Why Cars in Pakistan Have 6 or 10 Airbags

Many buyers in Pakistan notice something strange when they compare cars. A Suzuki Swift can come with six airbags, while a much more expensive Honda Civic may have only two in some local variants. On the other side, a Toyota Fortuner may still list fewer airbags than expected, while some newer models offer seven or even 10.

That does not mean the car with the highest number is always the safest. The real question is what each airbag protects, and in which crash.

Two front airbags are not enough for every accident

The classic airbag setup is simple: one in the steering wheel and one in the dashboard. These mainly protect the driver and front passenger in a frontal crash.

But crashes do not happen only from the front.

In a side impact, there is very little space between the passenger and the striking vehicle. In a rollover, people can hit the roof or windows. In some crashes, front occupants can even hit each other. Two front airbags cannot handle all of that.

That is why modern cars now use more airbags in different parts of the cabin.

What the extra airbags do

Here is the basic idea:

• Front airbags protect the head and chest in frontal crashes.

• Side airbags help protect the chest and pelvis in side hits.

• Curtain airbags drop from the roof area to protect heads near the windows.

• Knee airbags help control lower-body movement.

• Centre airbags can stop front occupants from hitting each other.

• Rear-side airbags add protection for passengers sitting behind.

This is also why the airbag count does not always match the number of seats. A six-airbag car usually has two front airbags, two side airbags, and two curtain airbags. A seven-airbag car may add a knee airbag. More advanced setups can reach eight, nine, or 10.

Why side airbags matter so much

Side crashes are especially dangerous because the body has less room to absorb the impact.

US crash research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that head-protecting side airbags reduced driver deaths by 37% in driver-side crashes involving passenger cars. That result comes from US testing, but the lesson is useful for Pakistan too: side protection can save lives.

More airbags do not automatically mean better safety

A car with 10 airbags is not automatically safer than one with six.

If the body shell is weak, the seatbelts are poor, or the car has no stability control, airbags alone cannot do the full job. A strong cabin, good seatbelts, head restraints, and proper crash performance still matter more.

This is why buyers should check the full safety package, not just the number on the brochure. If you are comparing models, use the local variant details, not foreign spec sheets. This matters for cars sold in Pakistan, where equipment can differ from other markets. For more background on how local models can vary, readers can also see our earlier coverage of the Toyota Scion KEI-01 Mini Truck and why Pakistan gets dedicated EV coverage.

How airbags decide when to open

Airbags do not open in every accident. Crash sensors and the car’s control unit decide based on the force, direction, and type of impact. Seatbelt and occupant sensors can also affect the decision.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says airbags can inflate in less than one-twentieth of a second. A small crash may not trigger them at all.

What Pakistani buyers should check

Pakistan introduced updated vehicle safety requirements based on UN WP-29 rules in 2025, with a June 2026 deadline for locally assembled vehicles. But that does not mean every car must have six or more airbags.

So before buying, check:

• the exact local variant

• the airbag locations

• official safety equipment list

• crash-test results for the same version

• seatbelts, stability control, and child-seat support

Used cars need extra care. A repaired crash car may have missing or non-working airbags. A warning light is a clear red flag, but even a light that goes off normally does not prove the system is complete.

The simple rule

Do not shop by airbag count alone.

Shop by airbag coverage, car structure, seatbelts, and crash safety. That is how Pakistani buyers can judge whether a car is truly safer, not just better on paper.

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