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The dilemma
Janelle's 2002 Toyota Corolla is nearing its use-by date, so it's time to pin down a replacement. She's regionally based and clocks up more than 1000km each week, so low fuel bills and easy, affordable upkeep are vital. If it could be more relaxing than her Corolla on open rural roads, that would be a big bonus.
The budget
Up to $15,000
The shortlist
With Janelle's criteria largely hip-pocket orientated, her best all-round returns here will come from more compact cars.
They naturally have an economy advantage over bigger cars and are generally cheaper on upkeep, too. They tend to fresher than their larger brethren in this budget range as well.
How small she goes is where things gets trickier. A light-sized car will minimise her outgoings but a small car will deliver more of the comfort she's seeking.
Somewhere, though, there's a sweet spot to be found and the two Koreans we're recommending here land pretty close to it. And just to keep things interesting, we'll throw in a large-sized contender that goes against form on the budget front while scoring big for cruising comfort.
2011-14 Ford FG MkII Falcon EcoLPI, from $10,800*
A tidy 2012 example of this Ford is a realistic $15k proposition, or not much different in age terms to small cars kicking around for the same money.
Its preferred diet, LPG, is another tick - it delivers the strong-arm performance you'd expect of a 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with small-car-sized fuel bills.
Crucially here, it's about as pampering as you could hope for on craggy Australian rural roads.
Other tempters include its vast cabin space, lifetime fixed-price servicing coverage and solid safety artillery (stability control and curtain airbags are standard).
It is a lot of car, though - potentially more car than Janelle wants. Its dated cabin ambience, compromised boot (the LPG setup reduces capacity and claims the spare wheel), too-high driving position and odd reliability niggle are other question marks.
Read Drive's Ford Falcon reviews:
Used car review: Ford Falcon XT
Used-car review: Ford Falcon G Series
2012-17 Hyundai i30 CRDi, from $11,300*
This Hyundai has no answer for the Ford's open-road pampering but it's one of the quieter, comfier mainstream small cars of its vintage.
Its 1.6-litre diesel engine bolsters its long-haul credentials with its relaxed cruising gait and parsimonious thirst.
It has a roomy cabin, the same key safety features as the Falcon and scores handily for ownership with its five-year warranty and lifetime fixed-price servicing regime.
Going for the diesel does knock the i30's value around, though - a 2012/13 example is probably the best-case if you want to keep the condition up and kays down, which means getting more than a sliver of that long warranty will be tough.
The finer points of its handling and cabin quality are up for debate, too, albeit only if you're comparing it to its most talented small-car alternatives.
Read Drive's Hyundai i30 reviews:
2011-on Kia Rio Si, from $8100*
This light-sized Kia is this group's wooden-sooner for cruising comfort and its 1.6-litre petrol engine isn't so relaxed at open-road speeds.
Its compact size is obviously reflected inside - neither its cabin or boot are as capacious as its rivals here.
But the Rio is quite roomy for a light hatch. Its petrol engine is stronger and better suited to open-road work than many of its alternatives, and it has the same key safety features as its bigger rivals here.
Most significantly, newer examples can be targeted than either of its opponents. Get into a tidy 2014 model - not an overly ambitious goal in this price range - and you'll be tapping into Kia's monster warranty/fixed-price-servicing combo for many moons to come (both run for seven years).
Read Drive's Kia Rio reviews:
Drive recommends
The Ford scores better hip-pocket points than a large car should and has oodles of open-road comfort. The big question is whether Janelle wants something so big - her lack of specifics and current set of wheels mean that's far from clear.
The Kia's value and robust ownership tempters would be a winning combination for an urban-biased buyer with similar goals. Here, though, its comparatively mediocre open-road prospects hold it back.
That leaves the Hyundai, which covers all aspects of this scenario with its balanced mix of open-road flair and low-cost, easy ownership. Being this group's most natural successor to her Corolla seals the deal.
* 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.
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