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Auto Driven: Mitsubishi Shogun
09 February 2007 Model tested: Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2-litre Diamond Automatic Price as tested: £30,599 Range price: £22,949 - £34,999 Insurance group as tested: 15 Insurance group range: 13A-15A Tested: February 2007 On the road: February 2007 Road tester: Adrian Higgins
Mitsubishi is launching the all-new Outlander and has radically overhauled the Shogun.
We drove both cars on and off road to find out how they coped on tarmac and up to their axles in mud.
Read on for the Mitsubishi Shogun review and follow the link to the Mitsubishi Outlander reviews.
It’s not a new car – it’s a car which is evolving.
But Mitsubishi stress the latest version of the Shogun is more than a facelift and nearly three-quarters of the model’s components are new.
Buyers told the manufacturer they wanted a more traditional look for the road version of the 12 times Paris-Dakar Rally winner and - given their loyalty - Mitsubishi have done just that with a chunky, short-nosed look harking back to the original 1979 concept.
Following changing fashions, it also gives it a more contemporary look as big SUV curves are starting to look a little dated.
Inside the change is more radical and there is nothing retro about it. Simply laid out the interior appears simple, robust and stylish and appears more expensive than it is.
We found the speedo and rev counter displays difficult to read, though more familiarity than a couple of hours behind the wheel would likely improve the situation.
Despite the visual changes, Mitsubishi is keen to stress this is a practical vehicle for those who need a 4x4 for its off-road capability – and not a “Chelsea Tractor”.
We tested this capability on the MOD’s off road facilities on Salisbury Plain and given its rally heritage the performance was expectedly impressive.
Both short and long wheelbase versions are powered by a 3.2-litre turbo diesel engine which supplies 158bhp to the manual versions and 168bhp to the automatic.
And four driving modes are available with rear-wheel drive supplemented by three 4x4 settings.
It has a wading depth of 700mm and Engine Brake Assist Control is there to help on ascents and descents.
And on-road?
While an improvement over its predecessor, car-drivers will still find the engine noise intrusive.
The handling is less than sharp and it wallows noticeably through corners.
But these are, to some extent, the price to pay for the Shogun’s off-road capability, which as Mitsubishi are the first to admit, is its star turn.
The familiar model range of Equippe, Warrior and Elegance is now topped by the Diamond model we drove.
The entry-level model is well-specced with 17 inch alloy wheels, climate control and CD radio with MP3.
But choose Warrior and above and you can tackle the cabin noise with a 30GB hard disk drive navigation system which can store up to 150 albums, offers touch screen controls and incorporates a DVD player.
This is a comprehensive update of a very capable vehicle, but as the manufacturer says, you will need to want to exploit its off-road potential to really get the best out of it. Rivals: Compare prices for the Mitsubishi Shogun with Auto Trader's New Car Search Auto Trader Links Read our review of the Mitsubishi Outlander
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The Shogun is immensely capable and set a whole line of motoring journalists’ jaws to “drop” when it turned at a right angle sideways on a steep slope before dragging its rear end straight up the hill with minimum drama.Page 1
