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BMW Explains Why The Best Feature Of The X5 Was Removed
BMW recently unveiled the fifth-generation X5, and while the primary focus has been on its diverse range of global powertrains, a more significant development has emerged: the discontinuation of the split-folding tailgate.
Since its introduction in 1999, the split-tailgate design has been a hallmark of the X5. While other SUVs, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, phased out this feature years ago, the X5 remained a notable exception—until now.
During the X5’s launch event in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Philip Koehn, Director of Luxury Class Cars for BMW, Alpina, and Rolls-Royce, addressed the decision to abandon this feature, providing the following explanation:
The average person with an average arm span often finds the split-tailgate design cumbersome. While the low-end opening is an aesthetically pleasing feature, it presents practical challenges for the average user, who frequently struggles to load or unload items from the cargo area effectively.
Although Koehn cited customer feedback as a primary factor, he failed to provide empirical data or specific metrics to support the assertion that the design posed significant usability challenges. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence from social media suggests a disconnect between this justification and the sentiment of owners, many of whom regard the split tailgate as a defining and favored feature of the vehicle.
In addition to ergonomic concerns, Koehn attributed the removal of the split tailgate to aesthetic and structural considerations, noting, ‘The new X5 features a more dynamic roofline, which necessitated a reduction in the overall height of the tailgate.’ Conversely, we have expanded the width of the aperture to maintain cargo accessibility.
The 2027 BMW X5 is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in late 2026, offering a range of gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains—all of which will conspicuously omit the traditional split-tailgate configuration.
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