The Element, and all the other modern, pillar-less 'suicide rear door' cars I've seen (Landcruiser FJ, Mazda something-something), have the rear door latched by

The Element, and all the other modern, pillar-less 'suicide rear door' cars I've seen (Landcruiser FJ, Mazda something-something), have the rear door latched by the front one, so you can't open the rear without first opening the front, 'normally hinged' door - it's a pretty good safeguard against latches failing and doors being sucked open while driving.