Wife needs a new car help me pick!

[Jeph]

I say, if 25k is your cap, look for a vehicle that's 15k. Here are the benefits to that. (Ignore this if your cap is higher than 25k and this is your reduced number.)

A) You save money! It's something I've just started doing and I feel so grown-up!
B) You can get more for your money. You're limited on the Cayennes, but the world is your oyster in the range of CRVs.
C) We all tend to creep up over our limits and caps anyway.

See if this list would appeal to her:
~03 CRV or Pilot
~03 Highlander or 4-Runner
~03 Infiniti QX4 or Nissan Pathfinder
~04 3-Series (awd)
~04 Acura TSX or TL

Then you can spend the extra money you save on flowers and date nights -and she won't even care that it's less of a car.

Regardless of my advice on the finance part of it, I'd go for the Honda Pilot.