I know I liked the Beaver for some darn reason

When a guy wrecked us 2 years ago, the wife’s Lexus RX350 was totaled. We went shopping for a replacement. We had owned a Honda Pilot prior to the Lexus, and it was great. Gave it to a granddaughter and she just traded it in with 242,000 miles on it. So we looked at the Pilot and the Highlander. I have to say I really liked the Pilot, but did NOT like the transmission. There was a detailed warning about how to do the transmission if you go through a car wash, so the tranny won’t be damaged. Well, that was a deal killer, cause the wife loves car washes and she would not get the tranny set right. We liked the Highlander a lot too, and probably would have bought one, but the wife didn’t want three rows of seats. We got another Lexus. If they’ve addressed the tranny/car wash issue, the Pilot would be a good SUV to have.

Note that I gave no consideration to price - not remembering costs of various SUV’s. I do remember the painful cost of the Lexus, however.

Can you actually buy a midsize SUV for $40k???

Yes if you shop hard.

It a shame the new pilot looks like a mini van

We just bought a 4wd 2017 4Runner w 30k miles for 31k

I’ve always liked them and finally got it

Well under 40

Yuuuup

I'd walk before I drove a Kia or Hyundai.....

Although not on your list, the Highlander is a great suv. My wife is on her second and she has several friends that have bought one since.

Love our Explorer...130k plus and not any issues. Will buy another Ford after this one, quality is better than most, great ride, tons of features.

Just get an Expedition, you won’t regret it.

We just bought the Nissan Armada. Wife is 5’11 and I’m 6’2, we are comfortable in the Armada. Second row bucket seat recline as do the 3rd row. She’s heavy, tipping the scales at 6,000 pounds, but she rides like a Cadillac and has plenty of power.

I have a Kia Soul and love it. I would look at the Subaru Ascent and Kia Sorento. My sister has the Nissan Rogue and loves it...I'm just not a fan of Nissan vehicles. Subaru have a lot of positives and I am considering the Outback as my next vehicle, but I really love the Soul. I once hated Kia and Hyundai (had a 1988 Hyundai Excel my sister handed down to me), but Kia got it right on the Soul.

Hyundai Santa Fe if you want 3 row seating. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport if you want 2 row seating.

Many of the imports are now made in the USA

When Mrs. B's Caddie as disabled we rented a Kia Soul, it was like riding in a cigar box with you arse about 2 inches off the ground. I have to say that the little car surprised me after a while and with the warranties involved looking at a new one might not be a bad idea.

3rd row seating in the new Santa Fes is a joke. There’s barely enough room to comfortably fit small adults, and there’s zero storage space behind them when not folded down.

Sig worthy....

My wife has had two different Kia Souls and now drives a Sorrento and they have all been trouble free vehicles.

Slightly used Lexus GX 460 is my vote followed by 4Runner

don't you drive a ford?

Clouding the issue with facts man.....

Nope Honda Ridgeline

My wife drives a Kia Optima and daughter had a Kia Soul till some dipchit y-boned her. Both have been the most reliable autos we have owned, by far. American Made isn't what it use to be. Someone mentioned imports are now made in the US and they are. Just like some American made are made across the border, Canada and other communist countries.

we went thru a similar search at the end of last summer. My wife has been in several 4Runners since 2005 and she loved the size and drive after many years in Suburbans when the kids were at home. The problem is the 4Runner hasn't had any redesign upgrades since 2010 on the interior, especially seating. I am 6'3" and the front seat is unbearably uncomfortable for any duration for me as I believe these had to be designed for a maximum height of about 5'8" tall person. There is limited foot/leg room and the center console angles into limiting the foot room even more. Yes they are very reliable vehicles and my wife loved those she had but with more frequent trips to Katy (~3 hours), it was time for some more room since I will be doing the majority of the driving.

we looked closely at most of those mentioned above (pilot, Acura MDX (same as pilot basically), 4Runner (same foot/leg room issue), Traverse/Acadia, Highlander, etc.) ... one of my stipulations was minimum 5k towing and more leg room in drivers area. We narrowed it down to the Traverse Premier (wanted High Country but not for the additional $6k+) and Highlander Limited Platinum and it was truly a coin toss between the two. We ended up with the Traverse Premier that had the tow package already installed from the factory and it was slightly higher than your price range (about $44k) after considerable haggling.

We have made several trips from Georgetown to Katy and we really enjoy the ride and the fuel mileage. On the long trips running around the speed limit, we have gotten about 25 mpg hand calculated, once even as high as 26.7 mpg. Most of my wife's driving is around town and shorter trips (10-30 miles) on a weekly basis and consistently around 19 mpg. And even putting 2 car seats into the middle row (1 forward, 1 backward) there is still plenty of room in the front seats and has more cargo space in the rear than a Tahoe.

Its been a tough search but pulled the trigger. 2019 VW Atlas SE with Technology. Price was right, more options that I know what to do with and ride super smooth. 2nd row captain's chairs was what sealed the deal for me on this one. Wife should be happy... at least for a while.