Easy to service vehicles?

I am looking for a vehicle with a 4-cyl engine and a

5-speed tranny. My main criterion is ease of service, meaning easily accessible engine bay for spark plugs, fuel filter, timing belts, misc. sensor replacements.

I am interested in 1996-1997 models, not older than 10 years.

Thus far I have narrowed down my choices to Subaru Legacy or Impreza with 2.2L/MTX and also Honda Civic.

The Subaru has a conventionally-mounted engine, not transversally mounted like in almost all FWD cars. It seems more or less accessible. I don't really care for AWD though.

Civic has a smaller 4-cyl engine which seems even more accessible for routine maintenance.

I know early 90's Volvos are fairly easy to service, but is anything that's 10 years old still easy to service, or are they all FWD now and you have to take remove lots of parts to get to what you want, as is often the case nowadays?

Any other choices for the shade-tree mechanic?

Unofortunately the engine compartment on most front wheel drive cars is going to be at least a bit more crowded than that found on rear wheel drive cars. Although my sons Camry isn't all that bad for access and you don't change timing belts all that often.

Volvo produced their last rear wheel drive car in 1997 or 1998. The

960 was re-named the S-90 and used an inline 6 cylinder engine. In the U.S. market it was offered only with a four speed, not a 5 speed, so I don't know how important that is to you. The automatic trans is a good one though. The last rwd with a manual transmission was the 240 offered in 1993.

The only other RWD cars I'm aware of would be BMW 3 series or the Mercedes C series. - both good quality if somewhat pricier than a Honda or Subaru.