Mitsubishi Shogun

Thinking back it’s hard to think but the Shogun has been with us for nearly 20 years. In fact it’s become part of the establishment, it’s respectable, it’s on the PTA.

Throughout the eighties and the nineties Mitsubishi consistently upgraded and improved the Shogun range, engines became more powerful and trim and specification more appealing to European tastes. But with it came the inevitable rise in list price. A top of the range long wheel base Shogun will set you back nearly £35,000. You could buy a used Range Rover or BMW X5 for that money. Shoguns are not cheap.

Mitsubishi introduced there latest incarnation of the Shogun in 2000. The new model is longer, wider and taller than ever before. The styling is bolder with wider arches and bigger headlamps.

But whilst the exterior is modern, the interiors are not, hidden switches and cheap plastics are acceptable in the entry level models but not on the more expensive versions.

Cars since 2000 come with a choice of 3.2 diesel engine or 3.5 V6 petrol producing 162bhp and 200bhp respectively. If you want fuel economy then the diesel married to a 5 speed manual gearbox wins easily with an average of nearly 30mpg. Put and auto box on the diesel and your down by 5mpg, choose the V6 petrol with auto box only and you will be under 20mpg.

One attraction of the Long Wheel Base is the third row of seats. But check the leg room, it’s adequate but not class leading, and taller passengers will be more comfortable in a people carrier on a long journey.    

If seven seats aren’t essential then the SWB with its 3 doors is well worth a look. The boot space is good, fold the seats down and it’s enormous. Passenger access to the rear through the wide doors is good and best of all you’ll save about £3,500 over the price of an equivalent LWB.

Driving a Shogun is pretty good fun, you sit at almost Range Rover heights and visibility is excellent. Whilst most Shoguns spend their lives doing the school run or cruising on motorways if you venture off road you’ll be more than happy. The Shogun boasts a rear diff lock which incorporates a limited slip diff making light work of all but the worst conditions.

Specification on Shogun’s has always been good; all models get alloys, metallic and electric windows as standard. But the all important air con isn’t available on the base model Classic. The Equippe and Elegance get cruise control and height adjustable drivers seat but think carefully about the practicality of the half leather upholstery and wood trim standard on the Elegance, it doesn’t stand heavy use as well as fabric.    

Servicing is every 12 months or 9,000miles and it’s worth remembering that all new Mitsubishi’s come with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty so if you buy the latest model get it sorted by the dealer before the warranty expires.

Most cars less than 3 years old tend to be sold by Mitsubishi main dealers, to compare prices and availability nationally visit mitsubishi-cars.co.uk

Check the following

Sills – check along the sill for dents, a sign that the vehicle may have endured some heavy off road work

Tow bar – Ask what they have towed. Horse boxes are heavy, jet skis are not. But launching a jet ski could see the vehicle knee deep in salt water.

Alloys – Standard on all models, but check for gouges which mean expensive replacement

Spare Wheel – Mounted on the tail gate, can be a target for theft. Check its condition carefully

Keys and remotes – Remote control central locking and remote alarm standard from 2000

7 seats – Standard on Long Wheel base models, but does take up boot space

Towing capacity - 2,800KG on the SWB and 3,300Kg on LWB. Giving the LWB a capacity close to a Range Rover

Air conditioning – standard Equippe and Elegance

The one to buy 

Mitsubishi Shogun 3 door

3.2 TD Equippe manual

2000 ‘Y’ plate with 50K miles

Pay £15,350 at a Mitsubishi main dealer or £14,250 privately

Values  -  Mitsubishi Shogun 3 door 3.2 TD Equippe manual

© Jason Dawe Productions Limited March 2003