The Lexus NX 200t gets excellent reviews and it starts around $36k. It's a given that reliability and maintenance costs will be excellent.
The Acura RDX is also a very good choice. It's backed by Honda reliability and shares a V6 with many other Honda/Acura models, so it can be serviced reasonably. Definitely worth a look.
I have a lot of affection for the Volvo XC60. The XC60 is typical Volvo (safe, immensely comfortable) and it's a solid performer in winter weather. The best bet is a 1-2yr old CPO model.
The category's best-seller for most of the past 8 years has been the Audi Q5. I could cite many reasons why, but the essence comes down to balance. It does everything well, nothing poorly, and is available with a wide range of powertrain options to suit any need.
The best compact cuv under $40,000 today is the newest, the Buick Envision. Opt for the Premium with 2.0T and standard torque vectoring AWD. The AWD is about the best in the $30,000-40,000 range as it use only one wheel with traction while the other wheels are slipping. Fuel efficient too as we are getting 30+ mpg on long highway drives.