At the risk of being burned at the stake as a heretic, you may want to add the Subaru Lagacy Outback wagon to your shop-and-compare list. Great cars, simple and economical to run, good value at $23K new. They're not stylish, but great little workhorses. Use the Nokian winter tires (with studs) and you can almost climb the side of a building.

Just a thought, and yes I own one, along with two Mercedes.

230/8