Center airbags are increasingly standard on new Škoda models. The feature is available on the latest Octavia and is standard equipment on the Enyaq iV and Enyaq Coupé iV. Škoda pairs active systems (cameras, radar and sensors) with passive protection such as optimised bodywork and restraint systems to meet Euro NCAP requirements and broader Vision Zero goals. The centre airbag deploys within milliseconds in side impacts to reduce head-to-head and shoulder contact.
Skoda Safety: Comprehensive Protection
Centre airbag: armrest mounting
Prevents head-to-head contact in side collisions
The centre airbag is integrated into the driver seat armrest area and is identified by a fabric label reading "Airbag" on the side of the armrest above the centre console. Its primary role is to stop the driver and front passenger from colliding during a side impact.
Durability and crash testing
Airbags undergo extensive static and dynamic tests before approval for mass production. Material ageing simulations (up to 12 weeks), climate-chamber exposure to shock, extreme temperatures, salt mist and dust, and full crash tests verify deployment timing, head-coverage and biomechanical results on test dummies.
To protect car passengers, center airbags are becoming an indispensable part of new Skoda models. Vision Zero aims for zero pedestrian deaths, and consumer organisation Euro NCAP, which has consistently awarded Škoda cars five-star ratings, is tightening requirements. To maintain high ratings, Škoda continuously develops active safety systems (cameras, radar and sensors) and passive systems (optimised bodywork and sophisticated restraint systems), including the centre airbag now fitted to recent models.
Active and passive safety
- Active safety systems help drivers proactively, for example ABS, lane keeping warning and blind spot warning.
- Passive safety systems are the last barrier in a collision, including the vehicle frame, airbags and seat belts.
The front centre airbag prevents the driver and front passenger from colliding with each other in a collision. “Skoda vehicles have long been ranked at the top of Euro NCAP tests, partly due to their highly accurate passive restraint systems, including the centre airbag,” explains Klára Ševčíková, who was responsible for the development of this airbag at Skoda.
The centre airbag is located in the driver’s seat armrest area and is indicated by the fabric label that says “Airbag” on the side of the armrest above the centre console. It is particularly beneficial in side impacts, where it prevents the heads of the occupants from colliding.
Strict testing
The design of the centre airbag accounts for different front-seat positions and different human-figure dummies. Static testing checks proper deployment across temperature ranges, while dynamic crash testing simulates realistic collision scenarios. The airbag must meet criteria such as coverage of the potentially impacted head area, biomechanical values measured on dummies, and timely, accurate deployment.
How airbags work
If the control unit detects a side impact or a series of impacts in a crash, the centre airbag deploys within milliseconds along with other safety systems. It fills the space between the front seats and above the centre console to slow occupants toward each other and prevent direct head or shoulder collisions. If the passenger side is impacted and the driver is alone, the centre airbag cushions the driver’s movement and helps reduce injuries to the ribs, arms and neck.