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<p dir="ltr">While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.</p>

<p dir="ltr">There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.</p>

<p dir="ltr">More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.</p>


MITSUBISHI

SHOGUN SPORT

<p>The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport can't hide its commercial vehicle origins, and it's definitely at its best off-road</p>


Used Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 4x4 2000 - 2008

<p>The Shogun Sport is a relatively low-cost way into a 4x4, and cheaper than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jeep/cherokee/4x4/review/n148">Jeep Cherokee</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51">Nissan X-Trail</a>. Even the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>, supposedly a budget buy, is more expensive as a used car at any age.</p>

<p>However, the running costs are not nearly so attractive. Even on the diesel version, you'll get much less than 30mpg, which compares very poorly to the near-40mpg of a diesel Nissan X-Trail or the 36mpg of a Kia Sorento.</p>

<p>The Kia and Nissan also make the Shogun Sport's regular maintenance look expensive, but any unscheduled work could be even worse. Warranty Direct says the average cost for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mitsubishi">Mitsubishi</a> repairs is higher than those for prestige brands such as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>, and for other 4x4 makes, including <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/land-rover">Land Rover</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/jeep">Jeep</a>.</p>

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The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport can't hide its commercial vehicle origins, and it's definitely at its best off-road

<p>Although there was a short-lived dual-fuel version of the Shogun Sport, your choice is basically a 3.0-litre V6 petrol or 2.5-litre turbodiesel. For us, it's the diesel every time.</p>

<p>Although they're less powerful than the petrol models, diesel models have lower gears, so it's almost as strong at low revs as the larger V6. It's also more suited to off-road use and returns better fuel economy.</p>

<p>It's also cheaper to insure, because (unlike the petrol) it's available in basic Classic trim, and this is the version we think makes the best buy. The Shogun Sport is a workhorse, so there's no point shelling out for luxuries you don't need.</p>

<p>That said, Classic is the only version with no air-con, so you may decide to upgrade to Equippe or (with the V6 petrol only) Elegance. For the ultimate in luxury (including leather upholstery), you'll need to find a Warrior model, which was introduced in late 2003.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

<p>We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement.</p>

<p>A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.</p>

Large SUV

<p>As long as it's well looked after and serviced properly, it's tough as old boots and you should have little to fear.</p>

<p>According to Warranty Direct, the only troubles come when it is abused. Particularly if its full towing capacity is regularly used, the steering, suspension and transmission can suffer.</p>

<p>Other than that, we're aware of no major problems with the car, and there have been no recalls affecting it throughout its life.</p>

<p>All this is reflected in the experience of Warranty Direct. According to their figures, although the Mitsubishis are among the oldest cars on their fleet, they are well below average in terms of the number of the claims on them.</p>

<p>Likewise, very few owners have posted reviews of the Shogun Sport online, but the few that have report no issues at all with the car's reliability. The only common complaints centre on the poor ride comfort and lack of refinement.</p>

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<p>To be harsh, the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport is most like a pick-up truck. It's effectively a renamed version of the Challenger it replaced, and both have their roots in a commercial vehicle.</p>

<p>There's little safety and security kit, and the unsettled ride feels every ripple in the Tarmac. That stiff suspension means that, over mid-corner bumps, the rear end can skip out of line all too easily, which is difficult to correct thanks to the slow steering.</p>

<p>A <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51">Nissan X-Trail</a> will be far better on-road, but if you need an off-road workhorse, a Shogun Sport will suit you down to the - muddy - ground.</p>

<p>Oddly for such a big car, space is quite tight in the front, and you notice the lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel. There's plenty of head- and legroom in the back, though, as well as a spacious boot that's spoilt only by a high sill.</p>

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Used Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 4x4 2000 - 2008 reliability

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Used Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 4x4 2000 - 2008 review

As long as it's well looked after and serviced properly, it's tough as old boots and you should have little to fear.,According to Warranty Direct, the only troubles come when it is abused. Particularly if its full towing capacity is regularly used, the steering, suspension and transmission can suffer.,Other than that, we're aware of no major problems with the car, and there have been no recalls affecting it throughout its life.All this is reflected in the experience of Warranty Direct. According to their figures, although the Mitsubishis are among the oldest cars on their fleet, they are well below average in terms of the number of the claims on them.Likewise, very few owners have posted reviews of the Shogun Sport online, but the few that have report no issues at all with the car's reliability. The only common complaints centre on the poor ride comfort and lack of refinement. 

What to look for when buying a Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2000 - 2008, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 4x4 2000 - 2008 reliability

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