Cars With Suicide Doors You Can Still Buy (Full List 2026)
Want a new car with true suicide doors in the US? I’ll be straight with you: your main option is a Rolls-Royce. But if you’re shopping used, or you’re fine with “half” suicide doors, the list gets a lot longer and a lot cheaper. We’re talking the Honda Element, the Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition, and maybe even the pickup sitting in your driveway right now.
That’s the short answer.
The longer answer is more fun, I promise. “Suicide doors” actually covers two very different designs, and they act very differently in a parking lot, with kids in the back, or when it’s pouring rain.
So in this guide, I’ll go through every model you can realistically buy, what each door style is like to live with, and which one I think fits you best.
First, Two Kinds of Suicide Doors
Most lists lump these together. I wouldn’t, because day to day they’re nothing alike.
True coach doors (independent)
- The rear door is hinged at the back and opens on its own.
- There’s usually still a B-pillar between the front and rear doors.
- Examples: Rolls-Royce Ghost, Phantom, and Cullinan, the Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition, and classic 1960s Lincolns.
Clamshell or “half” doors (dependent)
- The rear door is hinged at the back but can only open after the front door is open.
- There’s usually no fixed B-pillar, so you get one big opening.
- Examples: Honda Element, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Mazda RX-8, BMW i3, and extended-cab pickups.
Here’s a fun one: car makers almost never say “suicide doors” in their brochures. They use their own names:
| Brand | What they call them |
|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce | Coach doors |
| Mazda | Freestyle doors |
| Toyota (Tacoma, Tundra) | Access Cab doors |
| Nissan (Frontier) | King Cab doors |
| Ford (F-150, Ranger) | SuperCab doors |
| BMW (i3) | Coach doors |
So if you type “suicide doors” into a dealer’s inventory search, you’ll miss most of the cars. Search by these names instead. Trust me, it saves a lot of scrolling.
The Complete US Reference Table
This table covers the US market. The used prices are rough ranges for decent examples, and they move around a lot, so treat every number as a starting point, not a promise.
| Model | US Years | Door Type | Rough Used Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce Phantom | 2004 to present | True coach (rear) | $120k to $500k+ |
| Rolls-Royce Ghost | 2010 to present | True coach (rear) | $90k to $350k+ |
| Rolls-Royce Wraith / Dawn | Wraith 2014 to 2023, Dawn 2016 to 2023 | Rear-hinged front doors | $130k to $350k |
| Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 2019 to present | True coach (rear) | $250k+ |
| Rolls-Royce Spectre (EV) | 2024 to present | Rear-hinged front doors | New only, about $420k+ |
| Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition | 2019 to 2020 | True coach (rear) | $60k to $90k |
| Lincoln Continental (classic) | 1961 to 1969 | True coach (rear) | $15k to $80k+ by condition |
| Ford Thunderbird 4-door | 1967 to 1971 | True coach (rear) | $10k to $35k |
| Honda Element | 2003 to 2011 | Clamshell | $6k to $15k |
| Toyota FJ Cruiser | 2007 to 2014 | Clamshell | $18k to $35k+ |
| Mazda RX-8 | 2004 to 2011 | Clamshell (Freestyle) | $4k to $15k |
| BMW i3 | 2014 to 2021 | Clamshell | $8k to $20k |
| Mazda MX-30 (EV) | 2022 to 2023, California only | Clamshell (Freestyle) | $14k to $22k |
| Saturn Ion Quad Coupe | 2003 to 2007 | Clamshell | $2k to $5k |
| Saturn SC1/SC2 3-door | 1999 to 2002 | Single clamshell (driver side) | Under $3k |
| Ford F-150 SuperCab | 1999 to present | Clamshell | Wide range |
| Ford Ranger SuperCab | 1998 to 2011 and 2019 to 2023 | Clamshell | Wide range |
| Toyota Tacoma Access Cab | 2005 to 2023 | Clamshell | Wide range |
| Nissan Frontier King Cab | 2005 to present | Clamshell | Wide range |
| Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra Extended Cab | 1999 to 2013 | Clamshell | Wide range |
| Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon Extended Cab | 2015 to 2022 | Clamshell | Wide range |
| Dodge Ram Quad Cab | 1998 to 2001 | Clamshell | Wide range |
A few model-year traps you’ll want to know about:
- Ram Quad Cab: only the 1998 to 2001 trucks have rear-hinged doors. From 2002 on, Quad Cab rear doors are front-hinged.
- Silverado/Sierra: starting with the 2014 redesign, GM’s “Double Cab” uses front-hinged rear doors. Want the clamshell setup? Shop 2013 and older.
- Tacoma: the 2024 redesign swapped the Access Cab for the “XtraCab,” which has no rear doors at all. So if you want clamshell doors, buy 2023 or older.
- Ranger: the 2024 US Ranger is SuperCrew only, so the 2019 to 2023 trucks were the last ones with rear-hinged doors.
Why Are They Called “Suicide Doors”? (The Myth vs. the Reality)
You’ve probably heard that the name comes from 1930s gangsters pushing people out of moving cars. Great story. Problem is, there’s no solid evidence for it.
The explanation I find more believable is about plain old physics.
On older cars without seatbelts or door interlocks, a rear-hinged door that came unlatched at speed would catch the wind. Air pressure swung it wide open instead of pushing it shut. If you were a passenger leaning on that door, you could get pulled out.
On a front-hinged door, the wind does the opposite and pushes it closed.
That risk was real back in the 1930s and 1940s. On modern cars, it’s mostly solved:
- Rolls-Royce coach doors lock once the car is moving, so they can’t be opened above walking speed.
- Clamshell doors physically can’t open while the front door is shut, because they latch to the front door. Your kid can’t pop one open on the highway.
- The Lincoln Coach Door Edition uses electronic locking that keeps the rear doors from opening while the car is moving.
So yes, the name sounds scary. No, a modern car with these doors isn’t more dangerous to ride in. Just don’t bring that same confidence to a 1950s car with its original latches.
What Living With Them Is Actually Like
If you’re thinking about owning one, not just admiring one in a parking lot, this is the part I’d pay the most attention to.
Clamshell doors: great access, annoying routines
The good stuff:
- With no B-pillar, the opening is huge. Loading a car seat, a dog crate, or a sheet of drywall gets noticeably easier.
- That’s exactly why Honda Element and FJ Cruiser owners love them for camping and hauling.
- They’re kid-proof, since the rear door can’t open on its own.
The annoying stuff:
- Your rear passengers can’t get out on their own. Someone up front has to open their door first. Every. Single. Time.
- The front seatbelt problem. On some clamshell designs, the front seatbelt is mounted on or near the rear door. That means your front passenger has to unbuckle before the back door can open.
- Tight parking spots get twice as bad. You need room for both doors at once, and you end up standing in a little “box” between them.
- Rain and drive-thrus. Your rear passenger gets wet while the front door is open. And handing something to the back seat at a gas station means opening two doors.
What I’d check on a used one:
- Open and close both doors a bunch of times. The rear door latches into the front door, so worn latches or strikers show up as rattles, wind noise, or a door you have to slam.
- Look closely at the seal where the two doors meet. With no B-pillar, that seal does all the work keeping out water and wind noise.
- On high-mileage trucks, check that the rear door handle (usually on the door’s edge) still releases both the top and bottom latch cleanly. Stuck latch cables on extended-cab trucks are a common complaint.
True coach doors: the opposite trade-off
On a Rolls-Royce or the Lincoln Coach Door Edition, your rear passengers get in and out like they’re making a stage entrance. You step in facing forward and just sit down. It’s easier on bad knees and backs than a regular rear door.
The trade-offs:
- The cars are long, heavy, and expensive to fix.
- In a tight parking spot, the front and rear doors swing toward each other and leave you a narrow gap to squeeze through.
- Rolls-Royce adds power closing on its doors, so you can press a button to close a door you can’t reach. If that stops working on an older car, plan on a dealer-level repair bill.
The Money Question: What Does the Look Actually Cost You?
Okay, let’s talk money. Here’s some quick math on the realistic ways to get into a car with these doors.
| Route | Rough Buy-In | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Used extended-cab pickup | Whatever trucks cost in your area | Clamshell doors you’ll use daily |
| Used Honda Element | $6k to $15k | Cheapest practical clamshell SUV |
| Used Toyota FJ Cruiser | $18k to $35k | Clamshell doors plus strong resale |
| Lincoln Continental Coach Door | $60k to $90k | True coach doors for a fraction of a Rolls |
| Used Rolls-Royce Ghost | $90k+ | The real thing, with real repair bills |
Two things jump out at me.
The FJ Cruiser holds its value incredibly well. It costs more to get into than an Element, but you lose less when you sell. If you plan to keep a car three to five years, the FJ’s higher price might actually cost you less overall.
The Lincoln Coach Door Edition is the bargain nobody talks about. Lincoln built only a few hundred. It stretches the Continental’s wheelbase by about 6 inchesand adds true rear-hinged doors. It sold new for over $100,000. Used, it’s the cheapest way I know of to get proper coach doors on a modern car.
The catch? Body parts unique to the Coach Door Edition (rear doors, trim, seals) are rare. If you get into a fender-bender involving those doors, expect a long wait for parts. Mechanically, though, it uses standard Continental hardware, so routine service is easy.
Who Should Buy Which One
If you have young kids or car seats:
I think a clamshell SUV makes a lot of sense for you. The wide opening makes car seats much easier to install, and the kids can’t open the doors themselves. The Honda Element is the easy pick. Just accept that you’ll be the one opening their door every time. If you need room for three car seats across, check out our guide to SUVs that fit 3 car seats, because honestly, neither the Element nor the FJ is a great fit for that.
If you need a truck anyway:
You might already have suicide doors and not even realize it. An extended-cab Tacoma or Frontier is the most practical “suicide door” vehicle you can own. Our list of the best small pickup trucks covers the trims to look for. If you’re keeping it long term, also take a look at the most reliable trucks of the last decade.
If you camp or sleep in your car:
The Element is a cult favorite for good reason. Big opening, washable floor, flat-folding (and removable) rear seats. It’s one of the easiest picks on our list of the best SUVs to sleep in.
If you want the look and the luxury:
I’d skip the used Rolls unless you’ve got a serious repair budget. Get a Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition instead, and have fun explaining to people what it is.
If you want something fun and cheap:
The Mazda RX-8 is tempting at these prices, I get it. But its rotary engine needs careful ownership (oil checks, warm-ups, and a compression test before you buy). If you don’t want to learn that engine, please don’t buy one just for the doors.
If you want an EV:
A used BMW i3 is the cheapest electric car with suicide doors. Check the battery size first, though. Early 60Ah cars have much less range than the later 94Ah and 120Ah cars.
FAQ
Yep. There’s no federal ban on rear-hinged doors. Modern cars that use them still have to meet the same federal safety standards for door latches and side impact as any other car.
In true coach-door form, it’s mainly Rolls-Royce (Ghost, Phantom, Cullinan, and the Spectre’s front doors). In clamshell form, extended-cab pickups like the Ford F-150 SuperCab and Nissan Frontier King Cab still offer them.
Both models ended (the Element after 2011, the FJ Cruiser after 2014 in the US) because sales dropped. The doors weren’t the reason. When the models went away, the door design went with them, and no mainstream SUV has brought clamshell doors back since.
My Verdict
If I were buying a car with suicide doors today, here’s how I’d split it.
For daily use, I’d go with a used Toyota FJ Cruiser. It’s not cheap, but it’s tough, it holds its value, and the clamshell doors actually make sense on something you load up with gear. Since it doesn’t lose much value, that higher buy-in stings less when you sell.
If your budget is tighter, I think the Honda Element is the smarter buy. It’s cheaper to get into, it’s more practical inside, and Honda parts are easy to find.
For the coach-door experience, I’d skip a used Rolls-Royce and hunt down a Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition. It’s rare, it’s comfortable, and it costs a fraction of a Rolls to buy and run.
Now I’m curious about you. Have you owned a car or truck with suicide doors? Would you buy one again after living with them? Tell me in the comments.
