The BMW X5 has always had a split tailgate. The E53 made it easier to load and unload heavier items, but the design also brought other advantages. When upright, the bottom part acts as a barrier, preventing items from slipping out even when the top part is open. When folded outwards, it doubles as a bench, making it perfect for a tailgate party.
A split tailgate also helps protect the rear bumper paint from scratches when maneuvering cargo. Additionally, it proves useful in tight spaces with limited vertical clearance. It’s a handy feature that has been carried over to subsequent generations as well as the larger X7 (G07).
However, it is said that the X5 could lose it. The split design could be eliminated in the upcoming G65, even if prototypes suggested otherwise. Spy photos and BMW’s own images of camouflaged test vehicles showed a black horizontal line indicating a split, but this detail may have been a deception.
According to a Bimmer post According to a forum member citing a source at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, the next-generation X5 could have a one-piece tailgate. That’s not all: we’ve also heard similar reports from elsewhere suggesting the same thing.
If true, it would be a disappointing move for those who value the X5’s added practicality. This would follow a similar decision BMW made for the latest 5 Series Touring. You can’t open the G61’s glass separately from the tailgate, a feature we’re told has been dropped for design reasons.
Why BMW might do away with the split tailgate probably depends on practicality on the production side. Perhaps internal research shows that few owners actually use it, making it difficult to justify the added complexity, weight and cost. A one-piece design could also bring aerodynamic benefits, especially when driving an electric iX5 where efficiency is important.
If the feature really disappears from the X5, another question arises: will it also be lost from the X7? Spy shots so far suggest that the split tailgate will be retained, but we’re not so sure anymore. Given its more adventurous nature, it would at least make sense if the rumored “Rugged” SUV variant was equipped with it.
