One suggestion: winter tires. If you're using the typical "all-season" tires, you have no idea how much more traction you can have with tires dedicated to getting around on snow and ice. I use them here in Minnesota and the difference is remarkable even on my small front-wheel-drive car. Everyone I know who uses winter tires will not go back to "no-seasons". Good winter tires will cost only about $500 or so -- much cheaper than paying for the gas an SUV will cost you.

With winter tires, you can consider a much wider range of vehicles. Maybe a Camry, if you like Toyotas. Or pretty much anything bigger than a Corolla. If you get a car with rear-wheel-drive, make sure it comes with traction control. It will make getting around much easier in the yucky stuff.