The OP said, "So now I'm stumped. I don't even know if I should be looking at a car, truck, crossover, SUV, what. I drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 and LOVED it, but it's really much larger than what I need. I've also been thinking about an Evo or WRX, but I'm not sure if they're tough or comfortable enough. A Porsche Cayenne would probably be ideal, but new ones are out of my price range, and in any case I'm not sure I have the intestinal (or maybe pocketbook) fortitude to go flinging one around on gravel roads.
I'm totally open-minded. Car, truck, whatever"

He also put sports car in quotes. It doesn't seem like he's looking for a hardcore sports car. The term sports car is so generic anyway.