Car doors do more than provide access—they shape a vehicle's design, functionality, and safety features.
Each type serves a unique purpose, from the conventional hinged doors on most cars to the striking gullwing and butterfly doors on luxury and sports models. Whether you're curious about innovative door mechanisms or looking to understand their advantages, this guide breaks down the most common and unique types of car doors, explaining how they work and where you'll typically find them.
Types of car door styles
Choosing the right door type can enhance accessibility, safety, and driving experience. Here are the different car door styles available on the market.
Scissor doors
Scissor doors are among the most striking designs in the automobile industry. Unlike traditional car doors, which open outwards, scissor doors swing upwards. Also known as wing, swing-up, switchblade, beetle-wing, or turtle car doors, this door type attaches to the car body using a hinge located at the top corner of the frontal car part.
The car door opens like a pair of scissor blades, which resulted in the name 'scissor doors.' They are mostly used in countries with limited parking spaces where opening the door to get out can be difficult.
Some big brands that use scissor doors in their car models include:
- Lamborghini Aventador
- Ferrari P1
- McLaren LaFerrari
Gullwing doors
Gullwing is an alternative car door design that clings to the car's roof side instead of sideways. The doors open upwards, with the hinges fixed on the rooftop and the two doors spreading like wings.
Also known as up-doors, butterfly doors, or falcon-wing doors, this design requires less side clearance to open the car, which helps in tight parking spaces. It is also convenient, facilitating smooth movement when entering or exiting a place. However, extracting passengers can be tricky in an accident where the car flips on its roof.
Examples of car brands with gullwing doors include:
- Tesla Model X
- Mercedes-Benz 300SL
- Mercedes-Benz C111
Butterfly doors
Butterfly doors are vertical doors often confused with scissor doors, but the two differ in how they open. Scissor doors open straight up through hinge points at the rear of the A-pillar, but butterfly doors open up and out via hinges fastened along the A-pillar. Butterfly car doors open wider; hence, people have more space to get in and out of the car than with scissor doors.
If you prioritise style over practicality, butterfly car door designs will be perfect for you. However, since they open wide, butterfly doors need more parking space; they can't operate well in low ceilings and tight spaces.
Examples of car models with butterfly doors include:
- Mercedes Benz SLR
- BMW i8
- BMW Z1
Suicide doors
Suicide doors, also known as coach doors, are rarely used in modern vehicles. They were prevalent on horse carriages and drop-tops mainly because they had a very open and airy design, offering ease of entry and exit.
Suicide car doors are hinged at the rear end rather than the traditional front-hinged car doors, hence considered riskier. The name 'suicide' originated from an early design flaw that posed a higher risk of injury to users.
Rolls-Royce is one of the few automobile companies that use rear-hinged doors with suicide doors car models like these:
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Rolls-Royce Dawn
- Rolls-Royce Ghost
Sliding doors
A sliding door is a door design suspended from a vehicle so that the door can open by sliding horizontally. This design is common in vans, minibuses, and buses, with larger entrance and exit spaces for passenger loading and unloading.
Modern sliding doors have advanced features such as power operation, soft-close mechanisms, and hands-free opening using sensors or key fobs. These innovations enhance safety and convenience, especially for families with children or individuals carrying heavy loads.
The design is prevalent in mini MPVs like the following:
- Toyota Porte
- Peugeot Rifter
- Renault Kangoo
Swan doors
Although they resemble conventional car doors, swan doors have a striking mechanism and open wider than any other door style. These doors are hinged sideways but rise slightly as they open horizontally.
High-performance cars feature this design, saving parking space despite ceiling height limitations. The doors can easily open even when closer to other vehicles.
Examples of cars with swan doors include:
- Jaguar C X75
- Rapide
- Aston Martin DB9
Canopy doors
Canopy doors are a rarely used door type in car manufacturing, mostly found in luxury cars. The door lifts and opens from the top to let passengers in. Also known as a bubble, cockpit, or articulated canopy, the door appears canopy-like, making it a point of attraction.
With the door over the car's roof, passengers can hop out without worrying about the sides. However, such cars can be a problem if parked in a place with a tight ceiling space—it can be hard to open the door without causing dent marks.
Here are some cars that feature this door design:
- Renault Trezor
- Lamborghini Egoista
- Maserati Birdcage 75th
Conclusion
A car’s door design should be an essential consideration during the purchase decision. It is wise to prioritise the door design based on your needs, preferences, convenience, and style.
In addition, it is prudent to consider a car’s safety specifications to ensure the best driving experience. No matter the model you choose, it is essential to protect your investment with the appropriate insurance. Buying car insurance is a simple and efficient way to safeguard against unexpected events such as accidents and theft. A reliable insurance policy gives you financial security and confidence whenever you hit the road.
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