It’s hard to believe that the Mitsubishi 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 1980s and 1990s Mitsubishi improved the range, the engines becoming more powerful and the trim more appealing to European tastes. The price rises that inevitably accompanied these upgrades were sizeable enough, however, to elevate a range-topping long-wheelbase Shogun to £35,000. You could buy a used Range Rover or BMW X5 for that money. Shoguns are not cheap.

Mitsubishi introduced the latest incarnation in 2000. Longer, wider and taller, the styling is bolder with flared arches and bigger headlamps. But if the exterior is more modern, the interiors are not, being blighted by hidden switches and cheap plastic.

Since 2000 there has been the choice of a 162bhp four-cylinder 3.2 litre diesel or a 200bhp 3.5 litre petrol V6. If you want fuel economy then a diesel with a five-speed manual gearbox averages nearly 30mpg. Put an auto box on the diesel and you’re down by 5mpg, choose the auto-only V6 and you’ll be under 20mpg.

One benefit of the longer five-door car is its third row of seats. Check the legroom, though: it’s adequate but beanpoles will be happier in a people carrier on a long journey.

If seven seats aren’t essential then the short-wheelbase three-door is worth a look. The boot space is generous, growing to enormous with the seats folded, and the wide doors give good access to the rear. Best of all you’ll save about £3,500 over the price of an equivalent LWB car.

Driving a Shogun is good fun: you sit high, visibility is excellent and, while most spend their lives on the school run or plying the motorways, if you venture off road you’ll be more than happy. The big 4x4 has a rear differential lock that incorporates a limited slip differential, making light work of all but the worst conditions.

Specifications have always been good, all models getting alloys, metallic paint and electric windows as standard, though air-con isn’t available on the base Classic. The Equippe and Elegance versions add cruise control and a height-adjustable driver’s seat, but think carefully about the practicality of the wood trim and half-leather upholstery standard on the Elegance, because the hide doesn’t stand heavy use as well as fabric.

Servicing is every 12 months or 9,000 miles and remember that new Mitsubishis come with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, so if you buy the latest model get it sorted by the dealer before it expires.

Most cars under three years old tend to be sold by Mitsubishi dealers, so to compare prices and availability visit www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk.


VITAL STATISTICS
Model Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 TD
Engine Four-cylinder turbodiesel, 3200cc
Power 162bhp @ 3800rpm
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 29.7mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0 to 62mph: 11.5 sec
Top speed 106mph

CHECK IT OUT
Security Remote control central locking and alarm standard from 2000
Comfort Air-conditioning standard on Equippe and Elegance
Seating Seven seats standard on long-wheelbase models, but rearmost pair take up boot space
Spare wheel Mounted on the tailgate, it can be a target for theft or vandalism, so check condition carefully
Tow bar Ask what has been towed. Horseboxes are heavy, jet skis are not, but launching a jet ski could see the vehicle knee-deep in salt water
Wheels Alloys standard on all models, but check for gouges which mean expensive replacements
Sills Check for dents, a sign that the vehicle might have endured heavy off-road work
Towing Weight limit is 6,170lb on the short-wheelbase and 7,275lb on long-wheelbase, giving the latter a capacity close to Range Rover<!-- Beginfunction Start(page) {OpenWin = this.open(page, "CtrlWindow", "toolbar=yes,menubar=yes,location=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes");}// End -->

THE ONE TO BUY
Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 TD Equippe 3dr manual. 2000 X-plate with 50,000 miles. Pay £15,350 at a Mitsubishi main
dealer or £14,250 privately

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