We have a 2003 Honda CRV. It has been through two New England winters, and last year especially was very snowy. It handles excellently in the snow. We got the 4-wheel drive model (it come both ways) because we live on a steep hill, and our driveway is also a steep hill off the street. There were several times last winter when neighbors were unable to drive their cars up the hill, or had great difficulty, and the CRV had no problem at all.

The CRV is considered a "Small SUV" and does very well on gas mileage - we get about 26 miles per gallon. It has a slightly wider wheelbase than some SUVs, which helps with stability, and I have not often felt buffeted in the wind like I did driving my bosses' old Ford Explorer.

As a "small SUV," it has plenty of room in the interior for carrying things like furniture, or, say, a bunny hutch, which is a second reason we got it. When we bought Miss Hoppy's hutch 9 years ago, we had to call my Dad (who has a pick-up truck) from the Petco parking lot - it just would NOT fit in our car. The CRV also handles like a car, not a truck, and is quite comfortable to ride in!