I will try to be short.
We recently realised that unfortunately we need a second "runaround" car.
I and my missus both are paranoid about the risk of something mechanical going wrong, so we prefer something that comes with at least a year of warranty.
There are not too many options among the relatively reputable brands within the budget we got.
Search results are quite obvious and predictable - heaps of lower spec KIA Rio's/Ceratos' with 30k-40K kms on the odometers as well as Lancers from 2017. New Toyota Yaris is also an option but it is slightly beyond our budget.
The only 2, so to speak, "bargains" in the search results (if we exclude Chinese and French brands) are 2018 Holden Astra Sedan and 2019 demo Suzuki Baleno. Of course, they get in this price range for a reason. The Baleno is "made in India", so likely designed and built not for the 1-st world. On the positive side: 5Y warranty and 12m service intervals. The Astra is a discontinued model sold by Holden but still 3.5 years of warranty and the LS+ version comes with some 'nice-to-haves' + relatively low mileage.
I couldn't find any credible Australian reviews for both. However, reviews from our American friends about Chevrolet Cruzes-2 (Holden Astra) are quite positive in terms of reliability and comfort.
Thank you.
Clarification #1.
Here is the abovementioned review, I have filtered to 2018.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chevrolet/cruze/2018
Having worked for both Suzuki and Holden, strike those 2 cars off your list. Go for a Swift if you want Suzuki, and avoid Holden now unless you like depreciation.
The used cars you're looking at, with 40-50,000kms are ex-rentals. Check for damage repairs.
Could always get a 2018 Corolla within that budget, which would have warranty until 2021.
Yaris is $17,490, less for demos, but the 1.3L is gutless