As for reliable/trustworthy foreign brands, this is my current list:
- Honda/Toyota (Hondas my family has been fond of since the 80s, Toyota didn't seem to recognize the existence of drivers over 5'-6" height until only VERY recently, and my family and I (and our kneecaps) will likely always hold this against them. Still today, even though my family's average height is 6'-2", I can safely say that I won't confortabley fit in the driver's seat of even half the Toyotas on the lot).
- Scion (this is a word of mouth recomendation to me and then from - so I do express some caution or at the least urge additional research. I've had a few scion owners, most relatively non-mechanic types of people too, say they've never had a problem with their vehicles ever).
- Subaru (as CAP said, these have always been hit or miss with various maintenance issues, and today they might of lost their old title, but for the past decade they clearly held the most reliable/trustworthy AWD brand).