The original post: /r/whatcarshouldibuy by /u/Siverwig on 2025-02-22 04:44:23.

So I’m on the search for a new car after mine has finally reached a point of no return (2014 Kia forte, needs new cad converter and flex pipe)

I’ve been trying to do a lot of research on my own but I still feel so lost and inexperienced. Here are the few I’ve narrowed it down to:

Toyota Lexus Mazda Honda

My price range is roughly 25k. New or used is fine, used is prolly better for everything I’m trying to aim for.

I’ve looked at the Toyota Corolla hybrids and they seem reliable and affordable but they also look cheap on the inside with not alot of space. I’m unsure which Lexus I would like to aim for, but I do like the higher quality of them and they seem to have a reliable rep as well. I hear good things about Mazdas but don’t know much about them. And of course the Honda accords are highly regarded and the sport hybrid looks nice.

Reliability and easy upkeep is the most important thing to me, my car was a nightmare with constant issues and I felt so unsafe driving it. Good gas mileage would be great too. But I also don’t want a car that feels like its parts are cheap if I can help it. I would love a car that also feels smooth or more “fun” to drive.

In the meantime I’ve been driving my fathers 2023 Toyota Camry, and while it definitely feels reliable it also feels heavy and bulky to drive and like it kind of takes up a lot of space. It’s always on eco mode to be fair.

I would love some insight from more experienced people, I hope I gave good enough details! Thank you in advance if you read this all or comment!