I had my arms full when I made my way to our long-term 2007 Hyundai Azera last night, so I was happy to see on the key fob that it had a trunk release button. Unfortunately, when I pressed it while walking toward the car, nothing happened. I pressed it again. The trunk lid didn't even budge...
But when I dropped my bags to try and open the lid, it was already open, just barely.
So the trunk release only unlocks the trunk, it doesn't pop it open for you. I guess I'm really spoiled, but most cars I've experienced that have the trunk release button usually at least open the trunk lid for you, even a little bit. All I need is a little opening so that I can fling it open with my elbow or foot if my hands are full. Can't do that if the lid is still closed. Might as well just get rid of that extra button on the key fob since the unlock button will do the same thing.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
So the trunk release only unlocks the trunk, it doesn't pop it open for you. I guess I'm really spoiled, but most cars I've experienced that have the trunk release button usually at least open the trunk lid for you, even a little bit. All I need is a little opening so that I can fling it open with my elbow or foot if my hands are full. Can't do that if the lid is still closed. Might as well just get rid of that extra button on the key fob since the unlock button will do the same thing.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
7driver says:
03:11 PM, 09/11/07
Does the trunklid have struts or does it have gooseneck hinges?
carfreak8394 says:
03:18 PM, 09/11/07
The Azera has gooseneck hinges.
penboy says:
06:25 PM, 09/11/07
As long as it isn't locked, I would think that you would still be able to get it open with an elbow/foot. My car's trunk only opens maybe a quarter inch when you hit the button, and I've never had a problem. I know some people like it when it pops all the way open, but considering the number of people I've watched driving with the trunk flailing open for no reason (and knowing that I've accidentally hit the release button while in motion before), I tend to like it when they don't "pop" open.
dingo567 says:
06:40 PM, 09/11/07
the last-gen Volvo S80 is the same way--why bother with the extra button when there already is a release button on the trunk lid that unlocks with the unlock button?
never made sense to me.
billt9 says:
08:22 PM, 09/11/07
I agree with penboy. Sounds like you were not lucky enough to be born with pointy elbows.
dalaw says:
10:03 PM, 09/11/07
I agree with penboy as well. All I ask the remote to do is to unlatch the trunk lid so i can walk up there and pull it open myself. I believe the BMW 750i does have a fully motorized trunk lid if that is what you want, or you can get a high end SUV/minivan with power hatch.
estreka says:
10:16 PM, 09/11/07
My S trunk opens enough to bump it the rest of the way up. The trunk on my old Accord couldn't because it was too heavy.
SubyTrojan says:
11:24 PM, 09/11/07
The E65/E66 BMW 7 Series automated trunks are service nightmares. Let's just say they fail quite a bit. BMW has issued more than one SIB (Service Information Bulletin) for it since the first (U.S.) MY2002 Bangle 7 Series.
benson2175 says:
11:52 PM, 09/11/07
My G20 has struts and it takes superman strength to get it open and if you don't open it all the way it has a sneaky way of closing itself slowly on your head while you load stuff in. It does open really wide however and the struts do a clever folding thing so they don't intrude but I do wish it would open just a bit when I hit open on the fob, it just clicks and doesn't move. It's also annoying that you have to hold down the button for 2 seconds. Why? Accidentally "opening it" doesn't actually open it so...
1487 says:
06:04 AM, 09/12/07
most cars with goosenecks have trunklids that come up pretty far. The Aura has struts and you only get a few inches of clearance when it releases. Maybe this is why camry and accord refuse to use struts.
jamhandman says:
06:17 AM, 09/12/07
I own an '07 Elantra and the same thing happens. It will only unlatch. It's pretty loud, the sound of the trunk unlatching and I can just use my elbow or knee to open the lid, it's very light since the trunk isn't insulated.
jaymagic says:
08:01 AM, 09/12/07
Having hit the trunk opener by accident on several cars, I prefer that in a parking lot at Christmas, my trunk lid not fly up and stay open with a miss hit, leaving all those packages out for the taking. I think the trunk lid should stay down for security purposes.
I understand the convenience of a pop open trunk, but I have found my Azera trunk pretty easy to get up when needed.
altimadude00 says:
09:47 AM, 09/12/07
I think it depends on what kind of car you had previously. If you had a car with no keyless entry...a new car with a fob will be a god-send. If you had a car that just unlatched the trunk and you had to open it yourself, having a new car that had a trunk that opens it's self is a gee-qiz feature.
However, having a feature, and then not having it offends people. Calling them spoiled might be going too far, but they get accustomed to what their car does for them, and when a new car doesn't provide that for them, they moan about it.
Call it habituation, or convenience-envy, or being spoiled.
But I agree. If the Azera looks like a luxury car, feel like a luxury car, and drives like a luxury car, then it should have luxury car conveniences like a spring-loaded trunk.
esoterica says:
11:27 AM, 09/12/07
@1487, newest Jettas use struts and open themselves (completely), so that's not the reason. I'm pretty sure goosenecks are just a cost reduction. I really dislike gooseneck hinges, especially those without the sheaths that reserve the space in the trunk for the goosenecks to occupy when the trunk is closed. It's ridiculous that carmakers are still making trunk lids with hinges that crush your cargo.
@jaymagic, that's why Chrysler makes it so you have to push the trunk release button on the keyfob twice. And VW makes it so you have to hold the button down for a second or two.
1487 says:
12:57 PM, 09/12/07
esoterica,
I know the Lucerne and DTS have the sheathed hinges that prevent cargo from being smashed. accord and camry just give you bare hinges. I'm sure you are right its strictly a cost savings measure.
jaymagic says:
03:02 PM, 09/12/07
The Azera's hinges are sheathed. Also, when the car doors are unlocked the trunk is also unlocked and let's you manually open it, if desired.
ryster says:
05:32 AM, 09/13/07
The trunk on my 06 Impala unlatches when you use the fob (or the interior release button) but doesn't pop up. My parents 07 Montego is the same way.
tryan says:
09:05 AM, 09/13/07
Did I just read that you use your FOOT to open the trunk?!? Forsake! ;)
thebigal says:
07:26 PM, 09/14/07
Not sure which I would like better... On one hand I almost prefer the lid to stay closed if the lid is popped, having hit the button a couple of times on accident and then walking out of the house several hours later and realizing that the lid was popped, but at least it wasn't wide open to rest of the world.
But on the other hand, it would be nice if I would carrying a load or something to have it pop fully open all the way, but at least mine (an '04 Impala) does open quite wide and easily. With the struts, it doesn't eat into the trunk space and I don't have to worry about things being in the way of closing it if I cram the trunk full, which I have done on several occasions.