I've got some perspective on this one, since I did the F Body in the snow thing through college and now have my choice of three other vehicles now that I'm an "adult." I commute about 86 miles a day (Round trip) from Sussex County to Essex County and back on Route 23 (This means hills in both directions).
My daily driver is a 2002 VW Jetta wagon. Very dependable little FWD car. I keep changing the oil and it keeps getting me to work. Drove it to work in the snow a few weeks ago and managed not to get stuck. I did have a few moments of panic, not because the car slid or skidded at all but because I was concerned that even with newer tires I wouldn't make it up some of the inclines (Like Hamburg Mountain). But I made it. Last week, during the big snow, I watched a coworker with a small FWD car (I believe a Matrix) try desperately to get home and not even make it a block from work.
My current toy is a 2001 Jeep Wrangler on 35" tires. Back when it was bone stock, that thing tracked straight and true through any snow. Like stated above, the 4.0 is a stump puller and is hard to kill. Very dependable. Once I went to bigger, more aggressive tires, it wasn't as straight or true anymore and even in 4WD High, the light back end would get a little skittish on the slick stuff.
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get a nice older 4wd suburban.... cheap... great in snow ( i havent put mine into 4wd yet) lol
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The family car is a 2000 GMC Yukon XL (3/4 Ton). This sucker is an absolute tank. Weighs in at over 7k pounds. I've yet to be able to make it slide or skid in the snow. Goes wherever I point it, and sometimes I don't even need to engage 4WD. Downside is that the 6.0 Vortec absolutely guzzles gas. But when I know the heavy stuff is coming, I won't hesitate to take it to work. Hands down, best vehicle I've ever owned in the snow.
Bottom line: If your daily commute isn't all that far, and you have the ability to take the day off when the really heavy snow comes down (My chosen profession makes me exempt from a state of emergency), you'll probably be fine with a good, dependable FWD vehicle. If you don't really have a need for a full-sized 4x4 other than transportation, it's probably not worth it. Middle of the road: The Cherokee suggested above. Plentiful in numbers, dependable engine, and the gas mileage isn't horrible as long as you don't start adding giant tires and stuff like some of us can't help doing.