Can anyone explain to me why one has to open the door handle twice when inside the car in order to get the door to open?

 

Ze Germans.

 

it is explained in the owners manual ....
if the doors are locked, a double pull unlocks and opens the door.

if the doors are not locked, only a single pull is necessary

scott

 

I think the OP meant why they designed it that way. I've never seen any explanation beyond a vague "for safety reasons".

 

The same with Porsche,pull the inside handle twice to open a locked door.

 

The double pull is only needed if you lock or have it set to automatically lock the doors inside the car. Either do not lock the door while driving or turn off auto locking.

From Manual: Unlocking and opening
> Either unlock the doors together using the switch or the buttons for the central locking system and then pull the door handle above the armrest or > pull on the door handle of either door twice: the first time unlocks the door, the second time opens it.

Automatic locking
You can also set the situations in which the car locks. The setting is stored for the remote control in use.
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. Select a menu item:
> "Lock if no door is opened"
The central locking system automatically locks the vehicle after a short time if no door has been opened.
> "Lock after start. to drive" The central locking system The central locking system locks the vehicle as soon as you begin to drive.

 

BMWs do it too, as do some Fords. They see it as a safety feature, so if the doors are locked, the first pull unlocks the door.

 

The idiocy is seriously just too much for me to comment!!!

 

As a woman I actually like this function. I used to travel quite a bit for business and in my last vehicle it would unlock when in park and lock when traveling over 8mph. If I was in a questionable area and put the car in park I would always have to hit the lock button so all the doors didn't auto unlock. Annoying. I feel safer with the MINI. I just have to remember to instruct passengers on how to get out!

 

Older cars (prior to 1970 or so) would open a locked door just by pulling the inside handle

 

It is what it is.

 

I would say so you can get out.