Range Rover Sport Automatic Tailgate Features

If you have ever tried to open your trunk with your hands full of groceries or bags, then you will really appreciate how much of a game changer a power tailgate is. The Range Rover Sport's automatic tailgate enhances this convenience even more. This is much more than an open and close tailgate with the push of a button. This system has a range of smart features that will make your life easier, safer, and a little bit more luxurious. Allow me to explain all the amazing features this system has.

Hand Free Operation with Gesture Control

The tailgate gesture control is truly pioneering. The tailgate can be opened and closed with neither keys nor touch. Just kick below the rear bumpeer. The tailgate is responsive to this kick gesture. This is extremely useful, especially while carrying bulk load like suitcases or groceries. An intelligent design with both radar and ultrasonics ensures activations do not happen when objects are below, the like a pack of balls. Since the start of the 2016 model year, this system has been a standard addition to the Range Rover Sport. Most newer owners can expect to be beneficiaries. Worry not when your car lacks this factory installment, aftermarket solutions are available. Some include the foot sensor as an additional option.

Intuitive Design for Shorter Spaces

This feature makes a lot of sense. How could something like trunk height really matter? But have you ever opened it in a low ceilinged garage only for it to make that awful noise that lets you know it made contact with the ceiling (or a pipe)? Range Rover Sport thought of that. You can actually pull the trunk down to a different height. You press the button and hold it until it beeps and it remembers that height. The next time you open it, it will stop at the new height that you set. Enclosed places with low hanging features will be safe now. The owner's handbook says you can set the maximum height that the powered tailgate will open to. You can set the preference through the menu inside the car, and you will have controlled it with no extra tools.

Open and Close Access

Behind the Range Rover Sport, several options allow you to open and close the tailgate. First and foremost, there is a button located on the tailgate itself. Next to the driver’s side entrance on the dashboard, there is a tailgate button, so you can open the tailgate from the comfort of your seat. The smart key you have is also programmed to operate the tailgate, and is able to open and close it while you are on the move. If it’s an extended model, you are able to set distinct tailgate opening and closing methods within smart key programming. Per the quick start guide, the tailgate can also be set and otherwise programmed to open or close using the remote’s customer-configured button. Ultimately, this ample selection allows for quick and easy access to your valuables from nearly anywhere you may be.

Integrated Safety Measures

Safety complements any powered tailgate, and Land Rover has delivered once again. The tailgate on the Range Rover Sport has anti-pinch technology. As the tailgate moves, sensors track its position, and they will detect any obstructions, such as a child's hand, or a piece of luggage that shifted. The tailgate will stop, and then reverse its direction. This provides safety from injury, tailgate, and vehicle damage. There is a soft close mechanism as well. When the tailgate is lowered, it will not slam shut. The last few millimeters will be completed by the power closure mechanism, resulting in a smooth, whisper quiet, and a soft close without the jarring sound of the tailgate slamming shut. All of this focuses on the finer details and elevates a vehicle of this caliber.

General Advice

The Range Rover Sport is equipped with an automated tailgate like most modern vehicles, and like any modern electronic system, can develop issues over time. One common complaint is that, the tailgate will stop opening before reaching the fully open position. This is due to the system being overly sensitive and detecting an obstruction. This can happen if the struts are worn out, or if the latch has something stuck. A quick and simple solution is to apply some lubricant to the latch. This is known to resolve the issue, and return the tailgate to normal functionality. A final issue is when the tailgate does not respond to the opening command. In most cases, the wiring and cable connections are the cause. This type of problem can usually be easily diagnosed and repaired by an automotive professional. In the case of older model Range Rover Sport, the gas struts that facilitate the opening of the tailgate are not immune to wear, and when they are no longer able to support the tailgate fully, it may not open on its own. Replacing worn out gas struts will resolve the issue and fully restore functionality.

Retrofits for Classic Models

For those Range Rover Sport owners without a factory-installed automatic tailgate, the good news is that aftermarket options for older vehicles exist. These kits usually consist of the motorized lift struts, a control unit, a wiring harness, and complete mounting hardware. Some kits even include a foot sensor for hands-free operation as an optional upgrade. With a good amount of mechanical skill, completion of the installation is possible, but it does come with a fair amount of responsibility integrating the vehicle's electrical components and maintaining alignment. For those who enjoy working with tools, this can easily be a weekend task. Just be certain the kit you are purchasing is meant for your specific year model to streamline the process and avoid unnecessary challenges.

The Importance of This Feature

The Range Rover Sport Automatic Tailgate has now proved to me that some things that you think you don't need are things that you actually need. Once you get one, it's somehow hard to go back to a time when you didn't have one. It's so efficient. It's so convenient. It's so helpful. It's so nice when trying to get your keys out of your pocket while carrying shopping bags to have gestures that control the tailgate. It's so nice when the tailgate is started with a gesture when your hands are full. The height memory is nice so you don't have to worry about the tailgate hitting your garage ceiling. The tailgate buttons are nice so you aren't stuck at the car fumbling around. The safety features are nice so you don't have to worry when there are kids or pets around. It adds a little bit of luxury to your life with a little bit of extra time.

When you go to buy your new Range Rover Sport or when you go to customize an old one, make sure you look at the tailgate at the back of your car. When you start to use the tailgate, you'll realize how good the tailgate is designed.