Mitsubishi Shogun Sport 2019 - Is there a place for it in the market?

Want a plush family-sized 7-seat SUV that can really walk the walk as well as talk the talk?

The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport offers buyers looking for a larger mid-sized 7-seat SUV a tougher option that has real off road credibility. To achieve that, Mitsubishi has based this model on their L200 pick-up, but added a bit of stylish crossover sheen.

Background
We've seen the Shogun Sport in the UK before. The first generation version of this model was, like this one, based on the brand's L200 pick-up truck and was launched back in 1998, initially badged as the 'Shogun Challenger', before being re-named a year later the 'Shogun Sport'. This car sold until 2009 in the UK and, though it wasn't replaced for our market, continued in redesigned form in other markets. It's only with the explosion of interest in recent times in SUVs that has made Mitsubishi's UK importers decide to bring the latest version of this car back to our shores.

It fits into the company's SUV range between the Outlander and the full-fat top Shogun model.

Driving Experience
Mid-sized SUVs seem to be everywhere these days, but few of them are much use off a paved surface. That fact doesn't trouble the vast majority of modern family crossover buyers, but a few of them do really want to venture off the beaten track - or perhaps they want to engage in lifestyle activities that might involve things like towing on slippery tracks. It's these people that Mitsubishi are targeting with this Shogun Sport model.

It gets the same 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine you'll find in the current L200 pick-up that also provides all the underpinnings used here - so don't expect pin-sharp handling or a silken ride. Still, this unit produces 181bhp and a decent slug of torque - 430Nm - so this model should be well set for the towing duties that'll be assigned to it by most likely owners. Drive comes via Mitsubishi's Super Select II 4x4 system and a new, eight-speed automatic transmission. The Super Select II set-up allows the driver to switch seamlessly between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive on all terrains. On tarmac, this means that drivers enjoy optimum efficiency in two-wheel drive mode, but can switch to four-wheel drive for extra stability when towing or in slippery driving conditions. The standard specification also includes Hill Descent Control, Trailer Start Assist, Hill Start Assist and a dedicated off-road mode.

Design and Build
The Shogun Sport combines comfortable space for up to seven people with spacious levels of versatility and practicality, offering up to 1,488-litres of carriage capacity with the rear seat folded. Don't expect the third seating row to be really comfortable for adults, but children will be quite happy there. And there's comfortable levels of space in the middle row you'll be using more often.

The front of the cabin shares most of its fixtures and fittings with the L200 pick-up, so don't expect the more up-market feel you'd get in most obvious 7-seat 'D'-segment SUV rivals. Still, it's well equipped and everything should be easy to keep clean and seems to be built to last. The dash varies its hard-wearing plastic with splashes of silver and piano black trim and there's a smart high-mounted touchscreen that includes navigation and an incorporated rear view camera display. Through the leather-stitched wheel, you view a clear set of dials separated by an information display and above that, a graphic designating whether drive is going to all four wheels or only the two at the front.

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