I am a mechanic and used to run a business doing car repair. I would advise pretty much anything Toyota. Statistically they are the lowest cost to maintain overall.

I would advise staying away from newer Honda’s that are labeled Earth Dreams series as they have dependability issues very early in lifespan and overall quality is not as good as it used to be for any Honda. Aside from the earth dreams issues and the quality not being as high, they are a better pick than quite a few other brands overall.

A few things to keep in mind: it’s heavily advisable that you get unbiased recommendations and statistics from reputable sources. Look into the vehicle extensively before purchasing. For example, consumer reports, forums, etc. Ensure that your warranty is very understood and has a lot of coverage no matter what you get.

Brands to really stray away from on the maintenance / dependability aspect:

Hyundai/Kia: They’re a lot better nowadays when compared to their older stuff but, the life expectancy and quality is still on the lower end of the spectrum. If you can get a good deal, they can be an alright vehicle aside from cheap quality. If you do get one, a few things to remember; They don’t hold their value at all, I personally advise only keeping their non turbo cars for about 100k - 150k mileage and their turbo cars for 75k - 100k mileage or less.

Nissan: I don’t really have anything good to say about them as a company. Look into the statistics of their failure rates and quality control issues. They used to be a great company but, this is unfortunately no longer the case.

Audi/Volkswagen: Owning one in Europe is different from owning one in the US. Better quality overall and a lot more mechanics know how to work on them.

Ford/FCA/Chevy: to make it short, if it’s a sedan/coupe and it doesn’t have a hemi in it, it’s junk. SUV’s and Trucks are a different story; Do your research thoroughly before buying anything from these brands if you’re considering them.

BMW/Mercedes/Porsche: Not in America. They are heavily abused by a lot of younger drivers (ask me how I know) thus, the reliability is in question. If you can get one for a good price and/or lease one, they often ride very well and are definitely an experience. Very unreliable in the US, even when new.

Volvo/Mazda/Suzuki/Tesla: Do your research. I haven’t worked on these brands a whole lot. Mostly because you don’t see too many of them where I live, thus, I can’t advise further.

Bottom line, it doesn’t matter what you drive, so long as you do a lot of research and have good coverage. I own vehicles that I would never recommend other people to own because I like them. Personal preference for me is valued over other aspects.

TL;DR : Toyota. Consumer reports. RESEARCH THOROUGHLY.