Mitsubishi Shogun — March 2007

Date: Sunday, April 1, 2007

Now available solely as a short-wheelbase, three-door model it benefits from a redesigned exterior and cab, as well as gaining the latest version of the excellent 3.2-litre turbodiesel, complete with common rail injection.

This 3,200cc 16-valve DOHC powerplant produces a healthy 158 bhp (3,800rpm), but more importantly it develops peak torque of 281 lb/ft at 2,000rpm when mated to the five-speed manual transmission. Go for the five-speed automatic option with sequential 'Sports Mode' (£1,276) and the outputs are 168 bhp and 275 lb/ft. All prices exclude VAT.

The four-wheel drive system is retained from the previous generation models and features a centre viscous coupling which can be locked for tackling extreme off-road conditions in high and low range.

Shogun's chassis has been stiffened and the suspension uprated, resulting in a 20 per cent reduction in cornering roll, improved steering feel and response and a more neutral stance during high speed cornering.

Solid disc brakes are utilised all-round and ABS is fitted as standard, along with a stability and traction control system.

Load Area

Take the rear seating out of a three-door Shogun and you're left with a load area 1,290mm long, 1,070mm high and 1,390mm wide, narrowing to 1,090mm between the wheel boxes.

There's a single rear door, hinged on the offside, which carries the spare wheel on its outside and offers a loading aperture 1,010mm high when opened. Gross vehicle weight is 2,665kg, gross payload is 580kg — which equates to 500kg once a driver is aboard — and it's capable of towing a braked trailer weighing 2,800kg.

Well Equipped

Despite being based on the base specification passenger Shogun Equippe, the £19,439 Commercial comes with remote central locking, an alarm, climate control, radio/CD player, 17in alloy wheels, twin front and side airbags, and electric windows and heated door mirrors.

As with all Mitsubishi products the Shogun Commercial comes with a three-year unlimited mileage mechanical warranty, but the diesel requires disappointingly frequent servicing; like the new Outlander it's every 9,000 miles.

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