Some side airbags are shaped to provide protection for just the torso, others for both the torso and
head in a side collision.
Research also proved that children were far better
protected in side collisions due to being pushed into the chair instead of being thrown out of it and exposing head, neck and spine.
The Maxima received a four star safety
rating in side collisions and passenger front collisions from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA).
All ABs (if installed) are designed to inflate only under certain conditions and in certain types of severe collisions: frontal and knee ABs typically inflate in frontal collisions; side and side curtain
ABs in side collisions; Roll - Sensing Curtain ABs at a severe tilt degree, roll or lateral G - force.