Hyundai

Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for the original owner is the most important fact about buying one new — and the biggest catch when buying used, because that coverage drops to 5 years/60,000 miles for second owners. Content per dollar is the highest in this group: equipment that is optional on a Camry is often standard on a comparable Sonata or Tucson.

The reputational overhang is the Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L direct-injection engines used through much of the 2010s. Machining debris in the crankshaft area led to bearing wear, knocking and in some cases engine failure, producing multiple large recalls and an extended warranty program. Hyundai's newer Smartstream engines are a different design and have not repeated the pattern, but any used Hyundai from that era needs its VIN checked and its engine-replacement history confirmed.

Day to day, repair costs are moderate — cheaper than the German brands, slightly above Toyota's. Dealer networks are dense and independent shops handle Hyundais routinely. Model years roughly 2011 to 2021 without an engine immobilizer also carry a well-publicized theft vulnerability that has pushed up insurance rates in several US cities. Price that before you buy.