Best hidden automotive key holes in keyless open and start cars

Best hidden key holes.

A few days ago we compiled the bottom five worst hidden automotive key holes in keyless open and start cars. Its only fitting to point out the best hidden automotive key holes, because some manufacturers actually get this right. Lest we forget, the key holes are needed in the event a door does not respond to its key fob.

Make no mistake, all in all we at DashboardSymbols.com think that hiding a key hole is nothing more than a vanity project for auto manufacturers, bent on being more clever than their competitors. There is little gained in air resistance or appearance and for drivers, they are a potentially dangerous and frustrating headache.

That said, lets talk about the best solutions that manufacturers have come up with while still hiding a key hole. They come in two general forms: 1) standard door handles that reveal the key hole when pulled and 2) flush handles that reveal the key hole after a bit of work. Each has adoptees across the industry.

Solution 1 — Pull handle

We first saw one of these in a Ford Expedition in 2018 (right), which was followed shortly after by the Lincoln Navigator. Note that we are not suggesting Ford was actually first, only that it was where we first spotted it.

In the interim, models from the following car makers have adopted some form of the handle. They include Acura, BMW, Genesis, Honda, Jeep, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Polestar, Porsche, Smart and Volvo.

The BMW i4 uses a flush handle that tips up (right) when used to open the car revealing the key hole.

The vast majority are similar to the Expedition as the handles rotate out from the back.

Solution 2 — Push front

Curiously, this version got its start with the Tesla Model 3, which, of course, does not use a mechanical key. However, its flush door handles are used by pushing the front part in which exposes the rear handle that opens the door when pulled.

A good many other manufacturers took the idea and applied it to flush door handles that extend when the vehicle is approached. If the handle does not respond to the presence of the key fob, pushing the front of the handle again exposes the rear (right from a Hyundai Ionic 6), and when it is pulled, a key hole is revealed.

Of course, a driver needs to know that this can be done, which is not always the case.

Among other car makers using this style of handle are Chevrolet, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, and Polestar. A Mercedes handle shown to the right is an outlier where, when the handle is pulled out, the key hole is revealed to be in the middle of the space created!

To be sure, many if not all of these manufacturers are responsible for some of the far more difficult door handles to deal with when in emergency situations.

However, the door handles described here make life far simpler for the driving public.

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The material on these pages is provided for information sharing purposes only and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business, nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Remember — only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

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