For many, the best SUVs come in small packages.

For most of the people most of the time, it’s not the size of an SUV that delivers the goods, it’s the shape. It’s about sitting above the traffic, lifting the tailgate and, sometimes, folding the rear seats for even more cargo room. So why pay more up front, pay more at the pump and have a more difficult time negotiating parking lots than you need to? The smallest SUVs are often the smartest SUVs.

And the compact SUV segment has grown into one of the largest, best-selling categories out there. Whether you’re focused on efficiency, fun, roominess or even off-roading, there’s a small SUV designed just for you. And you’re very close to finding it.