is quite roomy by light-car standards. It's not quite as clever, though – the back seat doesn't fold as flat and you can't fold the base up to open up a unique storage spot.

Its 1.5-litre engine isn't remarkably frugal for an engine of this size and the restriction of anti-lock brakes to the Genki (and Neo/Maxx models fitted with the optional curtain bags) undoes some of its good safety work.

Read Drive's Mazda 2 reviews:

Mazda 2 used

2005-11 Toyota Yaris, from $3600*

This Toyota is another city car with curtain airbags in its safety artillery. All models have anti-lock brakes, too.

It ticks plenty of other boxes, from its competent road manners to its strong economy and reliability credentials. Like the Honda, you can emphasise economy with a 1.3-litre petrol engine or get a little more grunt and still-decent frugality with a 1.5-litre model.

But the Yaris, owing to coming onto the market later than its rivals here, only just squeaks into our budget range, so choice on the used-car lot will be limited. Curtain airbags, which were optional for all models, could be a tough ask.

Its cabin isn't as roomy as a Jazz or 2, and its boot is smaller. While there's nothing especially nasty about how it drives, it has no answer for the Mazda's handling poise or the sweetness of its drivetrain.

Read Drive's Toyota Yaris reviews:

Toyota Yaris used

Drive recommends

The theoretical winner of this contest would have to be an ABS/curtain-airbag equipped 2 but there are a lot more 2s without these safety features than with them. If Angelo can't find one in the right spec and condition, he should keep his options open.

The next best choice would be a curtain-airbagged Yaris but, again, finding one with this spec could be a challenge.

The Jazz's lack of curtain bags consigns it to third on paper but in a real-world runoff against a 2 or Yaris without the full safety motzah? Well, then its group-beating functionality and all-round suitability could just be enough to leave it on top.

* Values are estimates provided by Redbook based on an example averaging up to 20,000km per annum and in a well-maintained condition relevant to its age.