Saturn? Are you guys living in 1995?

Honda/Acura
Toyota/Lexus
Ford/Lincoln

Chrysler
Kia
Suzuki

I have an Acura and have found it to be extremely reliable and very comparable to Lexus in terms of quality, plus the maintenance is cheaper. Only have had to do oil changes through 42K (knock on wood).

Subaru's are sweet cars. Every person I've ever met who has never had one or driven one just doesn't get why you would buy a subaru....until december gets here (or last weekend for that matter lol). Standard All-wheel drive on an affordable line of cars is a really, really big selling point. My cousin had a subaru legacy sedan, a car that was designed a lot like a cavalier/civic/corolla that got 30mpg and was AWD for the winter. It had 190k miles when she sold it after college (to her best friend's younger sister), and it now has like 230k miles on it and is still running good the last I heard. I've had two of them, and two hondas as well, and of all the vehicles my close friends and family have had, I would easily rank them #1 and #2 (Subaru and honda, in order). Chevy being #3.

being in the biz. this is the real scoop.
best

1.Honda/Acura
2.Buick
3.tied for third. Hyundai and Ford

worst as far as problems and recon money

1. saturn
2. subaru
3. Jeep

Are we talking brands or overall manufacturers?

If it's overall I don't think an American company makes my top three and if it did it'd be Ford.

1. Honda
2. Ford
3. Chevy/VW


1. Hyundai-Sorry there is a reason why you can buy a 2011 for under 10,000
2. Kia
3. Chrysler

Subaru's AWD is by far the best. The rub against them is styling. My parents have had them for 20 years and they are among the most reliable cars on the road.

Subaru is the only auto maker to have it's entire line 'recommended' by Consumer Reports.
http://autos.msn.com/advice/crart.aspx?contentid=4023544