Any FWD sedan will do what you want. Get a wagon if you need cargo space, buy Toyota for reliability. Matrix has more zip than Corolla although supposedly it's the same engine (different gearing). If you regularly drive in snowy conditions winter (I'm talking for real, snow on the road, not like the average Bostonian who rarely actually drives in snow), consider doing the smart thing and getting snow tires rather than the dumb thing (that nearly everybody does) and spending tons of money on AWD and crap like that.