Best appliance car - $20K budget

I am helping a friend shop for a used car for their college age daughter. They are looking for the best combination of as new as possible, reliable, good MPG and safe. $20K budget. What should they buy?

Corolla le

Get an almost new one at that price! 

I honestly just put my money where my mouth is and bought a 25 corolla hatchback se level for 26.7 otd. My brother traded his wofes 22 corolla le with 25k on it in of a 4 runner (needed something bigger for kids) and they sold it at the dealership for 19otd.

So, buy the cockroach corolla. Drink the Kool aid

I can't imagine anything that meets those demands as well as a Toyota hybrid. Prius of course, but Camry, Corolla, Avalon, Rav4, Highlander, etc all have offered the right drivetrain, and can be found in budget.

After a quick search, it looks like 1-3 year old Corolla hybrids with under 50k miles are widely available within budget. This thing is damned near brand new, gets over 50mpg city, and should last forever with minimal maintenance (salvage title due to previous hail damage):

There's a reason the Corolla is the king. It has earned it. 

Camry? Accord?

A different challenge car for each day of the week?

kidding aside, you're in Florida. There should be plenty of Toyota/Lexus hybrid models. I like the forgotten one, and find most females love it. The Venza is a RAV4 with a better body. This one isn't far from you. It's a bit lower MPG than the cars. 
Edit to add, all post-2020 models are hybrid. 

We are shopping with similar requirements, putting the wife into a baja turbo might not have been my best idea.  But hybrid toyota drivetrain is a requirement.  Looks like a '12-'16 camry or maybe a similar are lexus 300.  The 300H has a similar price, I am thinking maybe they were maintained more diligently.  Drove a '17 camry and was truly impressed with the ride and power.  Same day I was in an 05 prius and drove a 07 camry so maybe the bar was set low.

2016-2020 Honda Civic. Like a Corolla, but enjoyable to drive!

I'll throw in Mazda 3 (or CX-30 if she's more of the CUV kinda person).   But I've never quite fit comfortably in Corolla seats, so I'm biased. 

I'd say the Honda Fit because I have one. It's pretty fuel efficient (for a non-hybrid) and can hold a bunch of stuff–long or tall—but it's hard to argue against the Corolla Hybrid.

It just makes sense.

I was in this boat 1 year ago and bought a CX30 with 13k miles for $19.5k.  It was the nicest close to new car I could find.  I really like Mazda and feel like they are the nicest cheap car you can buy.  No regerts on my end. 

Another vote for Mazdas. 3s are nicer than the Corollas and just as reliable with very similar MPGs unless you can find a hybrid Corolla at that price point. A 3 or CX-3 or CX-30 would be my vote. Civics have the 1.5T that I don't like for the "never check the oil" crowd. There are stories of coolant and oil mixing and HG issues.

A last gen Fit would be a great option too.

Thanks for all the feedback. Recommendations have been made!