Suicide Doors vs. Butterfly Doors: How They Differ and Why It Matters

Suicide doors are rear-hinged doors that swing backward, while butterfly doors are front-hinged near the A-pillar/roof and pivot upward and outward. In practice, suicide (coach) doors prioritize easier side entry and elegant rear-seat access, whereas butterfly doors prioritize dramatic looks and improved ingress for low, wide sports cars by lifting part of the door upward.

What Each Term Actually Means

Though both are unconventional compared with standard front-hinged doors, suicide and butterfly doors solve different problems and evolved in different parts of automotive design.

Suicide (Coach) Doors

Suicide doors, historically called “coach doors,” are hinged at the rear, so the door’s leading edge swings outward. They were common in early automobiles and luxury saloons and see occasional modern revivals. The nickname stems from early safety concerns when latches were weak and cars lacked seatbelts; a door opening at speed could catch the airstream and be forced wider, increasing the risk of occupant ejection. Modern implementations use robust latches and interlocks.

Butterfly Doors

Butterfly doors are hinged near the front A-pillar and the roof, allowing the door to arc upward and outward. This upward sweep is designed to clear tall sills and wide side skirts on low supercars while delivering visual drama. They are distinct from scissor doors (which rotate mostly vertically at the A-pillar with minimal outward motion) and from gullwings (roof-hinged panels that swing up like wings).

Core Differences at a Glance

The following points break down the most important differences in hinge layout, motion, practicality, and safety between the two door types.

• Hinge position: Suicide doors hinge at the rear of the door; butterfly doors hinge at or near the A-pillar with an upper/roof pivot.
• Opening motion: Suicide doors swing backward horizontally; butterfly doors swing upward and outward in an arc.
• Primary purpose: Suicide doors maximize side-opening width and dignified entry/exit; butterfly doors accommodate low ride heights and thick sills while emphasizing theater.
• Typical vehicles: Suicide doors appear on luxury sedans and some coupes or rear half-doors; butterfly doors are common on supercars and some exotic hybrids.
• Safety history: Suicide doors gained a risky reputation in the pre-seatbelt era; modern versions include interlocks and robust latches. Butterfly doors pose fewer historical ejection risks but require carefully engineered gas struts and hinges.
• Parking practicality: Suicide doors can be easier curbside (rear passengers enter closer to the sidewalk) but need space behind the door; butterfly doors can work in tighter lateral spaces if there’s vertical clearance, but they may hit low ceilings.
• Complexity and cost: Both demand extra engineering; butterfly doors often require gas struts, roof cutouts, and multi-axis hinges, increasing complexity. Suicide doors need reinforced sills and latching systems, especially if eliminating the B-pillar.

Together, these distinctions explain why the two door types are rarely interchangeable: each serves a different packaging, styling, and usability goal.

How They Work: Engineering Notes

Both designs rely on specialized hinges and structural reinforcement to maintain safety and usability.

Suicide Doors: Structure and Safety

Because the door opens against the natural airflow when the car moves forward, latch strength and door seals are critical. Modern examples often integrate:

Below are common engineering features found in contemporary vehicles with suicide (coach) doors.

• Multi-stage latches and intrusion beams to meet door retention regulations (such as FMVSS 206 in the U.S.).
• Interlocks on rear half-doors that prevent opening unless the front door is open (seen on extended-cab pickups and some compacts).
• Reinforced sills and, where possible, a B-pillar or equivalent structure to preserve side-impact crash performance.

These measures largely mitigate the historical safety drawbacks, making modern implementations viable in luxury and niche segments.

Butterfly Doors: Hinges and Motion Control

Butterfly systems must guide a heavy door up and out smoothly, clear the roof and sill, and avoid contact with adjacent vehicles. That typically involves:

The following components are typical of butterfly-door setups on contemporary performance cars.

• Multi-axis or dihedral hinges that control both outward and upward travel.
• Gas struts or springs to counterbalance weight and enable one-handed operation.
• Roof cutouts or frameless designs so the door can lift without binding on seals or pillars.

These mechanisms increase cost and complexity but enable use on low-slung cars where conventional doors are impractical.

Real-World Usability

How the doors feel day-to-day depends on where and how you drive and park.

Here are typical scenarios where each door type shines or struggles.

• Urban parking: Suicide doors can be awkward if there’s limited space behind the door; butterfly doors can work in narrow bays but need vertical clearance (garages, low car parks).
• Rear-seat access: Suicide doors (especially without a B-pillar) create a large opening that eases entry for chauffeured passengers or child-seat loading.
• Low sports cars: Butterfly doors help you step over tall sills and wide side skirts by lifting the door up and away.
• Weather and maintenance: Both designs add seals and moving parts; butterfly struts can wear over time, and coach-door alignments must remain precise for latch integrity.

In short, your environment and vehicle type strongly influence which door design feels more convenient day-to-day.

Notable Examples

Recent and historical models highlight where each door style is most at home.

Suicide (Coach) Doors in Production

Modern luxury and practical vehicles occasionally revive this classic format.

• Rolls-Royce Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan: Signature rear-hinged rear doors for stately, chauffeur-focused entry.
• Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition (2019–2020): Limited-run sedan with rear-hinged back doors.
• BMW i3 and Mazda RX-8: Rear half-doors hinged at the back; fronts must open first.
• Pickup extended cabs (e.g., earlier Ford F-150 SuperCab) and Honda Element: Rear-hinged half-doors for easier loading.
• Mini Clubman (1st gen): A single rear-hinged “Clubdoor” on one side for rear access.

These examples emphasize practicality and an upscale experience rather than outright performance.

Butterfly Doors in Performance Cars

Supercars and halo vehicles use butterfly or dihedral mechanisms for both function and spectacle.

• McLaren lineup (e.g., 720S, Artura, P1/Senna family): Dihedral doors that swing outward and upward.
• Ferrari Enzo and LaFerrari: Up-and-out doors with roof integration for dramatic access.
• Ford GT (both generations): Doors that cut into the roof and pivot upward and forward.
• BMW i8: Lightweight composite doors that open up and out.
• Toyota Sera (1990s): Early mass-produced example of butterfly-style doors in a compact coupe.

These vehicles demonstrate how butterfly designs solve the ingress challenge posed by low rooflines and tall sills while reinforcing their exotic identity.

Choosing Between Them: What to Consider

If you’re cross-shopping or simply evaluating which design suits your needs, weigh the following factors.

1. Primary use: Chauffeured comfort and rear-seat access favor suicide doors; track-focused or low-slung sports cars favor butterfly doors.
2. Parking environment: Tight urban widths can suit butterfly doors if you have height; cramped garages with low ceilings favor conventional or coach doors.
3. Maintenance tolerance: Butterfly systems often require periodic strut or hinge attention; coach doors demand precise alignment and robust latches.
4. Safety and child access: Coach doors can ease child-seat loading; ensure interlocks prevent rear-door opening when fronts are closed.
5. Resale and rarity: Both are niche features that can enhance desirability in the right segment but may narrow the buyer pool.

Matching the door style to your daily realities will matter more than the novelty alone.

Bottom Line

Suicide doors hinge at the rear and swing backward to create a grand, wide opening—especially useful for rear-seat access—while butterfly doors hinge near the A-pillar/roof and sweep up and out to aid entry into low, wide performance cars. Beyond aesthetics, the choice reflects different engineering priorities: comfort and ceremony versus packaging and performance.

Summary

Suicide (coach) doors are rear-hinged, open backward, and excel at dignified, wide access for rear passengers, with modern safety interlocks mitigating historical risks. Butterfly doors are front/roof-hinged, open up and out, and suit low supercars by clearing tall sills while delivering dramatic theater. Each design addresses distinct practical and stylistic goals, so the better option depends on how—and where—you use your car.

Why are butterfly doors suicides?

And 30s most cars back then did not have seat belts. So if you were to open your door while moving you would literally.

What are suicide doors called now?

Automobile manufacturers call the doors coach doors (Rolls-Royce), flexdoors (Vauxhall), freestyle doors (Mazda), rear access doors (Saturn), clamshell doors (BMW), or simply back-hinged doors.

What is the purpose of a butterfly door?

Butterfly doors were first seen on the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale in 1967. These doors were commonly used in Group C and IMSA GTP prototypes, as they preserved the aerodynamic shape of the canopy while allowing the driver to enter and exit the car more quickly than conventional and gullwing doors.

What’s the difference between butterfly and suicide doors?

Suicide doors are hinged at the rear, swinging backward like a carriage door, while butterfly doors are hinged at the top front, swinging upward and outward, resembling the wings of a butterfly. The main differences are their hinge location and motion: suicide doors open opposite the traditional front-hinged way for easier ingress, whereas butterfly doors provide a combination of vertical lift and outward motion for a dramatic and stylish appearance. 
Suicide Doors

• Hinge location: Hinged at the rear of the car. 
• Motion: Swing backward or horizontally towards the rear of the vehicle. 
• Purpose: To provide extra space for entry and exit. 
• History: Their name comes from the risk of passengers falling out or being struck by oncoming traffic when the door was improperly latched and opened while driving. 
• Modern use: Found on some luxury vehicles like Rolls-Royces. 

Butterfly Doors

• Hinge location: Hinged at the A-pillar (the frame where the windshield is). 
• Motion: Open upward and outward simultaneously. 
• Purpose: To combine the vertical motion of scissor doors with an outward fanning motion, creating a unique visual appeal. 
• Modern use: Often seen on high-performance cars like McLarens or converted on other models. 
• Considerations: Require adequate side and overhead clearance to open fully.