Is Side and Curtain Air Bags Package Necessary?

[williamzhu]

I am looking forward to buying a Nissan Xterra S 4x4 AWD. I told the dealer that I want the utility package and the Side and Curtain Air Bags Package. He said it is very very hard to find the Air Bags Package. I asked why. He said people who normally buy Xterra do not buy this package. I asked why again. He said because people who buy Xterra does not care about safety. What does that mean? It means that Xterra without the air bags package is already secure enough? Or it means security is not a concern for the driver of Xterra? Just confused.

Is this Side and Curtain Air Bags Package really necessary for Xterra?

Thanks!

[OffroadX]

No, they're not necessary. They haven't been necessary for the last 20 years, or the last 100 for that matter. The 1st-gen Xterras proved themselves pretty tough in crashes, and it appears the new ones are too. It got 5 stars side-impact rating without the airbag package:
http://www.safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/4016.html

[kris]

Originally Posted by williamzhu

I am looking forward to buying a Nissan Xterra S 4x4 AWD. I told the dealer that I want the utility package and the Side and Curtain Air Bags Package. He said it is very very hard to find the Air Bags Package. I asked why. He said people who normally buy Xterra do not buy this package. I asked why again. He said because people who buy Xterra does not care about safety. What does that mean? It means that Xterra without the air bags package is already secure enough? Or it means security is not a concern for the driver of Xterra? Just confused.

Is this Side and Curtain Air Bags Package really necessary for Xterra?

Thanks!

I would kick that dealer to the curb. Just because you drive an Xterra doesn't mean we do not care about safety.

Like what has been posted, it is a little overkill for an already good design.

[dugan50]

Side and head airbags are only necessary if you want to protect those you love from someone crashing into you. I know my family is worth it regardless of what car I own.

http://www.airbagsolutions.com