Mitsubishi Shogun Sport SUV review (2018-2021)

The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport has been revived after over a decade since the previous model. It returns as a seven-seater SUV based on the same platform as the Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck. These origins would seem conducive to a rather workhorse-like SUV that’s better off-road than on, and that’s roughly what the Shogun Sport is.

Rivals include the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Skoda Kodiaq, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Land Cruiser, SsangYong Rexton and the Land Rover Discovery 5+2.

Just one engine is available under the bonnet: the same turbocharged 2.4-litre diesel found in the L200. Its unrefined character is easier to overlook in Mitsubishi’s rugged pickup, but in the Shogun Sport it seems more incongruous, particularly when you look at the alternatives among the competition. What’s more, the 179bhp engine is down on power compared with equivalent rivals and at 33.2mpg, also less economical.

Take a look at our favourite large SUVs

The Shogun Sport isn’t one of the better large SUVs to drive. The ride is often unsettled and the steering is vague; it’s only when you get off-road that it feels composed and capable. The interior is well built and smart, if a little unremarkable, and the car comes with plenty of standard equipment, but while it’s undoubtedly big, it loses out to some rivals when it comes to interior space and boot capacity.

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Sadly for anyone who’s taken by the looks or has a fondness for the Shogun name, the Shogun Sport isn’t a model we can recommend. The choppy ride means it isn’t as comfortable as many rivals, and it isn’t as good to drive as them, either. It’s also beaten by several of the competition in economy and practicality terms. The two-model range tops out at a whisker under £40,000, making the Shogun Sport a fairly expensive proposition, too.

For a more detailed look at the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, read on for the rest of our in-depth review.