[NiInJa]

I personally don't see any advantage of one over the other for normal cars, except maybe I've seen small kids suspending themselves on the pull type handles when a car is parked on open roads. Pull type offer better grip and have less chance of slipping from your fingers, but now a days most cars' doors open with that 2 or 3 step mechanism so effort-wise both are same. I think SUV's and off-roaders should always have pull type as doors can get difficult to open in slush or mud.
Also, I don't buy the argument of 90's fashion. There are a lot of cars having flap type door handles even today and they look good.

I feel it all boils down to how they go with the entire car. I cannot imagine the Beat having a pull type handle as it will simply jut out of the door looking weird. Same goes for the Punto/Linea, they are positioned right on the 'waist- line' and design goes very well (and they dont feel flimsy at all). On the other hand, the pull type handle of Brio is ultra-flimsy, but it looks good. The Safari earlier had flappy ones but later changed to pull type, which I feel is necessary as the doors are heavy.

[razor4077]

From a design perspective I'm guessing it's easier to integrate the keyless entry sensor on the pull type handles rather than the flap style ones. Another tick in favour of the pull handles and that they are more contemporary.

[SmartCat]

When the flap-type door handle is draped in chrome (instead of black plastic or body colour), it does not look cheap (in my opinion).

[RogerEphraim]

Just adding another thought to the discussion. I have a Fiat Linea and have had no trouble with the Flap-type handles. However some others, especially elderly, have found the heavy door difficult to open. It may have been easier with the pull-type handle.

My wife, and a couple of friends, had their fingers 'pinched' on the handle. This isn't just once and has happened a few times with different people. That is also probably one of the cons of the flap-type handle.

[manishkapadia]

My small kid is able to open flap type handle doors easily but unable to open pull type handles on any of the cars. So if you want kids to not fidgit with door handles from the outside then the pull type offers better resistance.

From my experience for door closing the pull type handle is better then flap. For opening it does not matter to me.

[bordeaux]

I have pull type handles in my Honda City and we absolutely hate it.

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

Attachment 1558236
2. The inside of the flaps are always clean and dry, no matter how dirty or wet your car may be, same is not the case for pull type handles.

+1000. Park you car under a tree. In a while there will be bird droppings all over your car including the stupid pull type handles. And then you have to pull them obviously to get in

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

Attachment 1558236
4. Pull type door handles are more prone to scratches in tight parking places, since they protrude out of the car's body.

Not just tight parking spaces. The indented car body behind the pull type handles attract scratches from your nails as well especially the one used by ladies. And these are visible too. They even had to invent scratch guards specially for this purpose. All hail the innovation!!

[landcruiser123]

If you ask me for a preference, I'll still take flap type door handles. Although I wouldn't care about the handle type while purchasing a car.

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

2. The inside of the flaps are always clean and dry, no matter how dirty or wet your car may be, same is not the case for pull type handles.

This is true in most cases, although I have never directly experienced it.
My dad used to complain when we use the innova for long trips and it gets dirty.

5. This may be a matter of personal preference, but I feel that flap type door handles give a cleaner look to the car.

People who see the front three-quarter view of the Getz will agree. The flap type handles are superbly integrated along with a crease that runs the length of the body.

In most cases, the flap type door handles are an eyesore.

Originally Posted by GrammarNazi

The disadvantages is that the excessive upward force we may apply sometimes has caused the chrome cover to loosen & fall off (happened twice for my Linea).

I think it's more to do with quality of the handle. I've never heard of the handle breaking in an 800.

[dark.knight]

Ok I'll join the minority here and say I prefer the flap type. Now this may have something to do with my personal taste thats all but in some ways it also has real-world bearing. Since this day I've owned only vehicles with flap type door openers so my opening technique has also adapted to that style, I use the flap only to unlock and pull the door a little outwards and the rest my other hand grabs onto the frame of the door to pull it more outwards and I get in.. quite simple really.

I've been in several vehicles with the handle-type opening and I personally hated it (Polo, i20, Xcent).. but let me explain why further - it has more to do with me feeling that the mechanism could be smoother than what it is today. The problem with this is that the handle is too chunky and there isn't a proper "click" which I want to feel when opening a door and then the handle has to be kept in the open position whilst pulling it outwards and due to the springy-action of the handle, it wavers a little inconsistently during the act of opening. I'd rather prefer a strong push-down action which unlocks the door with a discernible click even if the motion is half an inch and then can be opened by pulling (the handle wont move outwards since the opening operation is down-force).

The elephant in the room here is that we're nit-picking, thus I don't have to clarify that these are of course, not of real consequence in the end and won't affect my decision one-bit. I used to live in a house with only dead-bolts to secure doors, now I have both dead-bolt and lever-handle locks.. never even thought about them until now. Technically though, the handle-locks were made to accommodate keyless entry as the button can be operated easily by placing it over the thumb-point area on the handle. Flap locks suit the key-hole opening technique which I love as well.

[rameshnanda]

I feel this is very subjective. We can't really say one to be better than the other. I have flap type in my Linea at home in India. And have pull type in my Altima in USA. I personally like and prefer flap type.

[gthang]

Know of any make/model that went back to flip type from pull type in a newer version? I can't think of any. Willing to be enlightened.

Wouldn't car manufacturers have focus groups for deciding features? Judging by the replies on this thread, I am guessing that there would be quite a bit of demand for flip type.

But those that switch to pull type hardly ever go back, (Assumption), because SAFETY should and usually is number one!!

Cheers

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by gthang

But those that switch to pull type hardly ever go back, (Assumption), because SAFETY should and usually is number one!!

Cheers

No. Your assumption is wrong.

As I said earlier, I am using a car which has pull type for more than 2 years now. I would still prefer the flap type.

I don't know understand how the pull type makes more safer than flap.

[gthang]

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

No. Your assumption is wrong.

I don't know understand how the pull type makes more safer than flap.

Sorry, I might have worded it wrong. What I meant was that I assume that Manufacturers do not go back to the flip type.

Pull type is safer in the event of a crash. It is easier to get the door open and rescue occupants. Not just for yanking by hand, but a mangled door can be pulled open with a rope/strap with a pull type handle. Flip type are completely useless in such situations.

Cheers

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

This may be a matter of personal prefernce, but I feel that flap type door handles give a cleaner look to the car.

This is the reason I prefer the flap type handle. It just goes better with the car.

Not everyone pulls off a nice flap type handle though. I hate the implementation of these on most of the low priced small cars. One ugly plastic flap.

If there is a pull type handle I like, it is from the Tesla Model S. It is form and function at its best.

[medicineman1987]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

Team-BHP reviews are the only place where I have seen this difference pointed out again and again. Flap types were the older designs more reminiscent of the 90s which is why all contemporary cars with these type of handles raise an eyebrow. But some of the best designs in recent times such as the earlier generation Punto and the Jazz had the flap type handles while my old Uno had the newer style pull handles and it was way older than these cars. So go figure.

Small correction IIRC the Uno had push button door handles and not pull type. (Source : we owned a Uno long back)


Although the pull type handles offer more grip than the flap type, its never really been a great hindrance to me opening the car doors (even when the door rubbers are stuck a small tug usually does the trick). I've always found it funny to see it being stressed on so much in the reviews (but then it is the job of out auto media to review the cars in detail so I don't blame them). These days its not uncommon for people to base their car decisions on features like keyless go and Bluetooth etc. (which are nice to have but can absolutely do without) and compromise on core characteristics such as handling and safety.

So as far as I'm concerned these pull type door handles are purely a styling choice by the car companies and i'm sure they'd gladly switch over to the pull type if the trend changes again..

[deepakhon]

Me thinks that the flat type can be made to gel with the overall design of the car very easily, and it looks aesthetically pleasing. To me, pull type looks more like an after-thought to the design of the car. My personal preference will be the flat type.