Are More Airbags Making Our Cars Safer — or Just Seem Safer?

The Airbag Boom: Are More Balloons the Answer?

Walk into any car showroom in India today and you’ll spot a new kind of headline on every banner, brochure, and TV ad: “Now with 6 Airbags as Standard!” Just a few years ago, even dual airbags were a feature reserved for higher variants. Now, models like the Maruti Suzuki Celerio or Hyundai Grand i10 Nios proudly offer six airbags at prices that wouldn’t have included even basic safety kit a decade ago. And now, even the Eeco has them.

The sudden surge in airbag counts across segments isn't random. Since 2022, rising awareness, media pressure, and a string of government proposals have nudged manufacturers into upping their safety game. But as the number of airbags goes up, an uncomfortable question remains: Are we confusing quantity with quality when it comes to car safety? And more importantly, are airbags alone enough to protect Indian families on increasingly chaotic roads?

What Really Makes a Car Safe?

Car safety isn't just about what happens during a crash—it’s also about preventing one in the first place. Airbags are part of what’s known as passive safety—they protect you when an accident happens. But active safety features like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) are what help you avoid a crash in the first place.

However, neither system works well without the most crucial element of all: a strong and stable body shell. A car with poor structural integrity can crumple in a crash, making even a dozen airbags ineffective. High-tensile steel, well-designed crumple zones, and reinforced pillars form the invisible armour that keeps passengers alive in high-impact collisions.

Global NCAP crash tests—widely seen as a benchmark for crashworthiness—have shown time and again that a car’s structural strength plays a bigger role in survival than just airbag count. Indian buyers, too, are waking up to these crash test ratings, increasingly basing their purchase decisions on star scores.

Airbags Matter—But They're Not Magic Shields

Airbags work in milliseconds, inflating on impact to cushion the blow. But they’re designed to work with seatbelts and within the safe space of an uncompromised passenger cabin. If the car’s structure collapses, airbags may not be able to prevent serious or fatal injuries.

Consider this: the Kia Carens, a popular MPV, comes with six airbags as standard but earned only a three-star rating in Global NCAP tests because of an unstable body shell. On the other hand, the Mahindra Marazzo and Tata Punch - with just two airbags—scored four and five stars, respectively, thanks to stronger structures. The message is clear: airbags can’t compensate for cost cutting. Clearly, it's not the case of Kia being unable to engineer a five star rated car.

As one auto safety expert bluntly puts it, “Airbags can cushion impact, but they can’t save you from a collapsing car.”

Is “6 Airbags” Becoming a Marketing Shortcut?

With safety now ranking high on buyers’ checklists, many carmakers are using airbag count as a marketing lever. Brochures shout out “6 airbags” louder than more meaningful metrics like body integrity or stability control. For some models, that’s become a clever way to appear safety-conscious without making costly structural improvements.

Fitting more airbags is easier than redesigning a car’s skeleton. In fact, a few manufacturers have quietly added airbags to ageing models without reinforcing the chassis—creating a false sense of security for buyers who may not read the fine print or examine crash test results.

Balancing Cost, Safety, and Efficiency Isn’t Easy

For small city cars—typically priced between ₹5–8 lakh—there’s a genuine challenge in balancing price, fuel efficiency, and crash protection. Adding more high-strength steel or structural reinforcement increases manufacturing costs and vehicle weight, which in turn affects pricing and mileage—both key selling points for budget-conscious Indian buyers.

Since most of these cars are used in slow-moving urban traffic, high-speed crashes are less common. In such cases, six airbags may sound reassuring but offer limited real-world benefit if the underlying structure hasn’t been strengthened.

The Regulatory Push: Where Do We Stand?

As of now, Indian regulations mandate just two airbags (for the driver and front passenger) in all new cars. There were discussions about making six airbags mandatory, especially after high-profile crashes sparked public outcry. But in the end, the government held off, citing cost implications and industry readiness.

Instead, India introduced Bharat NCAP in 2023—a homegrown crash-testing standard modelled on global protocols but adapted for Indian conditions. Under Bharat NCAP, a car must have at least six airbags to achieve a five-star safety rating. Manufacturers now voluntarily submit their vehicles for testing, and a good score is fast becoming a badge of honour.

This approach, while less forceful than a mandate, is encouraging a more balanced focus on crash safety—looking at airbags, yes, but also structure, electronics, and real-world survivability.

What Should You Look for as a Buyer?

If you’re in the market for a new car, it’s easy to be swayed by big numbers on airbags. But safety is far more than that. Here’s what truly matters:

• Crash Test Ratings: Look for a four- or five-star score from Bharat NCAP or Global NCAP.

• Active Safety Features: ABS, ESC, seatbelt reminders, and ISOFIX mounts make a real difference.

• Solid Build: Check crash test reports or brand reputation for structural integrity.

• Balanced Engineering: Six airbags are valuable—but only if supported by a strong body and the right technology.

Cars like the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Tucson, and Mahindra Thar Roxx have earned top safety ratings while offering a balanced mix of airbags, build quality, and safety tech.

So, Are More Airbags the Answer?

In short: airbags are important—but they’re not enough. Think of them as the last line of defence, not the first. A truly safe car is built from the ground up with crash protection in mind—strong materials, thoughtful design, electronic aids, and yes, airbags too.

Manufacturers must resist the temptation to chase easy headlines and instead invest in meaningful safety. Buyers, on their part, should go beyond the marketing gloss and demand genuine protection. Because when it comes to saving lives, there’s no shortcut.

Just more airbags won’t cut it. A well-built, well-engineered car will.