Mitsubishi Shogun Review (2006-2019)

The original Mitsubishi Shogun was one of the first Japanese SUVs to come to the UK, back when 4X4s were a niche market aimed at farmers, off-road enthusiasts and those who needed a rugged vehicle for towing. Things had come on a long way by the time the fourth-generation Mitsubishi Shogun went on sale in the spring of 2007, but it remained closer to that original ethos than many SUVs. It was offered with three- or five doors, with the longer five-door model available with seven seats.

However many doors and seats the Shogun came with, every version used the same engine: a 3.2-litre DI-D turbodiesel with common rail technology, with a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic gearbox. The four-cylinder unit produced a relatively modest 168bhp but a healthy 275lb ft of torque, giving the big Shogun enough pulling power to cope with big caravans and trailers.

Mitsubishi stuck with body-on-frame construction, signalling to those in the know that the Shogun was a proper off-roader, not a car for drivers who are afraid to get their wheels dirty. Every Shogun came with four-wheel drive as you'd expect, although the driver can choose between different modes. For everyday driving there's rear-wheel-drive high-ratio (2H) and four-wheel drive high-ratio (4H). Switching the selector to 4Hlc locks the centre differential for better traction off-road, while the 4Llc setting engages low-range for really serious off-roading.

Go for the five-door and there's plenty of room inside. The front seats are comfortable, and the driving position is commanding. Five can travel with plenty of space, although the two additional seats in seven-seat versions are a bit short on legroom, and passengers sit with their knees pushed up high. That's a common complaint with seven-seat SUVs. On the plus side, there's still room for some shopping bags with all the seats in place, although you'd need a big roof box if you plan to take seven away on holiday. In five seat configuration, however, the boot is enormous at 663 litres.

The interior may be roomy, with plenty of storage spaces dotted around the cabin, but the design and standard of finish were hardly cutting edge back in 2007. Although the materials are durable, the finish is far from plush and the Shogun lacks the sense of occasion you enjoy in an Audi or Mercedes 4x4.

Then again, you won't pay Audi or Mercedes money to own a used Mitsubishi Shogun. By the time it went off sale in 2019, the Shogun felt like a car from a different era. Few new car buyers now seem willing to compromise road-going ability for off-road prowess. But if you're a used car buyer looking for a 4x4 because you need one rather than simply want one, the Shogun is as tough as they come.

Head far beyond the beaten track and the Shogun is in its element. It's on Tarmac that the Mitsubishi is less impressive, and since the Shogun's launch in 2007, car reviews have continued to complain about it's rough-and-ready performance on the road. Even the three-door versions weigh over two tonnes, and drive with a clumsy, heavy-footed feel. Arrive at a corner carrying too much speed and the Shogun leans heavily, and soon runs short of grip. At least the ride is reasonably comfortable, especially on the motorway, although the suspension is nowhere near as supple as a Land Rover Discovery's.

The DI-D diesel engine also disappoints. The four-cylinder diesel is crude and noisy compared with the six-cylinder engines in cars like the Audi Q7 and BMW X5. Performance is rather steady compared with the best rivals, too.

The Shogun went through numerous iterations during its long production run, including facelifts in 2012 and 2015. There are too many different specifications to list them all, so we’ll take a look at the edited highlights.

One of the first things to bear in mind is that the Shogun came in both short-wheelbase (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB) forms. The latter is more practical and more common as a result, although the former is a little bit more nimble on the road – in a previous generation, there was even a sporty version developed for off-road racing known as the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution.

Not that there was anything remotely sporty about any regular Shogun sold in the UK. But you do get plenty of kit. The final iteration came with air conditioning, cruise control and a 6-speaker Bluetooth-equipped stereo in its entry level SG2 form.

We’d suggest at least holding out for the second-tier SG3 model, which adds parking sensors, leather seats and a reversing camera to the list. SG4 doesn’t add a great deal, apart from a rear seat entertainment system, while SG5 puts the Shogun close to luxury territory – at least on paper – with quilted leather seats that are heated front and rear, interior mood lighting and various styling tweaks.

This is a big and heavy car, powered by a 3.2-litre engine. That should give you a good idea of the kind of running costs to expect.

In its original, 168bhp guise, the fourth-gen Shogun returned 30.7mpg for the short-wheelbase manual, dropping to 26.7mpg for the long-wheelbase manual. These are the official figures, don't forget, and so likely to be optimistic. Fuel economy in the mid 20s mpg will be a good result if you own of the early cars.

Later models were more efficient, not only meeting the Euro 5 emissions standard but returning a claimed 33.2mpg in the LWB auto. Reckon on high 20s or low 30s with one of these models.

Many owners choose the Shogun for towing, with legal towing capacity of between 3000kg and 3500kg, depending on the model. When towing a trailer or caravan, expect mpg in the high teens or low 20s.

Most Shoguns fall into the pre-2017 VED system that taxes cars based on their CO2 emissions. Early cars with CO2 emissions of between 246 and 280g/km sit in Band L or Band M, meaning a bill of £615 or £630. As much as you’d pay for a Lamborghini or Ferrari of the same era. Later cars registered after April 2017 (when the car tax bands were revised) will emit less, and pay the flat-rate VED charge of £165, as long as the original list price was under £40,000.

Mitsubishi originally offered service payment plans to spread the cost of routine servicing each month rather than paying one big lump sum whenever a service becomes due. These are no longer offered to new customers, but if you buy a car with an existing service contract still in place, Mitsubishi will honour it. As a rule, though, an independent 4x4 specialist is likely to undercut main dealer prices, and should be familiar with the Shogun.

Insurance groups start from group 30 for an early 3.2-litre Equippe three-door manual. Premiums should be broadly in line with those for rivals like the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Mitsubishi's cars, 4x4s, and pick-ups have a good reputation for reliability, and the Shogun's mechanical parts are well proven. In fact, some of the fourth-generation Shogun was carried over from the third generation, so Mitsubishi had many years to iron out any niggles.

Any Shogun that's been serviced on time and treated with respect should be a reliable prospect, and some of the last cars off the line should still be covered by the original five-year warranty, which was introduced in 2015 as an upgrade to the previous three-year warranty.

Don't necessarily be put off if you see a tow ball on the back; although towing does put greater strain on a car's engine and transmission, the Shogun should be able to handle it. However, it's worth listening for any odd noises from the transmission if the Shogun has been used as a tow car.

Likewise, the big Mitsubishi can take off-roading in its stride, but do take a look underneath for any signs of rock strikes or other damage.

As with any used car, it's worth using the recall checker on the gov.uk website to check if a car has any outstanding recall work. For example, 2017 and 2018 model year cars can break their right-hand lower suspension arm due to improper welding, which can make the car unstable.

Find a Shogun that's been well looked after and should look forward to years of reliable motoring.