If you buy an SUV, expect to be aiming for something in the bottom of your price range because you'll be paying quite a bit more for gas.
P.S. You're in NH are the roads that bad on the way up to the ski hill? I live in British Columbia and drove a 1986 VW Jetta up to the ski hill every day I could. I was passing SUVs, trucks and vans that were crawling up the roads, and these are real mountain roads on real mountains.
I say NAY to an SUV, just a waste of gas, get something small and fun that's not going to tip when you move your coffee from your cupholder to your left hand. Subarus are nice, Jettas/Golfs kill it on the roads, there are so many cars to choose from.
That Audi would be nice except you'd be getting the same gas mileage as a truck!