Mitsubishi Shogun Review.
The fourth generation Shogun went on sale in February 2007 and Mitsubishi tells us that this latest version is not so much a facelift but more of an ‘evolution’, with over 70 per cent of the components renewed.
The fourth generation Shogun went on sale in February 2007 and Mitsubishi tells us that this latest version is not so much a facelift but more of an ‘evolution’, with over 70 per cent of the components renewed.
Rather than going soft, when it came to the latest incarnation, MMC retained the rugged, off-road character that has served the company so well, resulting in no less than 12 Paris-Dakar rally wins. Clearly a popular car, with over 2.5 million sold worldwide since its launch in 1982 (nearly 93,000 of those in the UK), MMC wasn’t about to throw the baby out with the bath water, when it came to the new version.
Nor was the company about to change the flexibility in choice of body styles and equipment levels. So, there’s the option of the 3-door, short wheelbase or a 5-door, long wheelbase versions. There are also four trim levels; Equippe, Warrior, Elegance and the new top-of-the-range, Diamond.
When asked, existing customers said that they wanted a more evolutionary design but without losing any off-road ability. By that, I think that they meant more modern looking, please. The result is a squared off profile but a more rounded nose than of old. The windscreen remains flat and upright, at the blunt end of the short bonnet while the bold wheelarches make a clear statement of intent. To please the off-road fraternity, the front and rear overhangs have been kept to a minimum with the skid plates clearly visible underneath.
Although the front end has been softened somewhat, the rear end with its side-hinged tailgate cannot be described as pretty but Mitsubishi has made the best of it. The main problem is that the spare wheel is mounted on the rear door, which, in the case of the test car, is a full size, 20-inch wheel so, it is big and bulky. This sits in a new hard casing which is body coloured and its presence is a necessary evil, so to speak. MMC has utilised the new retaining bar by placing the number plate in the centre above the fog light and including the rear view camera, which is standard on all but the Equippe model. The whole spare wheel unit is set 50mm lower than before for better rearward visibility.
Of course, having the spare on the outside means that it doesn’t take up precious space inside, so the carrying capacity isn’t compromised. Apart from the obvious difference in length, the 3- and 5-door versions differ in outlook. The shorter Shogun is visibly sportier with sculpted bumpers, while the 5-door is more of a family car. As such, the bumpers are less pronounced and it is altogether more subdued but it does have the advantage of the Hide&Seat third row. This two-seater bench, along with removable, full-size headrests, is set into the floor where the spare wheel normally resides and is easily pulled up and locked into place when needed.
When they are in use, luggage capacity is reduced to 215-litres loaded to the roof, which wouldn’t please the rearmost passengers. Fold the seats away and the capacity increases to 663-litres to the window-line and if the second row is tumble-folded against the front seat backs there are 1,069-litres available for more bulky items, and 1,790 to the roof.
The test car was the 5-door in top-of-the-range, Diamond trim, which offers luxury not generally associated with genuine off-road vehicles. That said, the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg are exceptions but the majority of owners are unlikely to venture too far from the tarmac. Besides, they are not in the same price bracket, if compared like for like. The Shogun’s nearest competitors are the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Pathfinder.
The test car is priced at £35,449 but prices for the 3-door Equippe start at £22,999 and that buys keyless entry, a multi-functional steering wheel, the Hide&Seat system (5-door), electronic compass, barometer and altimeter, air-conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, silvered metal-finish roof rails, 17-inch alloys and a six speaker radio/CD/MP3 audio system.
The Warrior is less of a workhorse and this is where it starts getting interesting with the inclusion of Mitsubishi’s Multi-Communication System comprising Satellite-Navigation with touch-screen, a 30GB hard disc drive and music server. Other goodies are listed as the reversing camera, leather seats with power adjustment and heating for those in the front, 18-inch alloys, front fogs and a rear spoiler, amongst other things.
Elegance and Diamond are expected to be the best-sellers, which is not surprising considering the specification; rear air-conditioning, a 12-speaker, 860W, Rockford Fosgate Premium Sound system, neither of which are fitted in the 3-door version, unfortunately, but the electric sunroof and rear parking sensors are. Diamond cars have the huge, 20-inch alloys, a sports grille and titanium effects to the mirrors, door handles and headlight surrounds.
I was impressed with the feel of the interior, particularly the driver’s environment. There is nothing complicated about the position or function of the controls and even the gear shift and range selector, set into a large silvered panel over the broad, central tunnel, gives the impression of quality, lacking in some others of this ilk. I like what they’ve done with the place, from the comfy seats, front and back to all the mod-cons on most people’s wish-list.
When it comes to engines choices, there are none. It doesn’t matter which shape and size of Shogun is chosen, under the bonnet will be a 3.2-litre Di-D, diesel engine. This unit has been extensively revised with a new common-rail system for better performance and economy. It’s also a little quieter than before but only by 4 decibels.
It produces 168bhp at 3,800rpm and 373Nm at 2,000rpm in vehicles with the 5-speed automatic gearbox, where it is helped by a variable geometry, turbo charger and includes a DPF, Diesel Particulate Filter. When the engine is mated to the 5-speed manual ‘box, the peak power and torque figures change to 158bhp and 381Nm at the same, relative points on the rev’ range.
Naturally, the 3-door version is quicker of the mark than the larger 5-door, but not by a great deal. The 0-62 dash is completed by the manual LWB car in 12.5 seconds and the auto’ takes 12.9 seconds while both body styles and transmissions have a top speed of 110mph.
Two of the four trims are offered with a choice between the auto with ‘Sport Mode’ sequential shift or the manual ‘box, while the warrior and Diamond just have the automatic transmission. Next to the gearshift is the lever for the Mitsubishi Super Select 4 II, transfer box for the AWC all-wheel control system. There are four modes; 2H, 4H - full time 4WD, 4HLc, which locks the centre differential and 4LLc for extreme off-roading conditions, where the Shogun is very capable as the Paris-Dakar wins bear out.
The new, stiffer chassis and uprated suspension systems combine to reduce body roll when driven con gusto, at the same improving the feel of the steering and offering a good compromise between off-road ability and on-road agility. That said, at slow speed it does tend to lumber a tad but once moving, it handles well and is surprisingly agile for what a friend described as a ‘big bus’.
For sure, it is bigger than it used to be, it even has a small step to make it easier for rear passengers to get in but the torque takes care of overcoming the inertia and is still present at the other end of the scale, for quick and safe motorway overtakes.
Fuel economy is a growing concern these days, for many reasons and the figures for the test car are not exceptional at 21.6mpg for the urban cycle, 31.0mpg for the extra-urban and 26.7mpg for the combined with 280g/km, CO2 escaping the exhaust pipe.
The new Shogun is never going to win any beauty contests but neither is it the ugliest car on the road. However, it does remain extremely capable and stuffed with a lot of goodies and features for the money, so watch out, Land Cruiser and Pathfinder.