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View Full Version : How important are side airbags in a minivan?


Unregistered
03-08-2005, 01:32 AM
We bought a 7-passenger LE 2004 Sienna a few months ago- LOVE it, but I do have one concern: it doesn't have the side curtain airbags or traction control. It was the least expensive model available on the lot and we were on a budget, so we went ahead and got it. Now that I've learned more about side impacts, I'm starting to regret our decision and am thinking about trading the van in for a newer model with side airbags (though we really can't afford it right now :-(
What do you guys think? We have a 3-yo FF in a Husky on the 2nd row passenger side, with that seat moved toward the center. The baby is RF in an infant seat behind the driver, 2nd row, and will eventually move RF to a Marathon. I think they're both pretty safe, but what about mom and dad up front? How much safer would we be with the side airbags? I guess it depends on what hit us- a small sedan it probably wouldn't make a difference, whereas an SUV certainly would. Would it be worth several thousand dollars to trade this van in?

CPSDarren
03-08-2005, 10:25 AM
Ultimately, I think both features will prove to be very effective at reducing fatalities.

That said, your children will still be very well protected if they are properly restrained in a 5-point harness. Minivans also tend to be a little higher off the ground, and captain's chairs usually add a few extra inches between the door and the passenger compared to a bench seat in a car or SUV. That may be a reason a Partners for Child Passenger Safety study last year showed minivans to be the safest type of vehicle by a large margin in side impact crashes.

Both our wagon and minivan lack these features, also. I am much more concerned about replacing the wagon than I am the minivan...

joolsplus3
03-09-2005, 09:23 AM
Just agreeing with Darren.
I'm not feeling a big rush to have side airbags until my kids are too big for harnessed seats and boosters. We have literally years before the Marathon, Husky, and Parkways we have our outgrown, so I can have time to save up for my airbag-laden dreammobile.

:)