BMW X5 may drop split tailgate in 2027: what it means
Next-gen BMW X5 may lose its signature split tailgate
BMW X5 may drop split tailgate in 2027: what it means
Sources say the 2027 G65 BMW X5 may drop its split tailgate for a one-piece hatch, cutting weight and complexity and boosting aero—at some cost to practicality.
2025-10-20T21:11:02+03:00
2025-10-20T21:11:02+03:00
2025-10-20T21:11:02+03:00
BMW may remove one of the X5’s most recognizable features — the split tailgate. Sources at the Spartanburg plant say the next G65-generation X5, expected in 2027, could switch to a one-piece hatch. That would run against fan expectations and even early prototypes, where the camouflage hinted the split layout would remain.The split tailgate has been a calling card since the E53, making it easier to load heavy items, protecting the bumper, and turning the lower section into a handy perch. BMW, however, seems to have decided that most owners don’t value the feature as much as once thought. As the lineup moves toward electrified variants, including a future iX5, the brand is chasing lower weight, simpler construction, and better aerodynamics — priorities for 2025-era vehicles.A similar function has already disappeared on the new 5 Series Touring, and the X5 may follow the wagon’s lead. The X7, by contrast, will likely keep the split tailgate — at least on the more off-road-oriented versions.If the split tailgate does go away, BMW risks trimming some of what makes the X5 distinctive. For a premium SUV long valued for its practicality, it’s a debatable call; sometimes the signature touches matter more than a kilo saved or a marginal aero gain. Those who use that flip-down ledge day in and day out will feel the difference.
BMW X5, split tailgate, 2027 BMW X5, G65 X5, one-piece hatch, iX5, BMW SUV, practicality, aerodynamics, weight reduction, Spartanburg plant, prototypes, 5 Series Touring, X7
2025
Michael Powers
news
Next-gen BMW X5 may lose its signature split tailgate
Sources say the 2027 G65 BMW X5 may drop its split tailgate for a one-piece hatch, cutting weight and complexity and boosting aero—at some cost to practicality.
Michael Powers, Editor
BMW may remove one of the X5’s most recognizable features — the split tailgate. Sources at the Spartanburg plant say the next G65-generation X5, expected in 2027, could switch to a one-piece hatch. That would run against fan expectations and even early prototypes, where the camouflage hinted the split layout would remain.
The split tailgate has been a calling card since the E53, making it easier to load heavy items, protecting the bumper, and turning the lower section into a handy perch. BMW, however, seems to have decided that most owners don’t value the feature as much as once thought. As the lineup moves toward electrified variants, including a future iX5, the brand is chasing lower weight, simpler construction, and better aerodynamics — priorities for 2025-era vehicles.
A similar function has already disappeared on the new 5 Series Touring, and the X5 may follow the wagon’s lead. The X7, by contrast, will likely keep the split tailgate — at least on the more off-road-oriented versions.
If the split tailgate does go away, BMW risks trimming some of what makes the X5 distinctive. For a premium SUV long valued for its practicality, it’s a debatable call; sometimes the signature touches matter more than a kilo saved or a marginal aero gain. Those who use that flip-down ledge day in and day out will feel the difference.
