BMW Drops "Split Tailgate" on Fifth-Gen X5, Citing User Inconvenience

The fifth-generation BMW X5 will be offered globally with five powertrain options, including gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, all-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell variants. At the same time, the model has eliminated the split tailgate design—commonly known as the "clamshell" or "two-piece tailgate"—a feature that had been a hallmark of the X5 since its debut in 1999, drawing widespread attention. At the launch event held in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Philipp Koehn, Head of BMW, Alpina, and Rolls-Royce Large Luxury Vehicles, explained that the split tailgate was difficult to operate for users of average height and arm length, particularly when loading or unloading luggage. He stated that the decision was based on customer feedback but did not disclose specific survey data or the proportion of affected users. Koehn also noted that the new X5 features a more sloping roofline, which reduces the overall height of the tailgate. To enhance practicality, the trunk opening has been widened to achieve a cleaner, more streamlined rear design. Notably, some current and former X5 owners have expressed their fondness for the split tailgate on social media, describing it as one of the X5’s most distinctive and functional features.