During the early to mid-20th century, suicide doors were a staple in luxury vehicles. They’re hinged at the rear rather than the front. The name “suicide doors” relates to the perception that they were dangerous. If accidentally opened while driving, the door could catch the wind and fling the occupant out. Today, we shed light on 15 awesome cars that celebrate the charm of suicide doors and continue to captivate car lovers worldwide.

Honda Element

Launched in 2003, the Honda Element featured a quirky design with rear-hinged suicide doors that paid homage to classic cool. The Element was built with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, featuring a comfortable interior and a flexible cargo space perfect for road trips and adventures. It won the Dog Car of the Year award in 2007, as the rear-hinged doors allowed for easy access and cleaning.

Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

Cadillac produced this hand-built four-door ultra-luxury vehicle with quad headlights, which were still illegal in 1957. This unique trim was twice the price of the conventional 1957 Eldorado, and about 704 units were produced before it was discontinued. It’s a sought-after collector’s vehicle with a brushed stainless steel roof, 2-position memory seats, a transistorized radio, and a 6.0L V8 engine.

Lincoln Continental

For decades, the Lincoln Continental was considered an iconic vehicle symbolizing American luxury. The manufacturers decided to add suicide doors to the fourth generation, produced from 1961 to 1969, with a Door-Ajar warning light for maximum safety. The four-door convertibles required lowering the rear windows first to open the doors if the front door was closed.

Ford Thunderbird

Ford produced the Thunderbird for 11 generations, but in 1967, it introduced the fifth generation four-door hardtop coupe with suicide doors. This design was part of Ford’s attempt to mix luxury with sportiness, creating a personal luxury car that stood out. It featured three V8 engine options, and the design was revised to anticipate the styling trends for the coming years.

Rover P4

Grace Kelly and King Hussein of Jordan were among the celebrities who bought Autie Rovers. Many people consider the Rover P4 a British classic that combined traditional craftsmanship with innovative design, although it was one of the latest British vehicles to incorporate suicide doors. Gordon Bashford designed the whole line, which stayed in production from 1949 to 1964.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

The Phantom automobile nameplate is the second longest-used one in the world of automobiles, as this car has been going strong since 1925. Rolls Royce is producing the 8th generation with coach doors, a more refined term for suicide doors. This generation was revealed at a special exhibition where famous Phantoms like Fred Astaire’s Phantom I and John Lennon’s Romany gypsy wagon-style Phantom V were displayed.

Fiat 600

After WWII, there was a big demand for economical city cars, and this is how the Fiat 600 was born. This tiny car, with a rear-mounted engine, became an icon of post-war European motoring. More than 2 million units were manufactured and sold from 1955 to 1969. The 600 was surprisingly versatile and was the basis for the Fiat 600 Multipla, one of the world’s first minivans.

Citroën Traction Avant

André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni designed the Citroën Traction Avant in 1933 to compete with front-wheel-drive luxury vehicles in the European market. It became one of the first mass-produced cars with front-wheel drive and a monocoque chassis. Featuring a 1,303 cc 79.5 cu in engine, front suicide doors, and rear conventional doors, it played a starring role in many classic French films.

Mazda RX-8

Suicide doors made their way to the 21st century with the RX-8. Mazda called them freestyle doors for a modern twist on a classic design. Although they provided easy access to the rear seats, many people thought the car was too cramped. However, the RX-8 had many fans as a true sports car with a 50:50 weight distribution and sharp handling until Mazda discontinued it in 2011.

Mini Cooper Clubman

Designed and produced by BMW, the Mini Cooper Clubman was an update to the Mini Hatch and featured a rear-hinged half door on the passenger’s side for easier access. This design, though unconventional, provides easier access to the rear seats in tight parking spaces. But that’s not all. It also has bi-parting rear doors that provide access to the cargo area.

Lancia Appia

Back to the glorious 1950s with the Lancia Appia—a testament to Italian elegance and engineering. Featuring rear suicide doors added a bit of sophistication to its already stylish design, and it had a 38 PS 1.1-litre engine that could push the car to 75 mph. The Appia was produced in several body styles, including sedans, coupes, and convertibles, each exuding classic Italian design.

Sunbeam-Talbot 90

This was the last car to carry the Sunbeam-Talbot name, with 4000 units produced from the first generation. This car had a 1,944 cc four-cylinder engine that produced up to 64 hp, which allowed the car to reach 80 mph—pretty impressive for a 1948 vehicle. Many loved the car’s adjustable seat height, quiet intermediate gears, and steering column gear lever.

Saturn Ion Quad Coupe

It is the second trim of the Saturn Ion, produced from 2002 to 2007, and presented an innovative twist to the compact car market with its unique rear-access doors on both sides. These doors provided easier access to the rear seats in the coupe body style without compromising the car’s sleek lines. Nevertheless, the Ion’s quirky design was often polarizing among critics.

BMW i3

A few electric cars feature suicide doors, but the BMW i3’s futuristic design and innovative use of materials made it more practical without compromising its clean, minimalist aesthetic. The door panels were made of hemp, which reduced the car’s weight and also contributed to its sustainability. After producing 250,000 units, BMW discontinued this model for bigger cars.

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Between 2006 and 2022, Toyota decided to produce the rugged FJ Cruiser as a throwback to the classic Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40. This vehicle combined off-road capability with retro styling, and the rear suicide doors created a unique clamshell opening for easy access to the rear seats. It was designed for outdoor enthusiasts and has an all-rubber interior to facilitate cleaning.