Item: Mitsubishi Shogun
Rating: 1
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

With all versions coming with selectable four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, it’s no surprise to find that no Shogun is cheap. The five-seater is more expensive than a Kia Sorento, while the seven-seat variant is well over £2000 more.

SG2 trim gives you all you really need, including climate control, auto lights and wipers, electric windows, Bluetooth connectivity and even keyless entry. Step up to SG3 for a touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav and DAB radio, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and a sunroof.

SG4 models get bigger wheels and a rear entertainment system, while SG5 ditches the rear screens, instead getting premium leather seats, rear seat heating, two rear USB ports and LED interior lighting. Both are too expensive to recommend, however; we’d be tempted to stick to SG2 unless you really must have sat-nav and parking sensors.

Three-door versions emit a hefty 238g/km of CO2, while the five-door comes in at 245g/km, putting both models in the highest bracket for company car tax. That equates to fuel economy of 31.4mpg and 30.4mpg respectively – figures that are at least achievable with conservative driving. Even so, most diesel rivals are more frugal on account of their smaller engines. At least <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mitsubishi">Mitsubishi</a> has an excellent reliability record, coming second only to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-what-car-reliability-survey/n17798">most recent survey</a>.

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The Shogun’s engine might be a hefty 3.2 litres, but while most motors of this size have six cylinders this only has four. That means it’s nowhere near as refined as the V6s you’ll find in the pricier <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touareg/4x4/review/n199">Volkswagen Touareg</a>. It sends plenty of vibrations through the controls and sounds coarse during hard acceleration.

Thankfully, the automatic gearbox is keen to shift up, allowing the engine to settle down into a quiet cruise. But while the gearbox shifts smoothly, it’s slow-witted, so blunts acceleration. Indeed, the seven-seat version is about as quick as most <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/city">city cars</a>.

Although it isn’t fast, there’s lots of low-down power, so the Shogun will cope with being loaded up with seven passengers and their luggage. This means, along with the Shogun’s weight of more than two tonnes – the car can tow up to 3000kg in short-wheelbase form or 3500kg in the long-wheelbase version. But while it can tow a large caravan or horsebox with ease, there are more stable tow cars, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a>.

That weight does have its downsides, though. Not only does it contribute to the Shogun’s sluggish performance, it does its handling no favours. Corner even moderately briskly and the car pitches like a ship in sail, while grip levels are only modest. At least the soft suspension makes the Shogun comfortable for the most part, although it does struggle to keep its body level over undulating asphalt. The steering is reasonably precise but slow, making manoeuvring an arm-twirling affair.

However, should you find yourself off road or dealing with slippery conditions, the Shogun comes good. You’ll need to shift it into four-wheel drive yourself, but you’ve then got the option of locking the centre differential for even more traction and even a low-range gearbox for slow-speed crawling. Only the likes of the Discovery and Toyota Land Cruiser can match it for off-road ability.

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SUVs may be all the rage these days, but there was once a time when a 4x4 was a workhorse first and foremost, with comfort a secondary consideration. One of the first to add a plusher spin on things at a relatively affordable price was the Mitsubishi Shogun, a car that was introduced way back in 1982.

While the Shogun has become ever more sophisticated over the years, it still offers much the same proposition. All models come with switchable four-wheel drive with a locking centre differential to haul you out of muddy fields, the ability to tow at least 3000kg and a seriously lofty driving position.

Unlike rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ssangyong/rexton/estate/review/n17307">Ssangyong Rexton</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>, the Shogun is available in two wheelbases with either five or seven seats. This makes it like other old-school <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">large SUVs</a> like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/land-cruiser/4x4/review/n17251">Toyota Land Cruiser</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jeep/wrangler/4x4/review/n196">Jeep Wrangler</a>. As for engines, the Shogun is only available with a big 3.2-litre diesel unit coupled to an automatic gearbox.

If the Shogun sounds like it’ll fit your needs, keep reading for our exceedingly thorough review. If you decide it’s the SUV for you, check out our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/configure/mitsubishi/shogun/4x4/">New Car Buying</a> section for deals on this and hundreds of other new cars.

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Sit behind the wheel of the Shogun and you’re transported back to the early 2000s. Although there’s plenty of soft-touch plastic on the tops of the doors and dashboard, you don’t have to look much lower to find hard, unattractive materials and cheap-looking switches.

All but the entry-level SG2 models get electric leather seats as standard that have a decent range of adjustment, but the steering wheel doesn’t move enough to suit taller drivers. Whatever you do, you’ll feel like you’re towering over almost every other road user. We also find the seats to be rather flat and unsupportive, leaving you clinging onto the steering wheel in bends.

It may be a large SUV, but you can see the end of the bonnet easily because the windows and door mirrors are massive. The big spare tyre on the back would no doubt make parking tricky, but thankfully all but SG2 models get rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Entry-level models get infotainment taken care of by a basic AM/FM radio with Bluetooth connectivity and a CD player. Moving up to SG3 and above brings a 7.0in touchscreen with a DAB radio, sat-nav and a premium hi-fi with 12 speakers and a subwoofer. While that might sound good, the system is fiddly to use, with poor graphics and small icons.

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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.

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.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

SHOGUN

Rugged, reliable and with a high towing capacity, but the Mitsubishi Shogun feels like a dinosaur on the road

How the Shogun performs in this section depends entirely on the version you’re looking at. The three-door short-wheelbase model has only room for five, less rear leg room and a smaller boot than the long-wheelbase seven-seater. With that in mind, families will be better off looking at the biggest Shogun.

Up front, there’s plenty of head room and the interior is wide, so there’s lots of space between you and your passenger. You’ll also find a good selection of storage solutions for all you odds and ends; the cubby under the front armrest is particularly cavernous.

Move to the rear and you’ll find a good amount of head room and decent leg room, although the floor is a little high. We suspect many would be more comfortable in less heavy-duty SUVs such as the similarly priced Kia Sorento.

The third row folds out of the boot floor, although it’s not as easy to do as in most rivals. The seats are big and heavy, requiring a bit of muscle to pull them into place. Once in place, there’s good head room for the rearmost passengers, but a high floor makes it uncomfortable for adults on longer journeys. Ultimately, these seats are best left for occasional use or children.

Even with the third row up, there’s still enough room for a week’s worth of shopping in the boot. Fold those seats down and there’s a huge amount of space – more than you’d get in even an Audi Q7. Fold the middle row down and you could fit most of Ikea in the boot.

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Rugged, reliable and with a high towing capacity, but the Mitsubishi Shogun feels like a dinosaur on the road

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

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Mitsubishi Shogun review

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Buying advice for the Mitsubishi Shogun covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

With all versions coming with selectable four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, it’s no surprise to find that no Shogun is cheap. The five-seater is more expensive than a Kia Sorento, while the seven-seat variant is well over £2000 more.,SG2 trim gives you all you really need, including climate control, auto lights and wipers, electric windows, Bluetooth connectivity and even keyless entry. Step up to SG3 for a touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav and DAB radio, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and a sunroof.,SG4 models get bigger wheels and a rear entertainment system, while SG5 ditches the rear screens, instead getting premium leather seats, rear seat heating, two rear USB ports and LED interior lighting. Both are too expensive to recommend, however; we’d be tempted to stick to SG2 unless you really must have sat-nav and parking sensors.Three-door versions emit a hefty 238g/km of CO2, while the five-door comes in at 245g/km, putting both models in the highest bracket for company car tax. That equates to fuel economy of 31.4mpg and 30.4mpg respectively – figures that are at least achievable with conservative driving. Even so, most diesel rivals are more frugal on account of their smaller engines. At least Mitsubishi has an excellent reliability record, coming second only to Lexus in our most recent survey.,,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here 

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