Bachmann's Spectrum steam locos are well respected.
I prefer '40s and '50s era diesels, so LifeLike gets my money. Their models released over the last 5 years are every bit as good as my Atlas and Kato engines, in my opinion.
Cheap trainset locos aren't worth the aggravation. I just had one from 20+ years ago and decided to try and improve it as an educational exercise.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
A $20 loco just won't have the quality of a $90 loco in detail, paint, printing, electrical pickup, smoothness, noise or reliability.