Review: Mitsubishi Shogun SWB Barbarian

The Mitsubishi Shogun is something of a cult hero in off-roading circles, mentioned in reverent hushed tones alongside the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Isuzu Trooper.

In all honesty, it hasn’t changed much over the years, but Mitsubishi recently launched the new, £31,999, top-spec SWB Barbarian, which should add a bit of luxury to an otherwise utilitarian workhorse.

Imposing

The Shogun is nothing if not imposing. The short wheelbase model may only be a few millimetres longer than a Ford Focus, but it’s 1.87m tall and the same width, making it taller and wider than the swollen beast that is the current Range Rover.

It isn’t just the size that gives this, the baby Shogun, so much presence. Those huge, dark alloy wheels, the chrome grille and the bright headlights give the car a bling factor akin to that of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. It certainly isn’t a car other road users will argue with, even if they drive a Porsche Cayenne.

The chunky looks, though, serve a purpose other than scaring other road users into giving way. It’s very handy when the Shogun leaves the beaten track.

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Luxuries

Rugged off-roader the Shogun may be, but the modern 4x4 driver’s tastes are more for first-class comfort than functionality. That’s where this Barbarian trim comes in, offering luxuries like full leather, satellite navigation, cruise control and a rear view camera.

It all sounds great, but there are one or two issues.

The biggest problem is the quality of the cabin, which lags behind the bigger manufacturers like Land Rover and Toyota.

While the leather is soft and everything feels well stuck together, some of the plastics are hard and brittle, giving away the fact that the Barbarian is a utilitarian tractor in a party frock.

The competence of the options is also in question, with the Kenwood infotainment screen managing a multitude of functions and offering a fantastic range of customisation.

For example, it is perfectly possible to adjust the speakers so the surround sound focuses on one particular occupant, but try doing it. The system is so fiddly and lethargic that it is a nightmare to use, especially once you’re underway.

Other problems include the rear seatbelts, the mounting points for which are set too far forwards, so though the lap strap part has some use, the crossbelt bit hovers about three inches in front of your chest doing absolutely nothing.

Ideal for off-road driving

Under the bonnet sits a 197bhp four-cylinder diesel engine, which doesn’t sound especially impressive. However, rather than the 2.0-litre displacement you might expect, the Shogun’s engine is a massive 3.2-litre unit which produces an impressive 441Nm, ideal for off-road driving.

The torque also makes the Shogun fairly rapid, with the manual sprinting to 62mph in a respectable 9.7 seconds, although the lack of top-end power means top speed is just 111mph.

Fuel economy, however, does suffer. The official specs say manual SWB Barbarians will manage 36mpg while the automatic will do 34, but in reality a figure in the mid-to-high twenties is more realistic.

To add insult to injury, the CO2 emissions of 207g/km (216g/km for the automatic) put the Shogun in VED band K, which costs an eye-watering £285 per year. Company car drivers are no better off, thanks to a BIK tax rate of 35%.

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Sending the power to the wheels is one of two gearboxes – either a manual or automatic, both with five speeds – and a transfer box, which allows the driver to choose between two- and four-wheel drive and lock the centre differential.

Capable

The Shogun’s off-road ability is legendary, and rest assured that the SWB Shogun is as capable as ever.

Granted, 210mm of ground clearance may not sound like much, but because this is the short wheelbase model, the ramp breakover angle is two degrees sharper than the long wheelbase model and the short overhangs ensure approach and departure angles are better, too. The height even allows for a wading depth of 70cm – a whole 20cm more than the Defender.

On the road, however, the Shogun is less accomplished. The height and suspension travel which are so useful off-road suddenly count against it through the corners, where it pitches and rolls alarmingly.

The brakes, too, leave something to be desired in terms of stopping power. The Shogun is a big car with a kerb weight of almost 2.1 tonnes, but the brakes are just 300mm discs (290mm at the front), so the middle pedal isn’t as responsive as you might hope.

Though the small brake discs may make for a slightly hair-raising experience when you slam on the anchors, they do at least allow for smaller wheels shod in off-road tyres to be fitted.

Both gearboxes are five-speed units, but the Shogun could really do with a sixth gear, especially considering its sub-standard fuel economy. That’s not to say they aren’t decent transmissions, though. The automatic in the test car was surprisingly smooth, especially when changing between higher ratios.

The verdict

The Barbarian trim level can’t hide the fact that the Shogun is really an out-and-out mud-plugger, but it has more creature comforts than a top-of-the-range Defender 90, not to mention more presence and a little less of a rural image. If you want a luxury SUV, though, look elsewhere.

Mitsubishi Shogun Barbarian at a glance

For:

+ Off-road capability
+ Plenty of kit
+ Imposing stance

Against:

- Poor fuel economy
- Unresponsive brakes
- Body roll

Vital stats

Length: 4385mm
Width: 1875mm (excl. mirrors)
Height: 1870mm
Wheelbase: 2545mm
Boot space: Max 1120 litres
Powertrain: 3.2-litre four-cylinder diesel – 197bhp, 440Nm (5-spd man/auto)
0-62mph: 9.7 seconds (10.4 auto)
Top speed: 111mph
Combined fuel economy: 36.2mpg (34.4 auto)
CO2: 207g/km (216g/km auto)