In Element and similar pickup-SUVs the rear door is still quite small so it doesn't feel so scary. In others, such as current Opel Meriva B, the door about as big as the front door. And just look at Rolls Royce Wraith.

My dad's first car (which he bought in 1960) also had suicide doors in the rear; that was a Moskvitch 400, which in turn was practically the same design as Opel Kadett model 1938 - the Soviets took the design, toolings and machinery from occupied Germany after WWII.