Well - none of my passengers was under 5'2". And none wanted to volunteer to sit in a seat with no airbag. Was I supposed to pick who should take the risk?

They preferred to sit a little squashed (it is an enormous car) in the back rather than anyone sit in the front with no airbag.

If someone else doesn;t mind riding without an airbag - that's fine. But neither my mother nor aunts wanted to - and I don;t blame them - I wouldn;t either.

In any case - just something else to check for while renting. (And the agent did say this was the only car she had seen this with - 2007 Impala.)

Thanks again, nytraveler.

Having had the unfortunate opportunity to come face-to-face with an airbag, I would agree with you about not wanting to have to choose a passenger to sit unprotected in the front seat. The alternative to an airbag is less than desirable.

"If someone else doesn;t mind riding without an airbag - that's fine. But neither my mother nor aunts wanted to - and I don;t blame them - I wouldn;t either"

Just out of curiosity, what did you do before airbags were standard equipment?