Location of lever to open back door from inside

It may be hard to access, but I can't think of many cases where a release would be terribly useful anyway. There's access to the jump start terminal under the hood. If your battery is dead AND you have a flat tire, it doesn't really matter; you can't even get into neutral without a 12V source, so being able to access the spare doesn't net you much. About the only thing I can think of is accessing some jumper cables in the back - and, short of putting a hatch release by the driver, it doesn't really matter where it is in the back, it'd be fairly inaccessible, so you might as well just grab them by reaching over the back seat.

 

Not sure how you know what I need...I've had multiple passengers try opening the back with their hands full and fumble for the latch. If I could pop the hatch from the front seat it'd make it easier.

 

So how would a normal inside release help? All they do is barely pop the hatch open. Anyone with full hands would still fumble. A power opener would work, but that is a different animal than a simple inside release.

Tom

 

You can just push it open with your hand instead of trying to find the button...I just said it would be a handy feature, not sure why you're arguing with my opinion...while we're at it, I wish I could pop it from my key fob too. If I could just push it up with my elbow that'd be great.

 

I thought you were arguing with my opinion, not the other way around.

Perhaps the 2010s are different, but with the Gen II Prius there is no button to find. You grasp the handle and the hatch magically opens.

The only disadvantage that I have found is that people are accustomed to seeing a hatch pop slightly, so they wait. I have to yell to them "It's open; just lift it." The hatch on my van worked exactly the same way, although it lacked SKS.

Seriously, though, the reason I play the devil's advocate in a discussion like this is that many people want a feature just because they are accustomed to that feature, even if it adds no value. I want them to think about it critically and ask if it is really needed, or simply left over. In this case there may be real value in having an inside driver's hatch release. I haven't found it, but others may have, which is why we have these discussions.

Tom

 

Fair enough...I'm a musician and always have my hands full of gear, so anything that makes it easier to get into the back, the better! Haha. The 2010 has a button you have to push to open the gate and it isn't the easiest thing to find if you're not used to it or have your hands full....what would really be great would be if there was a way to add SKS to the rear door on my II. I was one of the ignoramuses who didn't realize 3 door SKS wasnt standard on the 2010s like the 2009s...

 

Ah, that explains a lot. With the SKS, you just grab and lift.

Tom

 

My rear hatch closed only part way, possibly due to a mechanic's error in reassembling the weather stripping after replacing a tail light housing. (Toyota dealer got it inside out.)

Anyhow, the battery died utterly, while the car is parked in the garage with the hood not accessible. So I want to open the rear hatch and sort things out from there.

I saw the drawing, and found the slightly movable internal lever, but it's in such an awkward place, I can't move it with finger pressure enough to free the hatch.

What form of leverage can be applied to move it enough to open that back door? I don't want to screw up anything.

BTW: I can't find that illustration in my owners manual (2006). Where was it?