Personally, in the subcompact price range, its more about the perks you get.
(Note, this is all my opinion.)
1) If you're going domestics, go Ford. No one wants to dump out $25-40/mo for Onstar on a Chevy, and Ford's MS Sync system is awesomely fun (I just rented a Focus with it and was immensly pleased), and Chrysler's dead to me except for their muscle car line.
2) If you're going ot get a Hyundai brand, go with Hyundai. Kia was bought by them, and they've gone from being comparable to Hyundai being the better brand.
3) Honda > Mitsubishi/Toyota > Nissan. I've shopped their vehicles twice for myself and a dozen times with friends, and every time that's the way things end up. Special exceptions from the rule for the Nissan Altima, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota Matrix, which are all vehicles that tweak my fancy. I also like Mits' Galant, but that's because I used to have one.
4) Isuzu and Suzuki. Don't. Just... don't.
5) Subaru/Acura/Audi/Saab/Volkswagon/Buick/etc - Nice, but you can get a better car from one of the bigger brands for less.
6) BMW/Mercedes/Lexus/Infinity/Cadillac/Lincoln - You won the lottery when? Wait 5 years, everything in them will be in regular cars anyway.
(Note, this is all my opinion.)
1) If you're going domestics, go Ford. No one wants to dump out $25-40/mo for Onstar on a Chevy, and Ford's MS Sync system is awesomely fun (I just rented a Focus with it and was immensly pleased), and Chrysler's dead to me except for their muscle car line.
2) If you're going ot get a Hyundai brand, go with Hyundai. Kia was bought by them, and they've gone from being comparable to Hyundai being the better brand.
3) Honda > Mitsubishi/Toyota > Nissan. I've shopped their vehicles twice for myself and a dozen times with friends, and every time that's the way things end up. Special exceptions from the rule for the Nissan Altima, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota Matrix, which are all vehicles that tweak my fancy. I also like Mits' Galant, but that's because I used to have one.
4) Isuzu and Suzuki. Don't. Just... don't.
5) Subaru/Acura/Audi/Saab/Volkswagon/Buick/etc - Nice, but you can get a better car from one of the bigger brands for less.
6) BMW/Mercedes/Lexus/Infinity/Cadillac/Lincoln - You won the lottery when? Wait 5 years, everything in them will be in regular cars anyway.