What car should I buy?

Prius Hybrid is a solid choice - good quality, great value. If you can live with it's design and ride, it will save you lots of money over many years. Even if you don't find yourself liking it in a year or two you can get good money selling it for something else.

Corolla is so boring honestly. But again, solid economical choice.

KIA has security issue with lower end trims without push start button. Unfortunately, that also increases the risk of some junkie asshole breaking in the car just to check if it has push start or not.

I'd also check Mazda 3 or CX-30. They have same great quality, but nicer drive than Toyotas. You'll also get a bit cheaper maintanance, but less fuel efficiency.

Honda Civic. I've had 3 over the past 25 years. Rock solid reliable.

WRX is what you want!

A good plug-in hybrid should just work like a regular hybrid, with the additional feature that you can charge it if you have the opportunity and use it purely electric (though probably slightly heavier if the battery is bigger so it has more electric range, and the additional charging hardware). I would consider one if it's not significantly worse than your other options.

At sub 30K you might be able to grab a used 2019 Accord Hybrid EX. Albeit not a small car. Personally I find it a much nicer ride than any of Toyota's offerings. Mileage isn't as good but still worth a gander.

Renault Clio E-tech Hybrid, have a 2023 model myself and it's great. Smaller but not too small, Really good mileage and has the tech you're looking for - lane assist, park assist etc.

Think they're around 25-26K from new at the moment.