Review of the new Mitsubishi Shogun range

The Mitsubishi Shogun was the original large 4x4, enjoying a market almost all to itself until the late Nineties arrived and a host of rivals piled in, nearly all prioritising a smoother road-going experience. In the new millennium, the Shogun sharpened up its act on tarmac too, but continued to buck the luxury 4x4 trend by offering a package that would still get you home to your log cabin atop a Scottish peak in the middle of a rainstorm.

This MK4 model was launched in 2007 and though it might look similar to the previous generation version, it actually carries over just 26% of its parts. More recently, Mitsubishi has been hard at work trying to enhance the Shogun's environmental performance, an unenviable task in a vehicle this large and unapologetically tough. The results exceeded most people's expectations and the latest Shogun is remarkably green for a big seven-seat off-roader.

Owners will appreciate the added urge of the 3,200cc common-rail diesel that's now good for 197bhp. Where this engine really scores is in offering 441Nm of torque low in its rev-range where it can be put to the best use hauling the Shogun up to cruising speed or out of sticky off-road situations. To give an idea of how quick off the mark this car is, a long wheelbase manual model will accelerate to 60mph in 11.1 seconds, which is pretty lively for a car of this bulk. The towing limit of 3,500kg for the long wheelbase cars will also appeal to the Shogun's target market.

If you're after the last word in off road ability, the Mitsubishi Shogun, despite the 11 Paris-Dakar wins that it can boast, is not it. What the Shogun does offer is a very useable compromise between on-road refinement and off-road ability that will be more than adequate for most. If you want something that's a little more adept in the deep stuff, you'll be looking at something like a Land Rover Discovery.

"The strong fuel economy of the latest cars is the icing on the cake"

Mitsubishi's engineers will argue with this of course and to be fair, this car is very competent indeed in the rough stuff. The Shogun uses an AWC all-wheel control system, which works in tandem with a 'Super Select 4 II' transfer case. Using a centre differential lock to split available torque 33:67 front to rear, this system offers no fewer than four transmission modes; high range rear wheel drive, high-range full time four wheel drive, four-wheel drive with a locked centre differential for slippery conditions and low range four wheel drive with the locked differential for hauling yourself out of a mud bath.

Although the shape is instantly recognisable as that of a Shogun, there are a number of key differences between this fourth generation car and its direct predecessor. Keen spotters will clock the contoured front lights blended with the blistered leading edge of the front wheelarch. There's also a revised front grille with bolder chromed slats. The short overhangs and the upright windscreen serve to remind buyers that this is no bling smoothie, instead wearing its macho credentials on its sleeve.

Three door short or five-door long wheelbase models are offered. They're properly big too. In long wheel base guise, the car is 4.9m long, 1.9m wide and 1.9m high so you'll need a garage with a fair amount of headroom. Mitsubishi's innovative 'Hide&Seat' system quickly converts the long wheelbase car from a five to a seven-seater with two seats that fold from a flat boot floor to create a third row complete with integrated head rests. These rearmost seats are impressively roomy and when they're folded away, there's a 1,790 litre luggage compartment for your convenience. You won't be blown away by classy materials and swish design inside the Shogun but it never feels less than extremely durable and very user-friendly.

As well as the option of three or five doors, Shogun buyers will have the choice of a four model line-up - the familiar Equippe, Warrior and Elegance models as well as the new luxury Diamond range-topper. As always, the Shogun comes packed with an array of standard safety and luxury equipment. All models come with ASTC active stability and traction control, alarm and keyless entry, climate control, twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes backed up by EBD electronic brakeforce distribution and 17inch alloy wheels fitted as standard.

The list of standard features may be long but pricing for the Shogun remains reasonable when you consider the capabilities of this car. The top spec versions creep close to the £40,000 mark which is a little problematic when you look at the entry-level luxury 4x4s that can be had for just a little bit more. Remember, however, that the Shogun is a far tougher customer than your average Chelsea tractor and it looks more competitively priced next to direct rivals like Land Rover's Discovery and the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Big 4x4s like the Shogun can get a raw deal in the court of public opinion when it comes to their environmental impact. There's no doubt that the Shogun and cars like it have a lot of advanced technology to help them perform off-road and owners who stick to the tarmac are carrying all that extra weight when a simpler 4x4 system would do just as well. Having got that out of the way, let's look at the facts. Mitsubishi has pulled out all the stops to maximise the environmental performance of the Shogun and the latest 3.2-litre DI-DC engine can actually return 33.2mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 224g/km when mated to the automatic gearbox. That makes the Shogun cleaner than the majority of large 4x4s and many petrol-powered executive saloon cars.

The Mitsubishi Shogun occupies a small but vital niche in an ever-evolving 4x4 market. As sales of the more ostentatious cars wane in favour of more environmentally responsible transport, there will remain a core requirement for an all-weather, all-terrain vehicle that can tow, fulfil the family responsibilities and not be too precious about things in the process. The Shogun discharges these duties with a minimum of drama.

This fourth generation car brooks no great surprises but in many ways familiarity has bred respect for Mitsubishi's low-key approach. Solid engineering, a thoughtful compromise between off-road durability and on-road refinement and tight pricing all combine to make sure that what some people may consider a throwback is, in fact, a vehicle of keen relevance. The strong fuel economy of the latest cars is the icing on the cake and provides all the ammunition owners will need to shoot down those who still have a chip on their shoulder about large 4x4s.

TOP 5 SHOGUN DEALS

The results below show the top SHOGUN deals on buyacar

Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC [197] Equippe 5dr Auto Diesel Sw
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Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC [197] Warrior 3dr Diesel Sw
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Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC [197] Warrior 3dr Auto Diesel Sw
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Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC [197] Diamond 5dr Auto Diesel Sw
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Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DI-DC [197] Elegance 5dr Auto Diesel Sw
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