Kelly's current car is nearing the end of its life and she needs to pin down a used replacement. She drives about 800km each week, most of it on the open road, so good fuel economy, strong reliability and affordable upkeep are vital.

The budget

Up to $10,000

The shortlist

Kelly could go pretty much any way she likes in this budget range, from a mid-sized or large sedan to an SUV, but she'll get the best returns with smaller, more affordable candidates.

They not only stack up better to her fuel-economy and affordable-maintenance directives but – being newer than similarly priced, larger alternatives – will minimise her chances of getting stuck with a mechanical liability.

The downside is a small car typically won't be quite as able or easy on the senses in an open-road scenario as bigger and more powerful alternatives. In this budget range, however, gaining those advantages is only going to come with some level of compromise to our key economy/running-cost/reliability criteria.

2007-12 Hyundai i30, from $5500*

This Hyundai – the only superseded model of this group – looks and feels a little outdated in 2016, and isn't the sweetest driving small car of its era.

Tidy examples in this price range have typically exhausted or are right at the end of their factory five-year warranty.

But it wins back points with its solid functionality and performance/economy/on-road credentials, plus the prospect of tapping into Hyundai's lifetime fixed-price servicing regime. The thrift and relaxed open-road demeanour of its diesel-engine option are potentially tempting assets in this context, and there's also a handy wagon version.

Newer stock can be targeted more than many popular small cars, which flows into safety – all MY10-on models, which arrived in late 2009 and squeak into this budget range, have stability control and curtain airbags, and finding earlier examples with these features won't be too hard because they were offered up the range and as options from launch.

Read Drive's Hyundai i30 reviews:

Hyundai i30 used

2011-on Kia Rio, from $7600*

This Kia is a full size smaller than its rivals and the 1.4-litre base 'S' model needs to be worked to deliver only its adequate performance. It isn't a fuel-economy benchmark, even if it's far from thirsty.

By the same measure, the Rio is quite spacious for a light car and its well-sorted ride/handling combo means it doesn't feel out of its depth on the open road. 1.6-litre models deliver better driveability than 1.4s with no real economy penalty. No safety sifting is necessary because all models have stability control and curtain airbags.

Significantly, Kelly can target much newer examples than small-sized equivalents. A 2014 S with low kays is possible for this money and would tap her into the balance of Kia's seven-year warranty/fixed-price servicing combo.

Read Drive's Kia Rio reviews:

Kia Rio used.

2007-on Mitsubishi Lancer, from $5100*

This Mitsubishi could drive better, be quieter on the open road and less drab inside. Examples in this price range have typically exhausted their warranty and fixed-price servicing reserves (five and four years respectively).

Like the i30, though, it's a good meat-and-potatoes package with competitive functionality and more than sufficient on-road competency. Its 2.0-litre petrol drivetrain lands on a pretty decent performance/economy compromise.

Its strong value on the used-car lot leads to better safety outcomes than many rivals in this price range. All Lancers have stability control and curtain airbags were widely available from launch. 2010-on models, plenty of which occupy this budget range, all get both of these features.

Read Drive's Mitsubishi Lancer reviews:

Mitsubishi Lancer used

Drive recommends

Each of our contenders has its question marks. The Lancer has no answer to the warranty/servicing possibilities of its Korean foes in this price range, and both it and the i30 lack some of the polish that makes other small cars of the era easier to love. The Rio could be considered under-engined for this scenario in base S form.

All of which means a smart tactic may well be committing to the very tidiest example of whichever of the three that turns up.

All things being equal, though, the Kia just edges ahead because it gives Kelly the chance to pin down the newest metal and the greatest warranty/fixed-price servicing reserves, two assets we can see her really appreciating.

* 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.