We speak often of such Japanese cars as the Honda and occasionally of the Nissans, but I have never read much about the lesser (in popularity) models such as the Subaru, Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Suzuki, etc., not to mention the apparently defunct Daiwoo and the Hyundais and Kias (Korean).
I have driven and been a passenger in a few of them, and brief comments on them.
Subaru - the only one I have experience with was a rental two door in Hawaii (Maui). It was a semi-beater from a cheapo rental agency, but it got us up the road to Hana, surely one of the western world's crappiest roads (they even have a t-shirt there stating "I survived the road to Hana!") It was fair to drive, but I wouldn't think twice about owning one. This was in the early 80s, and maybe they've changed a lot since.
Mitsubishi - here again, my experience is very old (about 20 years) and the particular car I rode in was a real beater, noisy, rattly and so on, so I can't say how a new or recent Mitsu operates.
Suzuki Samurai - again, about 16 years ago, when my daughter was going to get her first car, we drove a Samurai for five minutes and both of us realized it was the most uncomfortable, noisy, ill-fitting and ill-conceived car we'd ever been in. a total washout.
KIA - We rode in a Kia minibus in Costa Rica, and though it was a little rough around the edges, nowhere near a Sienna or Odyssey in quality, it was not bad as I recall.
Hyundai - I've ridden in a small Accent which was unimpressive, but since have rented an Elantra, and drove it for a week, thinking "Camry-clone" all the while. If I wanted a car similar to the Camry, I'd be looking first at an Elantra, or maybe upgrading to a Sonata. They seem to be long-lived, too.
Now, I'd be interested in reading comments from the ng members! Thanks.