This seal is welded together into one continuous loop unlike the original. This means there's no seam for it to pull apart and leak like the originals often do. It also means you have to remove your hatch struts and wiring harness for the 3rd brake light and rear wiper if your car came with these options. Trust me, it's worth the extra hassle to get a continuous seal to keep out water and exhaust fumes. This took about 15 minutes to install. At first it seemed too long, but ended up being a perfect fit after working the extra material along for a few feet and compressing the seal a little. Once installed, This seal works at sealing the hatch and keeps the hatch from rattling like it did with the old worn out seal.
I highly recommend this if your old seal has shrunken, torn, compressed, or was otherwise damaged. I will definitely be buying another for my second car.