It looks like you have a good list of cars. The Subaru Crosstrek is a good car, but I don't think it reads "grown up." The interior is not as nice as most compact SUVs and road noise will be a problem. The interior is utilitarian and has a lot of plastic. It should be dog friendly though.
The Honda CR-V is the most practical on your list and is my favorite. Very nice grown up interior especially in the higher trims. It would be a top choice for shuttling clients along with the CX-5.
It might be smart to wait for the diesel CX-5. Mazda has great engine technology and they have never really made a bad engine, so the diesel engine is exciting and should bring much improved MPGs. CX-5 has a beautiful interior, but it isn't as practical as a CR-V and most compact CUVs. Check rear seat room in all these cars before buying.
Consider a Prius. The interior is massive for the exterior size, love it or hate it styling, reliable, fantastic MPGs, decent handling, standard active safety features, and it's comfortable. I own a fully loaded 2016 Prius Four and 2005 Prius, which has almost 250k miles. I see around 58 MPG in my 2016 mostly freeway. You get better in the city. The Prius Prime can get 23 miles of EV range on a charge and switches to regular gas/EV Prius mode after that depletes. The synthetic leather in the Prius is more durable than regular leather. My black and white seats look new without stains after 35k miles. The interior I'd say is professional, albeit a little over the top. I don't have dogs, but people and kids are comfortable in the backseats. Backseats can fold flat for more space for things or dogs. I'd strongly suggest a 2017 with the standard safety features.
The Kia Niro should be on the test drive list. Highway MPGs are anywhere from 52 to 46 MPG. It's an unconventional hybrid with a dual clutch tranny. Looks nice inside and out without the hybrid badging everywhere. I think Kia has a special stain resistant fabric on the lower trims.
Buick Encore would be comfortable for your clients. It is probably not a good car for dogs being so small. Journalists say it doesn't have good driving dynamics. The Encore favors comfort over sporty. The interior was recently updated, but I wouldn't call it luxury. The base engine is gutless. IMO, the CR-V and CX-5 have nicer interiors in the higher trims.
All of the cars I mentioned are reliable, but there isn't much info on the Niro's reliability.