A liftgate assembly for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel having an external periphery and a skeletonized, trussform inner panel joined to the outer panel at their mutual external peripheries. A latch assembly is mounted within a latch cavity defined by a section of the trussform inner panel and a facing portion of the outer panel. At least one standoff structure is interposed between the outer panel and the inner panel at a location adjacent to the latch cavity so as to resist deformation of the outer panel and consequent reduction in size of the latch cavity in the event that an impact is imposed upon the outer panel at a location near the latch cavity.