What small SUV should I buy?

The dilemma

Julie has mobility issues and recently swapped her sedan for a Honda CR-V. The Honda's high seating position and easy access/exit credentials have been just what her body has asked for but it's bigger and harder to park than what she'd like. What smaller SUV would be a worthy replacement for mainly short-distance urban driving?

The budget

Up to $30,000

The shortlist

Any light-sized SUV is going to give Julie her desired high driving position and be easier to manage in parking scenarios than her CR-V. Budget is not a limiting factor, either ? Citroen's C4 Cactus and Fiat's 500X would be running things a bit tight but all of the mainstream light contenders are at her disposal.

The only rule for entry to this contest, then, is quite simple ? it just needs to be a great example of the light-SUV breed.

That counts out Ford's EcoSport, Holden's Trax and Renault's Captur, none of which quite has an answer to the consistency and all-round talent of our chosen recommendations. Nissan's Qashqai is quite well-rounded but sits at the bigger end of the light-SUV size spectrum, so Julie wouldn't be maximising her manoeuvreability gains.

Honda HR-V, from $24,990

This Honda is on the roomy side for a light SUV, with good back-seat space, a large 439-litre boot and a back seat that folds down and flips up to maximise storage.

It ticks a lot of safety boxes ? all models have a reversing camera and the $27,990 VTi-S adds autonomous emergency braking ? and its performance, economy and ride/handling credentials all land in the meaty zone of acceptability. A five-year/100,000km fixed-price servicing regime and yearly/10,000km intervals bode well for easy ownership.

But there are other light SUVs that perform better, drink less, are nicer to drive, cheaper to buy and similarly easy to own. They might do that while offering more drivetrain choice or those high-tech safety aids from a lower price point.

Read Drive's Honda HR-V reviews:

Honda HR-V road test
Holden Trax vs Honda HR-V head to head
Baby SUV road-test comparison

Mazda CX-3, from $19,990

This Mazda is one of the light-SUV segment's friskier and thriftier performers, and one of its most agile, entertaining drives.

Its safety pitch is more democratic than the Honda's (autonomous emergency braking can be optioned on even the cheapest model) and it wins the servicing battle (it has the same yearly/10,000km intervals but costs are capped for the life of the vehicle). It also offers more variations on the theme (2WD/AWD, petrol/diesel).

But the latter is a moot point in a city-biased scenario, where its rival's mandatory petrol/2WD combo is the logical choice anyway. It has a tight back seat, small 264-litre boot, less flexible back seat (it just folds) and isn't as quiet in open-road scenarios.

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's sweet, composed road manners and willing, frugal performance put it alongside the Mazda as one of the light-SUV segment's more able and endearing drives. Turbo-petrol models deliver welcome extra shove without a fuel-economy penalty.

The cabin, while ceding to the Honda for sheer space and smarts, is usefully roomy in the back and the boot is competitively sized (375 litres). All models have a reversing camera and service costs are fixed for five years/100,000km.

But the Vitara can't be had with autonomous emergency braking like its rivals here. Its cabin isn't quite as lush as its rivals either and it has this group's shortest service intervals (six months/10,000km) and AWD and diesel models break our $30k budget.

Read Drive's Suzuki Vitara reviews:

Suzuki Vitara first drive
Drive 2015 Car of the Year ? Best City SUV 
Citroen C4 Cactus vs Fiat 500X vs Suzuki Vitara S Turbo comparison review

Drive recommends

The Vitara delivers a very equitable mix of talents but if you're spending up to $30k on a light SUV there's really no reason to do without safety tech like autonomous emergency braking.

The Mazda has no such issue, and backs up its strong safety streak with plenty of other attractions. But its practical shortfalls will be noticeable, and potentially troubling, for a buyer coming out of one of the medium-SUV segment's roomiest contenders.

The Honda can't claim to be perfect but niggles like its high starting price and unremarkable driving qualities won't be felt so much in this budget range and scenario. It'll do what Julie is asking while demanding the least practical compromise relative to her CR-V and giving her access to contemporary safety tech, which by a small margin makes it this group's happiest compromise.