When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) first began conducting its 31-mph side-impact crash test, which simulates a hit from a pickup or SUV, it was soon clear that this was a more demanding test than the government (NHTSA) side-impact test. Initially, the Subaru Forester and Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute twins were the only small SUVs to earn the top "Good" rating in the IIHS test, and many manufacturers were forced to make major structural changes to their small sedans -- unlike in a head-on impact, there's little in the way of crush space when you get hit from the side.
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