Hyundai - Sonata

Sonata is effectively the Korean idea of an American car: lots of chrome, loads of kit, acres of leather upholstery and relaxed straight-line performance. Sonata delivers on all of these fronts but it's hardly a sporty drive, with noticeable body roll and wallowy cornering thanks to its soft springing, but it's quite pleasant to waft around in. It's also prettier and more refined than its close cousin, the Kia Magentis.
Minicab owner-drivers love Sonata, because it's comfy, roomy, cheap and very reliable - they go on forever. Hyundai is also good on dealer service and after-sales back-up.
Sonata comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine or a 2.7 V6; there's not actually much difference in performance between the two, and fuel consumption isn't great for either, but the V6 is smoother and quieter. Don't expect this car to hold its value, but it's at least cheap in the first place.