7 Popular SUVs With Tailgates (Listed By Size)

You’ll agree that tailgates are mostly common with trucks and not SUVs.

While this is because they help to keep the rear side of a truck partly closed, they are not necessary in SUVs whose rear cabins are always enclosed.

Probably for the purpose of tailgating, which is common in the United States and Canada, some SUVs also feature a flat rear gate.

In this article, we introduce 7 popular SUVs that feature a tailgate, from the compact to the full-size variants.

Compact SUV With Tailgates

Here is a compact SUV that features tailgates:

1. 2021 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Ford Bronco comes with unexpected surprise to offer an attractive choice for tailgate lovers. This SUV didn’t only feature a liftgate, it also offers a slide out tailgate alongside a one-sided open gate.

If it’s your first time using the 2021 Ford Bronco, you may be confused about the tailgate. However, as soon as you release the liftgate and open the side one, you should observe a space for the slide out tailgate towards the end of the cargo space.

The 2021 Ford Bronco is about 189.4 inches long and 75.9 inches wide. So, it makes a cargo space of about 38.3 cu.ft. With the foldable rear seats, you can extend the cargo capacity to around 83.0 cu.ft.

To consider the inclusion of a slide out tailgate in this vehicle, it is arguably one of the best SUV for tailgating.

Mid-size SUVs With Tailgates

Range Rover Sport and the 2005 Volvo XC90 are examples of mid-size SUVs that have a tailgate. Learn about them here.

2. 2005 Volvo XC90

The 2005 Volvo XC90 also features both a liftgate and a small tailgate. While the two rear doors meet towards the end of the liftgate, you have to first release the upper gate to drop down the tailgate.

This is a three-row mid-size SUV that can accommodate up to 7 people. With a length of about 188.9 inches and an overall width of 74.7 inches, the 2005 Volvo XC90 only leaves about 21.6 cu.ft. for cargo capacity.

While this is just enough to conveniently access the objects in the cargo, you can extend the space up to 92.0 cu.ft. by folding the rear seats.

This SUV may not offer in-car entertainment you’ll derive from a more recent model, but its 8 speakers are enough for a tailgating party when you consider the extended rear door.

The XC90 is also one of the SUVs with the quietest cabin.

3. Range Rover

Range Rover has been notable for its split tailgate design for decades. While the brand maintains the old rear door designs in the 2013 Range Rover and even the 2022 version, it makes it sturdier. In fact, there are provisional seats designed for the rear door to make the vehicle a perfect fit for tailgating experience.

Range Rover is known for luxury and highly sophisticated designs. So, it may take a while for a new owner to get used to its operation, including how to control the tailgates remotely.

If equipped, you may get to control the tailgate with the sensors provided on the two sides of the rear trunk. Just a light contactless kick on either side of the sensors will open and close the trunk.

Full-size SUVs With Tailgates

Here are 4 full-size SUVs with tailgates.

4. 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

We are sure you’ll expect more from a full-size SUV and the Toyota Land cruiser came with a big option.

Aside from offering a spacious cabin to conveniently accommodate 8 adults, it also features a bigger and wider tailgate unexpected of a modern SUV. And of course, it also has a small liftgate.

This SUV is not only suitable for a family trip, it could also be helpful in hauling some big cargo.

While the 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser is about 194.9 inches long and about 77.9 inches wide, its cargo capacity is just 16.1 cu.ft. when all seats are in place.

However, you can fold all the rear seats to extend the space up to 81.7 cu.ft. Although this is not as big as the Volvo XC90, it offers a more comfortable offloading of heavy cargo because of its bigger tailgate.

5. BMW X7

The latest BMW X7 offers a smart addition to this list. Interestingly, it comes with a power tailgate that you can open with just a contactless kick at the bottom of the trunk. You can close the trunk with a press of a button around the center of the liftgate.

There is also a button around the dashboard that you can use to control the rear door.

In case you’re in doubt, the BMW X7 also features a combination of a tailgate and a liftgate that work with a sensor and a remote. While you can open the rear door remotely, you can also open the tailgate alone by pressing the designated button on its top.

Most interesting is the fact that you can control the depth of the opening of the tailgate using the vehicle’s infotainment system. The settings also provide the option to decide which of the door you’ll like to control when you press the dash button. You may need the manual for instructions on how to do these.

6. Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser also features a tailgate in its VXS model, at least, from the 2016 model. Just like many modern SUVs with tailgates, this full-size SUV also features a combination of a liftgate and a tailgate.

Many recent SUV brands, including Toyota, are now embracing the hands-free technology. So, the Toyota Land Cruiser VXS works with a power liftgate that you can control with the vehicle’s key fob.

The Toyota Land Cruiser VXS is a 3-row full size SUV suitable for up to seven adults. While the 2021 Land Cruiser VXS is about 198 inches long and 78 inches wide, it leaves about 16.1 cu.ft. for cargo space.

However, because of the foldable rear seats, you can extend the space up to 81.7 cu.ft. when you make all the rear seats useless.

If you’re looking for full-size SUVs with the best visibility, the Land Cruiser is an excellent choice.

7. Lexus LX570

Lexus also makes it to this list with its LX570 which also features a split tailgate. The trunk of this stylish SUV works with a liftgate that you can control with the key fob, and a tailgate you can open manually.

The vehicle also has a button around the dashboard designated for controlling the rear door. Again, only the liftgate gets to open remotely.

Being a full-size SUV, the Lexus LX570 also avails seats for 8 persons and leaves 16.3 cu.ft. space for cargo. Before you claim that this is small for a vehicle of 200 inches long and 78 inches wide, note that you can expand the cargo space up to 81.3 cu.ft.

Being a luxury vehicle, the LX570 is one of the SUVs with heated rear seats.

Final Thoughts

SUVs are enclosed, unlike trucks. So, featuring a flip-down tailgate will only create an unnecessary inconvenience when reaching out for the objects in the cargo area.

Also, it is almost impossible to find an SUV that will feature only a flat rear door. This is because a tailgate will either be too long when flipped down or render the trunk partly opened when closed. So, rather than featuring a tailgate, some SUVs feature a split tailgate that combines a liftgate with a tailgate.

Was this article helpful?