Hatchback Owners Close Their Boots 'Wrong' And It Drives Me Mad
As someone who’s deeply pedantic, I’m easily annoyed by many things that people do wrong. And when it comes to cars, one of my most significant annoyances stems from how people close their boot. Or ‘trunk’, if you’re of a more ‘Murican persuasion.
Specifically, I’m talking about hatchback-style tailgates. Everyone I’ve ever seen, and most people I’ve asked in the CT office - many of whom were happy to answer after saying things like “what a preposterously boring question” - simply push down on the outside of the boot until it’s closed. Which would be fine, if there wasn’t a better way that the entire world seems to - infuriatingly - be ignoring.
Pop the boot of your average hatchback, and you should be presented with one or more grab handles. All you have to do is hook your hand inside, pull the boot down and then let go - the weight of the boot will do the rest.
Et voila - you’ve now closed your boot without getting your smudgy fingerprints all over the bodywork. Even better, you’ve not made the layer of dust/muck on the outside of your car look more obvious, nor have you got a load of dirt on your fingers.
Admittedly, some are a little ergonomically challenged, and there are tailgates (the one on ‘our’ Hyundai i30 N springs to mind) that need such a slam to shut, that pawing the outside is unavoidable. But still, the boot grab handle is a simple and effective piece of design, yet it goes unloved.
Do people not know what they’re for? Are most folk just too lazy to bother using them? Am I a sad man who should worry about more important things? Wait, don’t answer that…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
My sister just got a Golf and I don’t know why the grab handle is inverted on the hatch. Why can’t it be facing out and make things easier?
space saving, imagine a grab handle sticking into the boot
Finally someone else who knows how to close a boot properly. Was thinking I’m the only one who uses that handle in the inside of the boot
I really thought this was for small people who wouldnt be tall enough to reach the outside of the boot…
I’ve seen plenty of hatchbacks and the only one who does the handle right is Hyundai with its Veloster.
My lovely wife is guilty as charged, and she knows it…
And if my boot does not come with any of those fancy interior handles?
James May approves.
My cars trunk doesn’t have a grab handle but I always use the latch to close it so I don’t get fingerprints all over it.
Even my mom’s Golf MK4 has this… Wondering why many people don’t realize they have that:)
in the end, who cares? It is still a usage object, if it is more comfortable closing that way then just use that. Personally I use both methods depending on situation