Need help choosing a new car...

Hi all!

I need some help, and thought my question might be an easy one for all you CarGurus to answer: I need to buy a new car, but it's a bit complicated and I need some advice. Here's why:

Over the past several years, I've owned/driven cheap, old cars (an '89 Honda Civic Wagon, a '97 Honda CRV, and a '96 Nissan Sentra). I was happy in these cars (all mint-condition and well-maintained): I like imports and trust their longevity; they were reasonably compact and easy for both highway/city driving. I appreciated how cheap they were to gas.

Unfortunately, last month I was in a serious car accident. I was rear-ended really badly (by a driver going way over the speed limit on the freeway while I was stopped in traffic). Both our cars (and a third, I think) were totaled.

So I have to get a new car, but now I'm afraid to drive and most certainly not willing to drive an old, small car anymore. (Mine didn't have airbags and I took the full weight of the impact on my chest (steering wheel). Nothing like an accident to make you appreciate safety ratings!

My budget is still low and my budget moving forward (ie: for gas) will continue to be low. But I want something bigger and safer.

Here's my criteria:

Compact SUV/CRV-type vehicle
Top-safety (impact/collision - front & back) rating (including airbags)
Really good on gas

Any chance anyone here is able/willing to help with some advice? I'm trying to make my way through car-report info online, but it's hard for someone (like me) without any real knowledge of cars.