A system and method for providing access to a vehicle is provided. The system includes a plurality of capacitive sensors circumferentially spaced from one another in a circular arrangement defining a plurality of sensor nodes for receiving a touch input from a user in the form of a touch or a swipe. A controller unit is coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors and a power source and is in communication with a plurality of vehicle systems and a latch mechanism. The controller unit detects a plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of capacitive sensors due to the touch input and determines whether the plurality of changes in capacitance matches a gesture sequence within a predetermined amount of time. The controller unit controls the latch mechanism in response to the communication with vehicle systems and changes in capacitance matching the gesture sequence within the predetermined amount of time.