2025 Toyota Prado 250 Series three-door: SWB leak or hoax?
07/25/2024 06:00 PM
A decade after the short-wheelbase three-door Toyota Prado ‘shorty’ left Australia, a leaked image appears to show a new model based on the latest 250 Series – but don’t hold your breath for it.
Images of what appears to be a 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado three-door have appeared for the first time.
Though its authenticity cannot be confirmed at this stage, the Prado ‘shorty’ image looks as if it may have been taken from internal technical documents from Toyota, shown alongside the last three-door model built in 2023 – and posted to multiple accounts on Instagram.
Stamped on the image is ‘JP/US/EU Prototype’, suggesting a Prado shorty would be destined for the Japanese, North American, and European markets – though it’s probable such a vehicle would be made available in the Middle East in the future, given the popularity of LandCruiser models in those markets.
Also visible on the image is the model code ‘TJA250S3DA-GNZRZVFJ’, suggesting it is a LandCruiser Prado 250 Series, fitted with a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder found on overseas five-door variants – and available with petrol-electric hybrid technology.
The black-and-white profile photo looks strikingly similar to a digital illustration of the three-door Prado created by artist Theottle for Drive in August 2023 (above), though a notable bump in the shoulder line of the side windows is echoed from the five-door variant.
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However, an unusual feature is the rear wheel arch, which appears to be built into the front door – much in the same way it would cut into a back door – casting doubt on whether these images are genuine or merely a hoax.
Also unusual is the apparent use of quarter glass – a section of window not designed to be lowered – on the front door above the handle, as it would appear on the back door, adding weight that this could be a manipulated image rather than genuine from Toyota.
While such a vehicle has yet to be unveiled by Toyota, it’s unlikely Australian buyers will be offered the three-door Prado, given the earlier model was discontinued in 2013.
In Australia, all LandCruiser Prado 250 Series models will be powered by a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with a form of 48-volt mild-hybrid technology.
If it makes it to production, the three-door version shown in this leaked image would be part of the Prado model line-up, which will sit above the much anticipated – but yet to be confirmed – LandCruiser FJ, a small off-roader designed to compete with the likes of the five-door Suzuki Jimny, and expected to be unveiled in late 2024.
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