Toyota RAV4/Highlander/4Runner
Honda CRV/Pilot/Passport
Subaru Crosstrek/Outback
All of the above are reliable and relatively affordable transportation for used cars.
Don’t waste your time with anything else unless you want to deal with maintenance hassles.
We have two Subaru Crosstreks and got them new the first year they were launched—2013.
Both run great and their maintenance history has been very reasonable.
We could afford fancier cars but see no need for it—they get us where we want/need to go.
I’m still driving my 2006 Honda CRV. It never breaks down. We change the oil and brake pads.