10 Top Cars with Keyless Entry

2017 Audi A4

Keyless entry and ignition—a system also known as a proximity key, though different automakers have different trade names—is one of the handiest inventions in all autodom. The key is actually a transmitter, and as long as its somewhere on your person, you can lock and unlock the doors, open the trunk or start the engine with the press of a button. Here are 10 vehicles that feature keyless entry and ignition.

Nissan Versa

The roomy Versa sedan is not only the least expensive car in the US market, it’s also one of the least expensive cars to feature keyless entry and ignition, which Nissan calls the Intelligent Key. It comes standard on the Versa SL, which is the priciest of Versa models—but keep in mind that the SL’s $17,150 price tag is still less expensive than the stripped-down versions of most compact sedans. And the low price isn’t the only thing the Versa has going for it: It is exceptionally roomy for such a small and inexpensive car, and it’s built like the proverbial brick outhouse.

Jeep Renegade

We love the Jeep Renegade for its cute styling, versatile interior, plucky personality, and the fact that—when properly equipped—it can venture farther off the beaten path than most small suvs. The Renegade is loaded with nifty details, from Jeep-themed graphics hidden like Easter eggs throughout the vehicle to unexpected tech features like keyless entry and ignition. The Keyless Go passive entry system is available on all models, even the entry-level Renegade Sport—and with a price tag of just $125, there’s no good reason to pass it up.

Photo by FCA Media

Toyota Tacoma

The Tacoma is the most popular compact pickup sold in America. Previous versions of the Tacoma were so well loved that when Toyota redesigned it for the 2016 model year, the company made the new truck look nearly identical to the old one. But there are a lot of updates inside, and one of the improvements made by Toyota was to fit the Tacoma with more desirable high-tech features, including keyless entry and ignition, which Toyota calls SmartKey. It's standard equipment on 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road and Limited models with automatic transmissions.

Photo by Toyota Media

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Jump in, drop the top, fire up the engine, and away you go—that's the promise of freedom and spontaneity that any good convertible makes. Keyless entry and ignition helps in a big way here, as you won't have to spoil any spontaneity by searching your pockets or purse for keys. The all-new 2-seat Mazda MX-5 is one of our favorite roadsters, and keyless entry and ignition is standard equipment on all automatic Miatas. It's also a wise $130 option on all Miatas fitted with a manual transmission.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Chevrolet Malibu

Keyless entry and ignition is a great feature to have in a family car; with your arms full of babies or groceries or luggage or art projects, the ability to unlock, open and start your car without fumbling for keys is a boon for any parent. The new Chevy Malibu is one of the more impressive family-friendly midsizers on the market, with a roomy cabin and high-tech powertrains including an optional hybrid verison. The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is brimming with useful tech features, and keyless entry and ignition is standard equipment in each and every trim level.

Photo by General Motors

Toyota Prius

From the get-go, the Toyota Prius has been designed to give us a glimpse into the future of motoring, so it's no surprise that it was one of the first mainstream cars to feature keyless entry and ignition as standard equipment. More than a dozen years ago, when nearly every car had a key, Prius owners were starting their cars with the press of a button. (We can still remember the little instruction cards supplied by Toyota to be given to valet parking attendants who had never seen such a thing.) Toyota has just redesigned the Prius for 2016, and it should be no surprise that the SmartKey system is standard equipment across the board.

Photo by Toyota

Kia Sedona

Many buyers relish the thought of buying a minivan about as much as they look forward to getting a root canal. Kia is aiming to make the process as painless as possible by loading up the new Sedona with posh luxury features, including a high-zoot interior and creature comforts that would impress even the most jaded Mercedes owner. No surprise, then, that keyless entry with pushbutton ignition is on the list of features. You won’t find it on the more basic L and LX models, but it is standard fitment on the Sedona’s higher end EX, SX and SX-L versions.

Photo by Kia

Dodge Durango

When it comes to big, brawny SUVs, the Durango doesn’t seem to get the attention or recognition it deserves. The big Dodge SUV has lots of interior space, and with its long wheelbase and strong engines, it can safely pull trailers that one might think would require the services of a fullsize pickup truck. We like the Durango’s sporty attitude and well-equipped interior, which includes lots of creature comforts for which other SUVs charge extra. To wit, the Keyless Go system is standard equipment on all Dodge Durangos, even the base model.

Photo by Dodge

Ford F-150

There was a time when pickup trucks were purely beasts of burden. Nowadays, though, buyers are using their pickups as daily drivers, and the automakers are responding by offering more and more creature comforts. Ford has learned firsthand is important point: No matter how well the Dearborn company equips its pickups, the buying public will always want more. So it’s no surprise that keyless entry and ignition comes as standard equipment on all of the top-end F-150 models, including the Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited versions.

Audi A4

Keyless entry and ignition is a stable among luxury cars, especially those that specialize in offering high-tech features. The all-new Audi A4 is one of our favorite German rides, as it complements its terrific road manners with a healthy dollop of the latest and greatest technology, such as a dashboard with a moving-map display using satellite imagery. No surprise, then, that keyless entry and ignition has a place on the A4’s standard equipment list. And the A4 goes one better with an optional hands-free trunk: With the key on your person, a simple wave of your foot under the A4’s bumper pops the trunk open.

Photo by Audi