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4X4
The Shogun is from a time when 4x4s were designed to go off-road. As far removed from a Chelsea Tractor as you can get, this is a great car for muddy fields - not something you can say of a BMW X5 or Volvo XC90.
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However, the X5 and XC90 are perfect examples of how the market has moved on. Modern buyers want a 4x4 that’s more capable on Tarmac, and there the Shogun really is a step back in time. The ride never settles, especially at low speeds, and the handling is no better than mediocre, with lots of body roll in bends and vague steering. The cabin is also disappointing. It’s huge inside - five-door versions even have seven seats – but the materials and trim look cheap and tacky. Given what else you can buy for the same money, it’s probably not something you’d be happy with.
Running Costs
Inevitably, a Shogun will cost a lot to run. The petrol cars struggle to get much more than 20mpg, and even the diesels return less than 30mpg on the combined cycle.
That said, it’s no worse than any of its rivals, and considerably better than some. None of its competitors do much better than the diesel Shogun’s 29.7mpg, although the XC90’s 31mpg is good. Insurance costs, too, are generally on a par with those of its rivals. Most Shoguns are in group 16, as are most Grand Cherokees, X5s and Mercedes-Benz M-Classes. However, you could save a few pounds in a Land Rover Discovery or Toyota Landcruiser, because some models sit as low as groups 12 or 13. Likewise, servicing will set you back a fair whack. Finally, average repair costs are reasonable, dearer than on a Discovery, but much cheaper than on a Landcruiser.
4X4 Sport
To be harsh, the Shogun Sport is most like a pick-up truck. It's effectively a renamed version of the Challenger it replaced, and both have their roots in a commercial vehicle. There's little safety and security kit, and the unsettled ride feels every ripple in the Tarmac. That stiff suspension means that, over mid-corner bumps, the rear end can skip out of line all too easily, which is difficult to correct thanks to the slow steering. A Nissan X-Trail will be far better on-road, but if you need an off-road workhorse, a Shogun Sport will suit you down to the - muddy - ground. Oddly for such a big car, space is quite tight in the front, and you notice the lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel. There's plenty of head- and legroom in the back, though, as well as a spacious boot that's spoilt only by a high sill.
Running Costs
The Shogun Sport is a relatively low-cost way into a 4x4, and cheaper than a Jeep Cherokee or Nissan X-Trail. Even the Kia Sorento, supposedly a budget buy, is more expensive as a used car at any age. However, the running costs are not nearly so attractive. Even on the diesel version, you'll get much less than 30mpg, which compares very poorly to the near-40mpg of a diesel Nissan X-Trail or the 36mpg of a Kia Sorento. Insurance, too, will be costly. Most Sports (and all petrols) sit in group 16, with even the cheapest in group 13. Yet the Sorento and X-Trail are both several groups lower. The Kia and Nissan also make the Shogun Sport's regular maintenance look expensive, but any unscheduled work could be even worse. A leading warranty company says the average cost for Mitsubishi repairs is higher than those for prestige brands such as BMW, and for other 4x4 makes, including Land Rover and Jeep.