For the reasons you point out, as well as the fact they all must meet the same CAFE, EPA and NHTSA crash standards, is why every manufacture TODAY is making great, low maintenance, long lasting vehicles.
Given the proper preventive maintenance ANY car TODAY will easily last ten years or 200,000 miles and certain will be trouble free for the three to four years that the average NEW car buyer keeps their car then trades it on another new car.
The only real difference among them is style and price. Pick the ONE you like that best suits YOUR needs, then BUY the ONE with best 'total drive home price' that suits you budget home.
More importantly never take the advice, good or bad, from some other person chose, the ONE you buy will NEVER be the same as their ONE car.