Best bang for my $8-$10K

We are in the market for a new used vehicle for around 8-10 thousand.

We have a '03 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that has eaten us out of house, home, bank account and attitude! By far, the worst vehicle we have ever owned.

We don't need this size car but do like to have some room for shopping and dragging the dog around with us when we go.

Something in the size range of a Subaru Forester would work fine but I'm not too impressed with their history.

I have a brother who works for Toyota and could probably get me the best deal but he is quite a bit younger and is pretty slanted toward the sportier models and seems unable to come away from that to guide us toward what might work best for us.

I'm open for suggestions and not sold on any brand but I'll never own another Jeep product so please don't go there.

We go about 15K miles per year and it is very important that we have a sure footed vehicle, probably AWD, since we live in the NY Catskill Mountains and drive secondary roads to work.

I sure would like to hear some solid opinions here because I don't keep up with whats available and what the track records really are.

Thanks

Gary