Note: The Ford Focus has been recalled a bunch of times, even though it's only been out for 3 years or so. That might be something you want to watch out for. You can see how many times a car has been recalled at:
Car Recalls
I got a Saturn SL1 at the beginning of the year.

I love my car because I got a really good deal, the dealer was awesome, it gets good gas milage, and it's safe. But, you shouldn't listen to any of our opinions on particular models because it's really about choosing a car that suits your needs. Go to the manufacturers' websites, check out Consumer Reports, check out
www.edmunds.com, etc., and do research on the cars you're interested in to see if they're really for you. Good luck!