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.
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.
Find your own 3-door Range Rover Evoque here on carsales
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?).
Find your own 3-door Toyota Prado here on carsales
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.
Find your own 3-door Mitsubishi Pajero here on carsales
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.
Find your own 3-door Toyota RAV4 here on carsales
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.
Find your own 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara here on carsales
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.
Find your own 3-door Land Rover Defender here on carsales
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