A vehicle including a vehicle body having a bumper assembly and a lift-gate. The bumper assembly protrudes outward from the lift-gate when the lift-gate is in a closed position. A panel is attached to an outer surface of the lift-gate that reduces a distance that the bumper assembly protrudes outward from the lift-gate. The panel includes an attachment portion that fixedly secures the panel to the outer surface, and includes a deformable portion that releasably secures the panel to a terminal edge of the lift-gate. Upon receipt of an impact by the vehicle, the bumper assembly and the deformable portion are each operable to deform to absorb the impact and at least minimize transfer of the impact to the lift-gate.