BMW’s Decision to Axe a Favorite Feature on Its Best-Selling SUV Has Everyone Split

Do you think this omission will make or break the X5’s success?

Front view of a gray BMW SUV with illuminated X-shaped LED headlights and a kidney grille, set against a mountainous background.

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A new generation of BMW’s most popular model is out and naturally, the feedback is in. As with most new BMWs, however, said feedback is particularly a mixed bag. What with its radical redesign taking on the Roundel’s latest and controversial Neue Klasse theme.

There is one piece of feedback, however, clearly showing disappointment among fans and X5 appreciators. It’s over one of the X5’s most iconic features, or the recent omission of it.

And said feature has been with the model since BMW first introduced the E53 back in 1999. Which is why keen and observant eyes were quick to notice it missing.

No more split tailgate

Open rear cargo area of a white SUV with black interior and partially folded rear seats. — The split rear tailgate has always been a signature feature for the X5.

While the new, fifth-gen X5 ushers in a whole bucket list of firsts, for both BMW and the X5 model in general, it unfortunately gets rid of a major staple: its rear split tail gate.

Ever since BMW launched the first-gen X5, the SUV *ahem* SAV, as BMW calls it, one of its most appreciated and signature features was its rear split trunk door. It’s a design and engineering element that’s been standard for every single generation, leading up to the most current one.

Person in an orange jacket opening the trunk of a red BMW XDrive 40i SUV packed with bags and containers. — The principle behind the split tailgate design is to make cargo loading easier and more flexible.

And fans clearly took notice when BMW opted out of offering the split tailgate with the X5.

It may sound inconsequential. But many appreciated the X5’s split tailgate in the same way Toyota 4Runner fans lust over the model’s versatile single-door tailgate. With the 4Runner, owners could always open or lower the rear window for partial access and ventilation.

Rear view of a gray BMW iX5 electric SUV driving on a coastal road with mountains and ocean in the background. — The new X5 does without its iconic trunk opening.

That made it a quirky and favorite feature for 4Runner fans. And it was very much a similar case with the X5’s split tailgate.

Not many SUVs came with the same quirky functions, which led them to become signature hallmarks for the models. The only other modern crossover or SUV to offer a split rear tailgate was the full-size Range Rover, which it still touts today.

Thank the Range Rover for one of the X5’s most defining features

Silver BMW X5 SUV parked on a sandy beach with two people in wetsuits preparing scuba gear nearby. — One of the X5’s quirkiest features has been with the model since its introduction in 1999.

Speaking of which. If you didn’t know, Land Rover is actually the one to thank for the X5’s unique cargo area opening. That’s because BMW took inspiration from the Range Rover for the X5’s split tailgate.

It all happened in the 1990s, when BMW briefly owned the Rover Group for a several years. During that time, Munich collaborated with the British auto conglomerate to co-develop two luxury SUVs to meet exploding demand.

Silver Range Rover HSE SUV parked on sandy beach near ocean waves under cloudy sky. — BMW took the split tailgate idea from the Range Rover, back when the German automaker owned the Rover Group and co-developed the L322.

Those luxury SUVs ended up being the L322 Range Rover and the E53 X5. Both of which shared the same platform.

Under BMW’s ownership of Land Rover, the two automakers rolled out their own SUVs based on the same platform. And since then, both SUVs became known for the two-part trunk doors.

People apparently complained about loading difficulties

Spacious beige carpeted car trunk with rear seats and retractable cargo cover. — We’ll sorely miss this.

According to various reports, specifically covering some of the decision-making behind the new “G65” X5’s design, customers apparently complained about difficulty loading items in the back. And they reportedly attributed that difficulty to the X5’s original split tailgate design.

Which, is actually ironic, since the whole idea of the split tailgate was to make loading items in the trunk area easier and more flexible. It’s also never been a source of complaints for Range Rover owners.

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Additionally, if height was an issue, X5s equipped with air suspension or self-leveling dampers could lower the rear end at the touch of a button to make loading easier.

Regardless of the reasons behind the tailgate’s omission, it’ll certainly be missed with this generation of X5.

Availability and pricing

The new X5 is slated to reach dealers later this fall in gas, plug-in hybrid, and electric form. The gas version starts at just under $74,000, while the PHEV variant and all-electric iX5 will command $78,950 and $81,250, respectively. All prices include the standard $1,450 shipping and handling charge.

Gray BMW SUV driving on a mountain road with rocky hills in the background.

2027 BMW X5 and iX5

Starts at $73,550

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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