The awards come as SUVs make up 35 of the 45 winners for the group's Top Safety Pick+ designation this year, and 12 of its 18 Top Safety Pick winners, in the latest sign of the United States auto market shift to larger vehicles.
IIHS said it would like to see carmakers improve safety across all types of vehicles.
"This year, we’re asking automakers to make excellent protection for back seat passengers the norm," IIHS President David Harkey said. "For TOP SAFETY PICK+, we’re requiring crash avoidance systems that are better at preventing pedestrian crashes as well as higher speed crashes with other vehicles."
The USA TODAY Cars team took a look at the IIHS rankings and compiled a list of the safest small SUVs.
