IMO Japs are totally not worth it nowadays, severely over priced for what they are offering i.e base line models for the price of full spec models elsewhere. And just getting uglier and uglier by the day. Rav 4 The entire Nissan Line Up, save for the Armada ( Only because it hasn't had a new model come up yet ) and Maxima ( Maybe because its designed and made in the USA ) looks like it came out from the rear end of a diseased pig, with the Nissan Puke taking top place which looks like a retarded toad. .
All modern cars now have an equal amount of electrickery in them so the reliablility issue is just about the same with them all. Japs are more reliable is just a myth now. Its more down to the owner and how he maintains any car nowadays.
And the Koreans IMO nowadays are the best bang for your buck, you get decent kit for reasonable money. And they have come a long way from their early days and make pretty good cars, There is a good spare part network that has also developed so thats also not an issue any more either.
So IMO if you are looking for a boring Asian crossover or ecobox, I don't think you can go wrong with the Koreans.
If you can run, own and maintain a step child like the Mitsu ASX you can surely do Korean.