Item: Used Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 2000 - 2007
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

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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

<p>The Mitsubishi Shogun is a fantastic off-road workhorse or tow car, but it's definitely no motorway cruiser</p>


Used Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 2000 - 2007

<p>Inevitably, a Shogun will cost a lot to run. The petrol cars struggle to get much more than 20mpg, and even the diesels return less than 30mpg on the combined cycle.</p>

<p>That said, it's no worse than any of its rivals, and considerably better than some. None of its competitors do much better than the diesel Shogun's 29.7mpg, although the XC90's 31mpg is good.</p>

<p>Likewise, servicing will set you back a fair whack. Finally, average repair costs are reasonable, dearer than on a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Discovery</a>, but much cheaper than on a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/land-cruiser/4x4/review/n17251">Landcruiser</a>.</p>

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The Mitsubishi Shogun is a fantastic off-road workhorse or tow car, but it's definitely no motorway cruiser

<p>Go for the diesel, and not just because the 21mpg economy of the V6 is frightening. The diesel makes for a much easier drive, thanks to its stronger pulling power at low revs. For a car that could spend a lot of time off-road, towing or carrying heavy loads, that's vital.</p>

<p>Three- and five-door versions can swallow an awful lot, but the extra versatility of the larger car - it has a third row of seats that flips up from the boot floor as well as the two extra doors - makes it the best choice.</p>

<p>As for trims, this is an expensive car, so it's best to stick with the most basic - Classic. Besides, it's hardly Spartan: it has alloys, air-con and a full complement of safety kit. Equippe, Elegance and Warrior add things such as climate control, an electric sunroof and leather upholstery, but this just raises the already expensive price.</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. 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>

<p>The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.</p>

<p>A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;</p>

Large SUV

<p>Shoguns remain tough as old boots, which is remarkable given the hard life many of them lead. Warranty Direct figures show the vehicle's reliability is better than average, and better than any others in its class, including the Discovery and even the X5.</p>

<p>There's no one area that's a particular weakness on the Shogun, but the engine, transmission and cooling systems are, between them, responsible for three-quarters of all claims.</p>

<p>Among the problems are gearboxes that can fail after about 60,000 miles, and, at around the same mileage, a suspension that may need an overhaul and brake discs that need replacing.</p>

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<p>The Shogun is from a time when 4x4s were designed to go off-road. As far removed from a Chelsea Tractor as you can get, this is a great car for muddy fields - not something you can say of a BMW X5 or Volvo XC90.</p>

<p>However, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">X5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">XC90</a> are perfect examples of how the market has moved on. Modern buyers want a 4x4 that's more capable on Tarmac, and there the Shogun really is a step back in time. The ride never settles, especially at low speeds, and the handling is no better than mediocre, with lots of body roll in bends and vague steering.</p>

<p>The cabin is also disappointing. It's huge inside - five-door versions even have seven seats - but the materials and trim look cheap and tacky. Given what else you can buy for the same money, it's probably not something you'd be happy with.</p>

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Used Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 2000 - 2007 review

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