MItsu’s are generally decent. Better reputation in the rest of the world than US. I used to buy them as used cars as they were great deal. One of them the “Galant” in my handle here.
The problem for me now is the lack of dealer network.
I also feel your pain as far as small cars go. I have always liked small cars, ideally stick shift. But, at this point, the smallest car around me on the road is a CUV and visibility and safety becomes a concern.