Skip advert
Advertisement

New Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2018 review

Seven-seat Mitsubishi Shogun Sport returns to the UK, but can’t match rivals for comfort or economy

Overall Auto Express rating

2.0

How we review cars
Find your Mitsubishi Shogun Sport
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

It's hard to recommend the new Mitsubishi Shogun Sport as a seven-seat SUV. Rivals are more comfortable, more economical and better to drive, and it looks expensive alongside cars like the accomplished Kia Sorento. The third row offers a decent amount of space, however, and it’s adept off-road – but this is a rural workhorse rather than true family SUV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport is back in Britain, and while the Japanese firm’s focus will remain on its smaller crossover offerings, the seven-seat SUV occupies important territory for the brand. It’s a rival for cars like the Kia Sorento and Land Rover Discovery Sport, spun off the same platform as the popular L200 pick-up truck.

Style-wise, however, the Shogun Sport distances itself from its commercial cousin. It uses design cues from the Eclipse Cross, and a boasts a subtly restyled cabin. The unrefined 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine remains, developing 179bhp and 430Nm of torque.

Best family car to buy in 2018

Thankfully, the Shogun Sport ditches the pick-up’s leaf spring rear suspension setup in favour of a more complex multi-link arrangement. Yet that doesn’t mean that the Shogun rides particularly well. There’s more than a whiff of pick-up truck choppiness, and it struggles to settle unless the road is completely smooth. On country lanes the car reveals its agricultural origins, picking out lumps and bumps all too often. It’s more composed at motorway speeds, but wind noise is an issue.

The steering can’t quite lift the Shogun Sport’s dynamic appeal, either. There’s little feel through the wheel, and even slow corners leave you guessing as to how much lock to apply.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Off-road this is a capable car, though. Equipped with Mitsubishi’s Super Select II all-wheel-drive system, low-range gearbox and locking differentials, the Shogun Sport can tackle just about anything you throw at it. A terrain selector system is standard, too, with different modes for gravel, snow and mud, sand and rocky surfaces. Wading depth comes in at an impressive 700mm, and it’ll tow a 3.5-tonne braked trailer.

The new eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels in its default 2H mode, however. Bosses suggest this should save fuel, though the quoted 32.8mpg official fuel economy is still pretty poor – lagging behind the latest SsangYong Rexton.

Inside, the Shogun Sport’s cabin is robust rather than luxurious, and even though the seven-inch infotainment display boasts smartphone link apps as standard, it is far from cutting edge. The display is blurry, and the old-school menu layout gives it a dated appearance.

There’s more than enough room for a couple of children to be comfortable in the third row, mind, and even smaller adults won’t feel too claustrophobic. Assembling and accessing that row is fairly straightforward, but it’s quite a step up to get up and into the very back of the car. There’s a 503-litre boot with five seats in place, expanding to 1,488 litres with the second row folded. Rivals are bigger, however.

Two high-specification trims are offered in Britain, with all models boasting a decent equipment list with leather seats as standard. The range topping Shogun Sport 4 gets adaptive cruise control, a host of driver assists and safety features, plus electrically-operated and heated front seats.

There’s no denying it’s expensive, though; at £39,775, this is well-specced Discovery Sport money. It could fare better on a monthly PCP deal though thanks to a £1,000 dealer deposit contribution. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,155Avg. savings £2,019 off RRP*Used from £15,299
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £15,940Avg. savings £2,827 off RRP*Used from £9,000
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,155Avg. savings £1,844 off RRP*Used from £8,199
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: VW Golf GTI hot hatch legend for a very cool price
Volkswagen Golf GTI - front corner right

Car Deal of the Day: VW Golf GTI hot hatch legend for a very cool price

The Golf GTI has skilfully combined racy performance with everyday useability for nearly 50 years. It’s our Deal of the Day for 10 February
News
10 Feb 2025
The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027
Fiat Panda Cross - front static

The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027

Fiat will build a new city-sized Pandina based on the new 500 platform, bringing a proper, petrol powered A-segment city car to market as early as 202…
News
12 Feb 2025