In the auto world, certain features are naturally linked to high-end luxury or performance models. These components immediately distinguish rarefied rides from their mass-market competitors, from carbon fiber and retractable spoilers to open-pore wood, glistening rims, and electrochromic glass roofs. While some can be quite subtle, others proudly announce themselves every time you enter or exit the vehicle. Doors might not be the defining feature of a high-performance or luxury vehicle in the same way that a mighty, mid-mounted V12 engine or a plush interior wrapped in full-grain leather might be, but they play an undeniably important role in cementing a vehicle’s curb appeal.
Doors come in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional design you’d find on your garden-variety car, truck, or SUV to the sliding doors most commonly found on minivans and eye-catching alternatives boasting animal-inspired names like gull-wing, butterfly, and swan. Then there are coach doors. Also known as “suicide” doors, the name describes any doors that are designed with rear hinges. Coach doors are typically used to access the rear seat while the front row retains the traditional front-hinge approach. This combination creates a sort of double door effect that provides a wide, welcoming entrance to the vehicle and serves both an aesthetic and a practical purpose. Let’s explore the history of this unique door design, delve into some of the pros and cons, and learn which current models offer the unusual feature.
History
“Suicide doors, Armani suits and ties”
– Little Wayne, “Lollipop (Remix)”
These days, coach doors are typically reserved for high-end models, but until the second half of the 20th century, the design could be seen across all segments and price points. Coach doors preceded the automotive era entirely, tracing their lineage to the horse-drawn carriages that once ruled the road. The generous entryway created by the coach doors was perfect for the wide, elegant dresses that dominated historical fashion, and lent the carriages a sort of architectural appeal that spoke to the owner’s wealth and status. Early automobiles were often produced by the same manufacturers that created carriages, and the coach door design persisted even as horses were left behind.
In addition to accommodating large hooped dresses, the doors were also said to be popular with 1930s-era gangsters as they made it easier to push their victims from a moving vehicle, since aerodynamic drag would keep the doors open rather than slamming them shut while traveling at speed. This same mob land appeal would spell the end for coach doors. In a time before seat belts and secure locks, coach doors posed some serious safety concerns. A door that was even slightly ajar could be thrown wide open by the wind, threatening to eject passengers as they wrestled to secure the cabin.
Coach doors began to decline in popularity as automakers sought to create a safe breed of automobile, but Ralph Nader’s 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed sealed their fate. The book took aim at a number of problematic design features, from lackluster crash protection and dangerous steering wheels to rear-engine models, hood ornaments, and even coach doors. Nader’s book had a transformative effect on the auto industry, leading to tightening safety standards and the creation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Pros and Cons
“Suicide doors, they like, ‘Go away’
Now I’m in L.A., got the keys to the Wraith”
– Migos, “Too Playa”
Pros
Easy Access: As we mentioned, the unique design of coach doors makes for very easy entry and egress. While big hooped dresses might be out of fashion, the space afforded by the coach door design can go a long way towards ensuring a more accessible vehicle. This is especially true of vehicles with coach doors that lack the B-pillar between the front and rear seats, which creates a particularly wide opening. Passengers don’t have to contort themselves to enter or exit, and can simply slide out of the vehicle with no obstacles in their way.
Style: The original functionality of coach doors might not be as relevant as it once was, but they provide a timeless style. Coach doors lend a vehicle a sort of double-door effect that reminds one of the kind of entryways one might find at an opulent mansion, further cementing the design’s luxury connotations. There’s also a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation going on here. Are coach doors an inherently luxurious feature, or are they just perceived that way because they’re so often found on high-end luxury models? Regardless of the psychology behind it, there is something undeniably lavish about a design that’s so different from the doors you’d find on the average vehicle.
Visibility: The lack of a B-pillar allows vehicles with coach doors to offer the sort of visibility that few models can match. This is perfect for passengers who want to see the sights or be easily seen as they pull up to a country club, movie premiere, or other high-class locale. It might not seem like it would make much of a difference in terms of the everyday driving experience, but it’s these sorts of elegant touches that really separate luxury vehicles from their run-of-the-mill counterparts.
Cons
Safety: Given the “suicide doors” nickname, it’s little surprise to learn that safety is the primary downside of the coach door design. The unique placement of the hinges means that coach doors are all too easy to fling open when the vehicle is in motion, which can easily lead to a serious accident. If the vehicle were to experience a head-on collision, the rear-hinged doors could easily be sheared from the vehicle, impacting passenger safety and leading to a hefty repair bill.
Cost: A coach door might seem relatively simple from an automotive mechanical perspective. Just throw the hinge on the opposite side and you’re good to go. However, the reality is a little different. When creating a vehicle with coach doors, automakers have to take a different approach in terms of engineering and design. These R&D costs mean that vehicles with coach doors often carry a higher price tag, though the fact that they’re often affixed to expensive luxury models is also a factor that can’t be ignored.
Structural Integrity: There’s a reason why front-hinged doors are the standard design employed by most brands. They simply make for a safer, more reliable vehicle. Coach door models that lack a B-pillar simply aren’t as safe as those with the extra reinforcement, leading to less stability and worse outcomes in the case of an accident.
Malfunctions and Replacement Cost: Drivers should also consider the likelihood of a malfunction and the potential replacement costs before investing in a vehicle with coach doors. While we won’t get into the weeds regarding supply and demand, it basically all boils down to the fact that the more common something is, the cheaper it is to replace. If you’re driving a popular, high-volume vehicle like a Toyota Corolla, you will have no problem finding affordable replacement parts should something go wrong. The same isn’t true for specialty components like coach doors, which are made in very limited numbers and require a certain expertise to install and maintain. The hinge mechanism found on a coach door is also a little more specialized than your average components, and can be put under an enormous amount of strain should it be opened while the vehicle is in motion.
Current and Recent Models
“Suicide doors on the Phantom, it look like it’s openin’ backwards”
– Future, “Wicked”
Where can a driver find a vehicle with coach doors in the year 2025? Outside of some concept models like the Faraday Future FF 91, it’s a vanishingly small list, but there are a few options for those looking to turn some heads every time they exit their vehicle. Rolls-Royce is doing the brunt of the work when it comes to carrying the coach door torch in the modern era, with the feature appearing on a wide range of models, including the Ghost, Phantom, Wraith, Dawn, and Cullinan.
Ferrari might be known for its ultra-sporty coupes, but the brand’s first four-door model allowed the Italian automaker to finally embrace the coach door trend with the debut of the Purosangue in 2022. Hyundai’s Genesis luxury subsidiary is about to get in on the action when the new GV90 full-size electric SUV hits the market in mid-2026. The all-electric vehicle features traditional doors as a standard feature, but those looking to set their GV90 apart from the crowd can also choose to swap them out for an optional coach design that speaks to the brand’s luxury ambitions.
The Mazda MX-30 EV represented the most affordable way to access coach doors, or “freestyle doors” in Mazda parlance, when it was introduced in 2019. Still, the subcompact’s short run ended in 2023 as the automaker focused on larger electric options like the CX-90 and CX-70. Other dearly departed vehicles with coach doors include the spunky little BMW i3, the Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition, the Mazda RX-8, the Mini Cooper Clubman, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, and a real relic in the Saturn Ion Quad Coupe. Honda even briefly flirted with the coach door design between 2003 and 2010 with the Element, a boxy SUV aimed at the outdoorsy set that proudly embraced all its quirks.
From rap music videos and Michelin-starred restaurants to Rodeo Drive and red-carpet events, nothing allows a person to announce their presence quite as loudly as a set of coach doors. While the design might be old-fashioned enough to trace its roots back to the horse and carriage days, coach doors have become an inexorable part of the luxury segment thanks to models like the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Ferrari Purosangue. That’s not to say the unique doors are entirely reserved for well-heeled drivers. SUVs like the Honda Element and space-saving models like the Mini Cooper Clubman have allowed the average man to try something new. However, the design is rapidly disappearing due to today’s safety-conscious approach to automotive design. If you want to get a taste of the good life, or just up your vehicle’s functionality and comfort, there are still plenty of affordable used models with coach doors to choose from.
