Seven popular SUVs that came in 3-door versions you may not have seen
Want the ability go off-roading on the weekend but the flexibility of zippy city driving during the week? These 3-door versions of popular 4x4s could be just the thing you need.There are so many positives and negatives to committing to a large 4x4 as your primary vehicle. While it may be great to go off the beaten track on weekends, during the week the battle with commuter traffic, finding a parking spot and the price of fuel can be less than impressive.
Interestingly though, many of your favourite brands have made 3-door versions of bigger 5-door wagon-style SUVs which while niche, do have a cult following for their versatility and to be honest, cute looks. Here are seven popular SUVs that came in 3-door versions you may not have seen before.
Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque is known for its stylish design, luxurious interior, and off-road capabilities. As part of Land Rover's attempt to bring in a new audience, they went very experimental with this model, with collaborations with Victoria Beckham, creating a convertible version of the SUV as well as selling it as a 3-door version. The second generation from 2018 lost the 3-door option.
Toyota Prado
Because there were not enough variations of sizes in the LandCruiser family already...Toyota produced a 3-door version of the Prado, which is a nod to the OG Prado which was a 3-door Landcruiser variant itself. The 3-door had the same toughness as the 5-door but with the opportunity for you and one passenger to enjoy an off-roading adventure (because why squeeze four passengers in?).
Mitsubishi Pajero
What happens when you get a Mitsubishi Pajero 4x4 and shrink it? Well, you get a tough yet cute-looking 3-door version. Known by many names over the years including Pajero IO, the 3-door Mitsubishi 4x4 had all the traits of the 5-door machine but was much easier to park in town.
Toyota RAV4
Today, the Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular mid-sized family SUVs on sale, but back when it first launched it was a smaller, sportier city SUV that came in both 5-door and 3-door. The 3-door certainly gives it a more summer beach vibe, akin to other SUVs of the '90s and early '00s including the Suzuki Vitara and Jeep Wrangler.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Suzuki Vitara (and Grand Vitara) was designed to be the next step up in size from the Jimny, with a fun, go-anywhere attitude in a funky crossover style which was all the style in the late 1980s and early '90s. As part of this was a 3-door variant, a nod to its Jimny connections and made it appealing to young people who just wanted to hit the road and have fun. While today's Vitara is a 5-door proposition, you can still find lots of fun 3-doors ready to take on a beach adventure.
Land Rover Defender
The magic of the Land Rover Defender is that you can still get a great, off-roading machine at whichever length you desire. From the 90 in 3-door version, right through to the long 130 5-door which can fit up to eight people. The 3-door is a great off-roading companion and is much easier to park in the city than the 130.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The G-Class or G-Wagen as it is also known has a cult following from off-road lovers to Hollywood celebrities. While today the Mercedes-Benz classic comes in fully-fledged AMG guise with 5 doors, the OG wagen was a 3-door explorer amongst its other sizes which also included a convertible.
Find your own 3-door Mercedes-Benz G-Class here on carsales
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