New Car - $25k - as dependable as Death and Taxes

Hi All,

I haven't owned a car in many years, and I am looking to get back into the world of vehicle ownership. I would love your help in purchasing a new car or compact SUV in the USA with an automatic transmission.

I'm looking to spend around $25k, and the MOST important factors are reliability and low cost of long-term ownership. If you are into firearms, an analogy would be, what is the AK-47 or Glock of new cars these days?

After doing some research, I've been told to stay away from CVT's, anything with a Turbo, or with AWD, as those features can cause expensive problems down the road.

I've narrowed the list of brands down to Toyota or Mazda as they have models with simple engines and FWD. I would like AWD if possible because I live in metro Colorado, but I am not sure of its long-term reliability, so I am leaning more towards FWD. I considered Honda and Subaru, but they all have CVT's. I don't trust American cars.

Feedback? Recommendations? I am completely off base?

Thanks!

Nissan or Toyota would be the go-to in my opinion. Its hard to stay away from CVT's nowadays as almost everything has one in them. AWD is not a long term reliability issue.

Nissan Rogue is one of the top sellers in the compact SUV market right now, and for good reason.

Nissan or Toyota would be the go-to in my opinion. Its hard to stay away from CVT's nowadays as almost everything has one in them. AWD is not a long term reliability issue.

Nissan Rogue is one of the top sellers in the compact SUV market right now, and for good reason.

Also, I think the CVT's can be very reliable if maintained properly. I have a 2010 Maxima with the CVT and it has been dead reliable. Changed CVT fluid at 59k miles, did it myself, easiest fluid change I've ever done apart from washer fluid lol. Obviously I can't tell the future, but hoping it will remain as trouble free for the life of the vehicle. But with how easy it was to change, I will be doing it every 50k miles.

My mom has now had two Rogues. She had an earlier one and now a 16. Only thing I have had to do to hers is oil changes and tire rotations.

If I decide on purchasing a new(er) car it will likely be a Nissan at this point. I'm a Mitsubishi guy at heart, but they don't make anything fun or exciting anymore. I wish Nissan would have kept making the Altima coupe because I was seriously considering one at one point.