A good friend has asked me to help her shop for an SUV. Here are her requirements so far:
Help me come up with a good list of options for her! 
If my requirements looked like that, the Mazda CX-5 would be on my list.
That price point seems to indicate someone seeking the status of a upmarket brand, so maybe used BMW X3?
Our 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe knocks down high 20s on the highway at above legal speed while toting a family of four to the beach. The new version is nicer and is right around $25k brand new. She can spend the remaining $15k on hookers and blow.
Thanks for the thoughts so far. I'll put those 2 on the list. I also plan on including the Ford Explorer. I've driven several of those as rental cars and was very impressed.
1988RedT2 - I'm not sure how brand conscious she is, but I thought of a used X3 as well. A different friend just got a new X3 with an M package and I was shocked how much I liked it. 
Keep 'em coming!
We're very happy with our '14 Forester, which receives stellar safety ratings. We're in the high 20's for mileage, and the price is significantly below the $40k budget she has.
4runner is an SUV that's still a truck instead of a tall car. Gets truck mileage though.
Crv is nice. 32 highway. Cant tow much tho.
I got my 2012 Pathfinder 4x4 for close to half of her budget and I love it.
Third Row, tow package, fuel mileage in the low 20's (Get ~400 miles to a tank) and it feels solid. Dealers were "giving these things away" to make room for the 13's.
Grand Cherokee!!!! Screw a 3rd row, they're all useless anyway.
$40k? That opens up a lot of doors. Infinity FX45 or FX35? Brand new Ford Escape? Are there any CPO Range Rover Evokes yet? Cadillac SRX?
ecotec explorer. my son has one and while i've never been a fan, the new one's are very nice. as a bonus, it gets around 30mpg.
Sounds like she may be shopping in a range above it, but I was really pleased with the new Ford Escape rental we had last year. To me, it was just the right size you would want for a dd. Easy to maneuver in parking lots, but still enough room inside not to feel cramped. Also, I found it to be relatively stylish inside and out.
It also passed the most difficult test of all - the MOM TEST. My mom has a bad back, and knees, and it pretty picky about just about everything (I have to routinely apologize to our waiters). We shared the rental while visiting relatives and she loved it.
In that same vein, I'd definitely check out the CX-5 as well.
IMHO, with how comfortable and well equipped the "smaller" CUVs are nowadays there's no real reason to spend $40K unless you're brand conscious. The junior CUV range usually boasts the best mileage if that's really a concern.
Sweet list so far:
Good suggestions on the list. What about the Volvo XC90? Has the luxury touches and safety in spades.
Don't forget the Kia Sorento....the twin to the Sante Fe
Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai Tuscon would be my choices if mileage and SUV are the requirements. The Hyundai would probably win because of the 10yr/100k warranty.
At $40,000, it is hard to pass on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Mileage might be your biggest downside compared to some of the others, but it is far superior in most other respects.
I'd get a used diesel toureg before a cherokee.
We picked up a used 2012 Ford Explorer in June for well under $40K Cad. We love it.
The new Explorer is over a foot wider than my old 2nd gen (98), so she may find it too big.
My father in law has always been an Infinity guy. Has had several very nice ones over the years. Recently he had to send his brand new one to the body shop for some hail repair and his rental was a new Grand Cherokee. He absolutely loved it. He's too much of a brand snob to own a domestic vehicle but he raved about it while he had it.
I've had several Explorers and Grand Cherokees as rental cars of late and love both of them. I'll suggest both to her for test drives!
I think they look pretty cool.
I did not recommend the Toureg because I want more for myself. Hmmmmmmnnnnn..
Legacy wagon. berkeley SUVs
pinchvalve wrote: I think they look pretty cool.
Everytime I see one I think I have spotted a Range Rover
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