How big? A Subaru Forrester is a great and reliable car-like almost SUV. So is the Outback. These cars can run a long time with hardly any maintenance.
I would stay away from the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV-4 as I have driven both of them and did not like either of them.
I have driven a Hyundai Sante Fe and the Kia Grand Vitarra and both are competent Jeep CJ like trucksters, not all that comfortable, but heavy duty. They both have part time 4wd not awd like the Subbies and the other Japanese crap, so you have to shift into 4hi in the snow.
My wife had a mid 1990's CJ-7 that she loved. It had a lot of creature comforts (especially when compared to the '74 CJ-5 I have now) but was expensive and bad on gas.
If they want bigger go for a Chevy Tahoe. I think this is the perfect size truck. Not too big like my Suburban and not so small that you can't get three rows of seats if you want. PLUS they are so despised right now that you could get a NEW one for the money you are talking about and they used to sticker for almost 50K!
If they are going to tow or haul a lot of building materials, than a Suburban makes sense. Same drive train as the Tahoe, but a good 500 pounds heavier so it is slower -- BUT you can fit an enormous amount of stuff in them (I have) and still tow a Jeep CJ behind it!
I don't know about the newer Jeep models, but the older Cherokee Limited (the original AMC design) with the 4.0 liter six was a loaded vehicle and a great performer. They are about 10 years old now, so that might not be a choice they would consider.
I don't know the Fords except for a buddy who had an Excursion. That truck is HUGE. Too tall to fit in the garage my 'burban fit into! With the 10 cylinder gas engine it drank gas like a thirsty bedouin!
It was comfortable though
This is the time to get a great deal on SUVs so they have lots of choices!