Put a set of Michelin X-ice on your current car. Problem solved and relatively inexpensive.
I mounted them on my old 350z and survived one of the snowiest Philadelphia winters without and issue.
Amazing what quality winter tires can do!

 

I would look at a Jag XE AWD. I just bought one and really like it. 3.0 V6 Supercharged is what I have, but a 2.0 turbo is another engine choice. You could have new car and be well under $600 on a lease. 5/60K warranty with all service included.

 

Somewhat surprising to me - I have driven my dad's MDX a lot, but not to the point of using AWD extensively. It always feels so heavy, like a tank. But if it does well I believe it.

 

Somewhat surprising to me - I have driven my dad's MDX a lot, but not to the point of using AWD extensively. It always feels so heavy, like a tank. But if it does well I believe it.
[/quote]
Under 40MPH it powers all 4 wheels, above it goes FWD. It can power the car on just one wheel and is also able to power just one side of the car. The other day I was climbing in a back road and the traction light came on and the car slowed. I applied a little more power and the car just sorted itself out. When I got to the top of the hill the folks were pretty impressed.

It only has 8inch of ground clearance and I am on street tires.

 

True. We have S2000 owners here that switch to a good set of snow tires and make it through the winter snow with little problem.

 

^^^ depth of snow matters and it's more then tires. I would take snows on 2 wheel vs as on awd, but awd with snows is so much better.

2 limits are best noticed on hill starts. That's where awd really shines in getting grip.