You need you one of these.
Seriously, check out the MazdaSpeed3 or just the Mazda3 if your a wussy.
With 263 ponies who cares if it gets 18mpg in the city and runs on 91 octane. The price is right.
Mazda 6 is solid and Accords are a given. The Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Pontiac G6 (same guts) are all very good family cars. All five star.
Crossovers under 20K are rare. Mazda CX-7 is close but over, good looks and power for the price though. Anything under 20K in a crossover that gets good milelage is underpowered like the Hyundai Tucson.
Don't forget all the milelage numbers for 2008 cars are going to be lower than what you're used to since the EPA changed the method for measurement.