Mitsubishi Shogun SWB: Test Drive

Date: 03 August 2007   |   Author:

Category: Small off-roader Prices: £22,649-£31,099 Key rival: Toyota Land Cruiser 3d

It's more than a facelift, says Mitsubishi of its latest Shogun variant, claiming 70% of interior and exterior parts are actually new. The exterior styling, at least, is certainly a distinctive step away from the previous model while the interior is much improved thanks to a new dash.

The Shogun SWB accounts for around a third of sales and is only really rivalled by Toyota's Land Cruiser in terms of butch, capable three-door off-roaders. At 41.6p the cost per mile is slightly higher than the Toyota; although the depreciation figure is more impressive than the Land Cruiser, the rival's lower P11D price means it comes out 1.2ppm less.

The 3.2-litre diesel engine mated to an auto gearbox feels slow and noisy despite claimed decibel improvements to the unit. Despite the car's compact dimensions, it puts out 278g/km of CO2, leaving it very comfortably in the top BIK and VED banding and squarely in the crosshairs of the eco-lobby. The SWB model is also quite impractical, with the rear seats not easy to access and the boot small. But it is a sturdy, reliable 4x4 with real pedigree off-road and as a towing vehicle.

Verdict: A decent workhorse but no rival for latest breed of soft-roaders

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