Mitsubishi Shogun Sport road tests and consumer car reviews

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2.5 TD 2005

I’m laughing at the comments from others re poor handling and slow performance. I’ve driven everything from skylines to scoobys to v8’s to turbo hayabusas/nitrous gixxers etc., a fair spectrum of vehicles basically. The Shogun Sport is just plain fantastic! It’s very, very easy to get another 30-40 bhp if required (for those wanting more grunt) and it is also very easy to adjust the wastegate on the turbo for less wastegate creep (keeps the power for further up the revs;) Handling? It’s ok, so it’s no sports car, but it’s no lorry either. Remember people, this is a 2 ton 4x4 tank, built to last and withstand proper work/offroading etc, and when you bare this in mind, it’s actually very accomplished and the mpg isnt too shabby either. Out of all the 4x4s this one wins hands down in terms of reliability versus price! Less whining, more enjoying! :)

Responses to this review

I have an immense amount of respect for this vehicle,it isn’t fair to label it as ’poor handling’. For heaven’s sake, it’s a high-riding 4x4 with long-travel suspension, how is it MEANT to handle like a car with all this off-road biased hardware to tote about?! People talk rubbish. It steers very nicely, the gearbox, though heavy-duty, and with a rather long gear-lever changes with lightning precision if you know what you’re doing. The brakes are quite good and I don’t think the fuel consumption is THAT bad. I suggest the people who think that it is should try a 4.6 litre Range Rover THEN come back and say the same thing! Been out in the deep Yorkshire snow this morning and she is as impressive as ever. If you want sports car-like handling and low fuel consumption, get a BMW 320d. I forgot to add though that these are totally undriveable in deep snow, no traction whatsoever, but each to their own... - Phillip Taylor from Yorkshire

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Trojan 2006

I have had mine for 2 years now, bought it to tow our caravan and use as a workhorse. Yes it is slow, but it’s a proper 4x4 not a wanabe. We had no problems in the snow of winter 2010/2011, in fact we went out looking for some to see how it perform on snow and ice covered mountain roads and passed with flying colours. We are thinking of taking it down to the Alps for a skiing trip. For much of winter it’s covered in thick mud outside and is not much better inside, but it always cleans up very nicely. I have put the Rally Art power upgrade in it and boy what a difference it makes; the power is up by over 30 bhp, mpg up by 20% and loads of torque. We’re thinking of selling the caravan and putting wheels on the house because I think it would tow it now! The service costs are not too bad as the local garage’s mechanic I use did his time with Mitsubishi so knows his stuff.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Trojan 2006

In the winter of 2010 I became very tired of sliding about in my Mercedes 220 getting no where. On impulse I changed it for the Trojan. It was if there was no snow anymore and since then it has proved to be outstanding in all adverse conditions. I spent much of my younger life in Land Rovers on dirt roads overseas. This is at the top of its class. However, its off road excellence comes at a price and as a road vehicle it is slow and the suspension quite hard. You need to do your homework, but if you need a rugged dependable all terrain vehicle this could be the vehicle for you.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2005

Replaced my ageing Disco very surprised with pulling power, plenty of room inside fuel cost hard to judge as derv prices have risen, solo in fifth gear still wants to pull, miss the size of the Landy but would recommend for caravaners.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Warrior 2008

I bought my Warrior diesel 2 years ago because I wanted a family tow car and in the winter months carry out field sports. With the correct off road tyres I have yet to find myself stuck whilst these so called off road Range Rovers slide around with no hope other than being pulled out by a 20 year old defender. Not the most economical car but it does what its supposed to do. A proper off roader not a pretender!

Responses to this review

You hit the nail right on the head when mentioning tyres,the standard issue Bridgestone Duellers are appalling off-road. I changed mine for some BF goodrich all-terrain tyres, the off-road traction is amazing. I have driven up sloping icy inclines that I couldn’t even walk up. The grip of this car is astonishing, it has never been found wanting. People who don’t know what they are talking about with reference to 4wd cars point out that it isn’t as good as some other 4wds because it hasn’t got a lockable differential?! Why would a part-time 4wd need one? It doesn’t have a differential that NEEDS locking! Whilst we are on the subject of traction, the sport does have a rear limited-slip differential, which in my book doesn’t just mean that it matches a Land Rover, which does have a lockable diff, it is actually BETTER because neither a Range Rover or Land Rover has one - Phillip Taylor from Yorkshire

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2.5td 2006

I love it! I do miss the 300hp+ of my old Volvo 850 but I bought this as the family tow car. The miles per gallon are not great, but no worse than the old Volvo, and I don’t notice a great difference to the MPG when towing. The down side is the price of the tax disc (+£400 per year) but thats not Mitsubishi’s fault. The car has all the toys I need and a comfortable leather interior. AC works well as does the heater. I used to have a 2.8 Shogun; at 4500 miles between services it was ridiculous, but this being newer the interval is an acceptable 9000 and I have found servicing cost actually pretty reasonable. The car is absolutely bullet proof and handles it’s self very well for a truck. If your looking for more perfomance and handling don’t buy this car!! It does exactly what it is designed to do extremely well and reliably. Where would I criticise it: it desperatly needs a 6th gear when the caravan isn’t on the back. I would say as a tow car they don’t come any better, I’ve never had a car that is better with a load on the back than without. I looked at the Kia Sorento when buying this and it was a close run thing Mitsy won based on the badge, but I’m pleased I did as the Kia’s tow capacity has been reduced recently.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Equippe 2004

1st class car and tows my twin axle caravan like a dream. Certainly the best tow car I have owned. Fuel consumption is in the 30s and comfortable to drive. Looks good and does what it should. Performance from standstill wont take your breath away but once moving you will be surprised how well it picks up. Brakes responsive, and steering feels the same as any other 4x4 I have driven. Summary: a great car and one I am sure will stand the test of time.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Warrior 2004

I have had the Warrior now for three months and in that time the vehicle has matched my expectations of it, my previous vehicle being a Pajero which was also a good all rounder. This vehicle is well made, has excellent brakes, good steering and very very good road holding. It performs well both on and off road. I agree the suspension is hard but when off road over hard boulders etc., it really does come into its own. It is a vehicle not designed to be quick as it is low geared and ideal for towing just about anything. A previous reviewer remarks on the Freelander being the better option and that might be the case for him but the Freelander, in particular the later one comes at a very high premium. My weekly mpg is 26 to 27 mixed driving and on a long run at speeds not exceeding 70 mph it will return 31 mpg. To sum up I would not hesitate to recommend this vehicle to those who want a truck that will go anywhere and do anything and carry big loads. All round a good value for money vehicle!

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Warrior 2010

Bought my Shogun Sport Warrior 5 months ago and it’s the best money I have spent on a car in years. I agree that it’s a bit thirsty and slow, but I know being stuck 2500 meters up a snow covered mountain in Italy that I was glad I was in my Shogun Sport! If you’re thinking about buying one, don’t think just buy it!

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2009

This vehicle has got to rank as the worst vehicle I have ever purchased and driven. The engine size is far too small for the body shell and whilst I know a lot of drivers love it’s truck like appearance and carrying capacity, but there is really no performance at all. The brakes are atrocious, the steering is hopeless and its ability to soak up bumps etc., leaves you reeling after a long journey. I have recently been out in a newish Freelander and whilst I know there is a great price difference, the Freelander is vastly superior in just about every facet of motoring.

Responses to this review

You obviously aren’t looking for a competent off road machine, your preference in the Freelander confirms this. I had a Freelander and got fed up with the 4wd system packing up... even when it was working right it was pathetic off road. The Challenger isn’t as competent off road as many other vehicles, and on road its manerisms are very agricultural... this is probably down to the separate chassis/body layout, but this also offers excellent rigidity and robustness (is this even a word??) for the rough stuff. My Challenger is the 2.8 td, with increased fuelling, bosst and uprated intercooler mounted on the front behind the bumper it has ample performance and doubles as a drift car in power mode with the overdrive off and in 2wd.. :) Colin Scougal from Durham

Having previously owned two Freelanders, I agree the Freebie is more suitable for urban use, but both the TD4 and petrol versions that I had were hopless when it came to reliability, not to metion very expensive. It’s no good if doesn’t work. It also very much depends what you want to use your car for! Nick from Durham

Like I’ve mentioned before, I work in a garage and it is a fact that with a K-series petrol-powered Freelander, it isn’t so much IF the head gasket will go, but when. They are a bloody nightmare. I agree to some extent that the Shogun Sport isn’t particularly fast but I wouldn’t agree that the engine is too small. It may not hurl down the road with any great urgency but try pulling a long-wheelbase Transit up a sloping field in a foot of snow with your Freelander (no, on second thoughts, better not!). The Shogun Sport is a proper roader with limited-slip rear axle, low-range, and full under-body protection. I have never been in a situation where it has been defeated in the severe conditions we have up here. I have actually gone looking for trouble on some occasions, 1 in 3 snow-covered slopes and no detectable wheelspin. Not fast but like a mountain goat, awesome machine - Phillip Taylor from Yorkshire

I have a Freelander TD and tour carvans and horse boxes without ease! The Freelander (53 plate) struggles on hills and wet fields. Don’t try and reverse it will not do that task. The Freelander needs 2.5L and low ratio box. If it had this it would be very good, but alas it has not ans is not good for towing - Chris W from Cardiff

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2007

Before I purchased my Sport 8 months ago I read the reviews here, most of which were not very good. Am I glad I didn’t listen? I got an excellent car which looks a lot better than most of the more expensive 4x4s, yes it’s more expensive to run than the 320d BMW I traded in, but with 3 kids it has more than enough room for everyone along with a massive boot. I think it was great value for money, where else would you get a good size family car, only 2 years old with warranty for around 10k? I also agree that, coming after the BMW, its inside is pretty basic but all this means is that there is less to go wrong.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport GLS 2.5TD 1999

I’ve now owned my Challenger for 3 months and I’m still in love with it! I usually change cars every 2 months or so out of boredom and I’ve had so many, but I’m sticking with this one until it goes pop, if it ever does. I’ve had 2 Pajeros in the past amongst others, and the Challenger feels similar to the LWB Pajero but with more of a modern edge. Even for a ten year old car (138,000 miles on the clock), the engine is as tight as a drum, it doesn’t burn any excess (if any at all) oil, it’s smooth, well kitted out, and looks awesome. I don’t know what the guy below is talking about with regard to servicing being a joke, if you service the things when you’re supposed to they’ll do over 250,000 miles! Mine has a full service history and will continue to do so, the service intervals are every 6 months but only cost around £80, and this will give you hundreds of thousands of miles of extra motoring... It’s a no-brainer. I’m not very mechanically minded so the service chaps will let me know IF anything will need to be done to it after changing oil/plugs and having a good look around, but so far there has been nothing major changed on it which is incredible. All in all, it’s as good for long distance touring - REALLY comfy and a great place to be on night drives - as it is for towing, and it is shorter on the overhangs than the Pajeros so it scales the dips better off road without risking bodywork damage, the speakers aren’t too bad, it brakes, corners and goes like a car half its size. The a/c is great, the heater is like an oven, it’s well insulated... I’m really glad I bought it, and I feel kinda sorry for the fella below who obviously has a bitter taste in his mouth but he’s the only person I’ve ever heard of who has had a bad experience with these cars. MPG isn’t bad, just don’t floor it everywhere! I’m averaging about 30 mpg. Can’t fault it. Touch wood ;o)

Responses to this review

I still stand by what I said about servicing Mitsubishis.I work in a garage so get to see what it costs in the way of parts etc. Mitsubishi spares are ESPECIALLY expensive, compared with almost ALL other cars (including BMW and Mercedes). My car is also the only car I know of that requires you to use only the Mitsubishi OBD when diagnosing faults. We are able to clear all engine codes and reset the engine management light on virtually every car, except mine! Still love my car though! Phillip Taylor from Yorkshire

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Warrior 2006

I’m presently in the midst of purchasing a Warrior... and worried by your comments (Colin Scobbie, Inverness-shire). Are they really that bad?

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2008

Hi, had my Shogun Sport for 7 months and never again will I buy another. It’s thirsty, expensive for parts and servicing is a joke. It drives like a box that’s all I can say apart from if you’re planning to buy one...DON’T.

Responses to this review

Cost, cost, cost. It’s the old "if you have to ask, you can’t afford it". It’s the price you pay for quality versatile motoring and even at that, it’s not that dear! Echoing Kai Cunliffe, England, if you regularly look after it and don’t drive it with a heavy right foot, costs can be kept down. The most expensive thing I found with it is the road tax, but hey, it’s a one-off payment a year, so save up! I think your comments are only relative to the vehicle you purchased as the rest of the comments people are leaving ,bar maybe one or two ,are positive. I had the pleasure of using the 3L V6 model of this truck when I was touring New Zealand, and if I was worried about paying the fuel bill or parts and sevicing costs, I wouldn’t have come home and bought one straight away, but I did and I love it! There may be a few wee chuckles had at your comment, I know I did. Sorry pal - Craig Lawrence from Stirlingshire

Is he driving a Land Rover? The seats are brill and like a box ridiculous services with Mitsubishi dealer. Fuel wise, it’s not as thirsty as most 4wd trucks. I have had two W-reg 3 into country and now a 2003 132.000 miles and have only replaced tyres once and 299.00 on disc pads in 2011 MOTs. Same exhaust odd bulb oil/filter and every winter, a new set of heater plugs. What a truck and I am out lamping twice a week and never got stuck. The toe bar socket hanging down is the worst thing that lets it down, steering circle is like a tank - Andrew Kirkland from Derbyshire

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Equipe 2002

I’ve had my 2.5td sport for 18 months now and it’s been an excellent vehicle, I’ve used it as a workhorse with the rear seats down to carry everything from doors to plumbing equipment, bags of sand and cement and everything in between without a single problem. I also use it to pull our twin-axle caravan at approx 1850kg with no complaints. If you can live with around 27-29 mpg and the service intervals this is a great family vehicle and a great workhorse.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Trojan 2.5TD 2008

I have just purchased a Shogun Sport Trojan and I am happy with it up to now. I like the space it offers inside and it does make a fantastic family car. The fuel consumption isn’t too good though! The car itself looks smart and was very good value for money. Titanium grey is a fantastic colour to choose as it shows the cars lines well and makes it look more bulky. Plus I haven’t seen many this colour on the road. I would like to see and have more gadgets inside as the ones it has are quite basic and flimsy. I have had a Toyota MR2 before and like how the Japanese build their engines.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Trojan 2.5 2006

Just swapped my Freelander td4 for this and up to now very happy! Fuel consumption not quite as good but the room more than makes up for it. I have 2 dogs and there is room a plenty for them to nosy about and lie down. Interior trim is basic after the Freelander (had heated seats windscreen etc) but at least all leather seats. summary great dog /family car with great looks (get a black one they look best!)

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2007

This car is amazing to drive and is great for space. You can fit 4 passengers and 4 dogs in the boot - you couldn’t ask for a better car for the money. It is also very good looking and stylish.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2003

I drive many different types of car for a living, but it is always a relief to get in my Shogun at the end of a long day. Never has a car seat and general driving position felt so right - and I truly mean this. It IS slow (well with only 114 bhp to pull 2 tonnes it was never going to be fast was it?), nevertheless I know that whatever the weather I WILL get home - its grip with ’proper’ tyres is amazing. True, it is very truck-like, but that is perhaps because it unashamedly IS a truck (with all the tough mechanicals that go into making one). I always get 30mpg if I’m careful to limit myself to a maximum 3000rpm, this gives me reasonable performance. You soon get used to it’s mammoth size and parking isn’t too bad. Of course, being a Mitsubishi it is reliable, but I do think what they expect you to pay for servicing it is a joke. Over all, it ’does what it says on the tin’ but if ever a car needed a six-speed gearbox this is it. I am forever going for the extra gear it so desperately needs! A good honest vehicle but definitely no dragster.

Responses to this review

I agree it could do with a 6th gear or an overdrive option. I had my Shogun Sport (53 plate) for 3 yrs, the only thing that went wrong was the alternator and the main crank pulley (rubber disintegrated) but it had done 178k by the time they went - Shaun Smith from Somerset

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport

This car offers a lot of car for the money, but does not offer the same level of space, quality or image as more expensive rivals. Very good car though for only a snip over £20,000 new.