Mazda 2 2008 Problems

Do not buy a Cruze, or buy a European brand. They will prove costly. It's best to go for the cars that are well proven over many years. The Lancer is a good one, but so too is the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 or 3, or Mitsubishi Colt.

Stick to respected brands like Mazda and Toyota. A 2007-2008 Mazda 2 or Toyota Yaris would meet your requirements and would be good reliable cars for your daughter.

Most modern cars would be perfectly fine for your country commuting, that's not really an issue like it was in the past where it was felt you needed a six-cylinder car at least to handle the long distance, higher-speed cruising. Smaller cars like the Yaris or Mazda2 are perfect for city use; they're small, manoeuvrable, easy to park, safe and cheap to run. A larger car, like the Mazda3 would be a little more comfortable for a longer journey. It would also have better performance, but being larger is a little more difficult to park, and would cost more to run. For your money you could get a 2008/2009 Mazda3, which would also be a good buy. For mine, I would go for the smaller car, the Yaris or the Mazda2.

ANCAP ratings do not consider the headlamps. And more is the pity, since I believe it's a major safety failing.  -Paul Gover 
   
"Your comments on headlights reminded me of the early 1990s when, as a Wheels Car of the Year judge, I emphasised the importance of car illumination. Exterior lamps and interior illumination of instrumentation and controls are key to driver control and road safety. I don't consider enough journalists pay attention to this important aspect of vehicle design. But the criticism of import-brand headlamp performance was not only astute, it was also an ongoing battle within the car companies. With the demise of the locally developed models, using local suppliers such as Hella, we will likely sink to the lowest common denominator." (Paul Beranger - former Nissan and Toyota Australia designer)