2017 Kia Sportage: Tech Package – Liftgate

2017 Kia Sportage Smart Liftgate

In order to have the EX Technology Package, the EX Premium Package is required.  The reason for this is because the Technology Package leverages the components from the Premium Package. Without getting too involved in all the features in both the Premium Package and the Technology Package, we are going to focus on the Smart Liftgate feature available when you purchase the Technology Package. Note throughout this post that Liftgate and Tailgate are used interchangeably.

2017 Kia Sportage SX

You might think, I bet the “smart” part is that it’s a Powered Tailgate. Nope, that doesn’t make it smart. Think total traveling and shopping convenience! With the traditional Power Tailgate, the user needs to click the Tailgate on the key fob to make the Tailgate go up. Kia, just made that entire experience old and out dated with the Smart Liftgate. Now when you are holding a bunch of groceries or a table from IKEA, your Tailgate knows when your key fob is within 3 feet of the Sportage. No need to strain your back anymore, the Smart Liftgate does all the work. There is no need to click a key fob and open the Tailgate. That is right, the new 2017 Kia Sportage anticipates your needs now.

When I first read about this feature, I thought, but what if you are just running a quick errand and you don’t need to use the trunk. Does the Liftgate open all the time? Of course not, Kia thought of this as well when designing the 2017 Kia Sportage Technology Smart Liftgate feature. It’s actually genius. The key fob knows when you leave the vehicle and when you approach from behind the Tailgate, within the 3 feet. As you approach from behind the tailgate and taillights will beep and flash 4 times alerting you and anyone around that the tailgate in opening. But here is the really cool thing, you can walk past the flashing lights and when you approach the driver’s side or passengers side of the vehicle, the tailgate will disengage and not open. Essentially you can set-it and forget-it. There is no need to turn-on or activate the Smart Liftgate feature routinely. Since you most likely will not remember how to activate the Smart Liftgate, I have provided instructions below.

Kia Sportage Smart Liftgate Activation

To activate the Smart Liftgate on your Sportage you need to use the menu features located on the steering wheel. Some notes with regards to the menu names, the word Liftgate and Tailgate are used interchangeably throughout all Kia models, so know that if you have a different model with a Smart Liftgate these instructions will work for you as well.

Click the Menu Button on the steering wheel and stop when you hit User Settings. You just keep clicking the Menu Button until you see the option that you are seeking.

Use the steering wheel scroll feature and go down to the Door or Door/Tailgate.

Click OK

Scroll down again and you will see Smart Liftgate, click OK to activate the feature. Now you are all set and your 2017 Kia Sportage Tailgate will notice when you and the key fob are close.

And it is that easy! Enjoy your 2017 Kia Sportage and know it could be smarter than a 5th grader.