Been looking at family SUVs under 40000 and honestly there's some solid options out there right now. Like, if you've got a bigger family, the Kia Telluride is actually insane value - starts around $37,805 and fits eight people. Gets like 20-22 mpg too which isn't terrible for that size. Won a bunch of awards apparently.

If fuel efficiency matters more to you, the Honda CR-V Hybrid is worth checking out. Starts at $36k and does 40 combined mpg, which is pretty wild for an SUV. Regular CR-V is even cheaper at $31.5k if you don't mind spending a bit more at the pump. Car and Driver ranked it as their top compact SUV.

Hyundai Palisade is another one I keep seeing - $38.7k starting price and reviewers say it's got tons of space across all three rows plus a bunch of tech features. Not the sharpest handling apparently but solid overall.

For something a little sportier, Mazda CX-50 starts at $31.7k and actually comes with all-wheel drive even on the base model. Handles really well and the interior feels way nicer than you'd expect at that price point. The bigger CX-90 is also under 40000 if you need three rows.

Honestly if you're shopping for an SUV under 40000 and need something practical for a family, you've got way more choices now than you used to. Pretty competitive market right now.