Fuel-efficient, low maintenance yet fun to drive crossover or something similar.

I own a CX-5 and oil changes have been $50, no brake pads change yet, MPG has been around 25mpg in a 60(city)/40(highway) driving. Recommend that as you mention 'fun'. The only issue which bothered me was the cabin noisde was more than others but that has, supposedly, been fixed in 2017 model. A reliable car.

Honda CRV, can't go wrong with it.

If you can downsize and don't require AWD, do look at Kia Niro.

Get a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Reviewers have said great things about that car and it gets great MPGs. As an owner of two Prii, I love Toyota's hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain. It's super smooth. It's also super reliable.

The CR-V is another great choice, especially the new 2017.

The 2017 Buick Encore Premium would be my choice for occasionally needing to haul people and luggage and under $25,000 advertised discount on the internet. Our 2013 Encore would see 39 mpg at 60 mph on my 58 mile trip to work. That included a few cold starts ovet a fuel tank of fuel and ours had AWD. So if you only need fwd you should be able to beat 40 mpg driving at highway speeds. The Encore has Active Noise Control which really make the compact cuv quiet on rough roads.

If you need more space, more luxury, even quieter with Buick Quiet Tuning, more power, more features, there may still be some brand new 2016 Buick Envision Premium with standard torque vectoring AWD in the low $30,000's. The Envision Premium at $33K or so wipes the segment away with features that are $10,000 more expensive.