The dilemma
Tony is helping his daughter choose her first car. They want something with five-star ANCAP safety and less than 100,000 kilometres on the odometer that won't cost a fortune to service. They are trying to decide between a Mini Clubman, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Subaru Impreza, Volkswagen Golf and sports utility vehicles such as Ford's EcoSport/Kuga duo, Subaru's Forester and VW's Tiguan.
The budget
Less than $22,000.
The shortlist
SUVs might be trendy, but they tend to cost more, use more fuel and require more expensive servicing and tyres than an equivalent passenger car.
If you really need an extra degree of practicality or mild off-road ability, they are worth considering, or, more specifically, ones that truly fulfil both these promises, such as the Forester.
A small hatchback is a cheaper, thriftier and sweeter driving path to a similar result, although the Clubman and B-Class don't quite make it to the start line, given that neither is particularly cheap to maintain by small-car standards.
We will also wave goodbye to the Impreza, because there are other mainstream hatches that beat it for space, driving appeal and value.
2011-on Ford Focus hatch, from $12,980*
This Ford handles satisfyingly and has a nicely sorted ride and very competitive 2.0-litre petrol/diesel drivetrains.
Throw in solid functional qualities, a five-star ANCAP rating and it is preferable to not only an Impreza, but the previous generation' Mazda3s and Toyota Corollas that fill this price point.
It is also great buying. You could get a mid-range 2013 Sport with less than 10,000 kilometres at this budget, or a less-glitzy Trend with less than 1000 kilometres. If a 1.6-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox are not issues, you could have a new base Ambiente.
With all of them, you get some portion of Ford's seven-year, 135,000-kilometre, capped-price servicing regime, but don't expect standard-setting economy, drivetrain sophistication or the cleanest, simplest cabin design.
2013-on Kia Cerato hatch#
With the new Mazda3 too hot off the presses to be a factor at this budget, this Kia stands as a logical contender for the battle.
It is not a benchmark setter in any real area, but it does clock competitive scores across the board and is the only car here that does not consign you to dual-clutch stutters in automatic trim.
It is sharp buying too. The 2013 2.0-litre mid-range Si models with less than 1000 kilometres are sub-$20,000 prospects and, if you don't mind a 1.8-litre engine and losing some of the luxuries, a new base S is possible.
2013-on Volkswagen Golf, from $18,700*
This Volkswagen might cede to a B-Class or Clubman for badge cred, but it is a less compromised, more upmarket package.
It also offers access to a six-year, 90,000-kilometre capped-price servicing regime, bringing it into league here with its rivals.
As for which Golf, you could have your pick of the sixth-generation range, but that model's reliability bugs would have us tending towards a current model, although you would have fewer toys and less power than other options would provide for similar money.
Drive recommends
The Golf clubs its rivals for sheer talent and is not shamed on the ownership front, at least within the confines of its capped-price servicing regime, but you would have to accept fewer toys and grunt than you could get elsewhere.
The Cerato is not a product benchmark like the Volkswagen. However, it does everything well enough for most needs, nothing badly, and combines capped-price servicing with the longest warranty of this group.
And the Focus? It's not as polished as a Golf and does not have an answer to the Kia's long warranty, but in proffering more grunt and gear than the former, more driving nous than the latter and a longer capped-price servicing regime than both, it takes a middle path we wouldn't be able to pass up.
* Values are estimates provided by Glass's Guide, based on an example averaging up to 20,000 kilometres a year and in a well-maintained condition relevant to its age.
# No valuation data available.
