SUVs are no longer bloated land yachts. In fact, the market has shifted in such a way that the majority of buyers now want an efficient and smaller footprint without sacrificing premium tech. The fact that the Toyota RAV4, a compact model, has been the best-selling car in the US for several years proves as much. But there is a size category even smaller than this, and the best subcompact SUV for 2026 might be an even better choice for some than this top seller. We have driven several examples of these small, practical vehicles to give you the full scoop on what works and what doesn’t.
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