I picked up one of these led strips for my Prius C hatch for $9.39 on Amazon this week. This is the “Ice Blue” color.
The kit comes with an adapter that fits into the bulb slot and an adhesive backing for the strip to sit below it. My adapter had two wires sticking out that I needed to curl around each side before inserting.
The wire connections are flimsy, but I think I got everything in good after a few attempts. There was a black plastic piece behind the original bulb that I didn’t manage to fit back on, but I’ll save it in case I need to go back to a standard bulb in the future. Install looks clean, no wire slack, so the strip has to go directly below.
We’ll see how it holds up on the road. I’ll update if I have issues. If all goes well this is big upgrade over the standard hatch bulb, which had very poor light output, and the price can’t be beat!
I did something very similar. However I did it without any cutting. I used this led light strip . I ran extra wire and soldered it onto the existing trunk light so that switch also controls my leds.
WeatherTech makes a full vehicle sun shade kit but is pricy. As for the rear hatch area with poor lightning, I purchased this for Crosstrek. iJDMTOY18-SMD-5050LEDStrip...https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009K6IW00?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share I removed the stock bulb in the trunk area, extended the wiring and ran the wire up to the headliner and dropped the wire into the one clip in the center and the led strip is mounted there.
I went another route. Just bought this small light led and extended the wires. I ran it up thru the side panel to the headliner, popped off the center plug and ran the wiring thru there.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K6IW00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You can also use something like this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K6IW00/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
Just extend the wiring and run it up the headliner and velcro or mount it somehow above the cargo area. I did it on a crosstrek and works perfect.
Used this strip in the trunk and love it: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K6IW00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For other bulbs, search amazon for the bulb # and look for Canbus Error Free parts.
LED light strip : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K6IW00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
video I used for reference : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cawn3piUVVo
you can fit SO MUCH STUFF. i'm gonna take a photo of what i was able to jam in there for ya. haha
LED light strip : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K6IW00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
video I used for reference : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cawn3piUVVo
> LED light strip : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K6IW00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 > video I used for reference : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cawn3piUVVo
super easy. took me maybe an hour? the hardest part is feeding the wire through the rubber plug that connects the body to the hatch