Mitsubishi Shogun Sport SUV - Engines, drive & performance (2018-2021)

Mitsubishi has fitted a more sophisticated rear suspension setup to the Shogun Sport compared with the one in the L200 in the hope of making it better to drive and more comfortable. This has resulted in a smoother ride relative to the pickup, but it’s not particularly poised or settled generally. The steering is numb and it’s difficult to place the Shogun Sport accurately on the road.

While it’s a big, heavy car that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to offer much in the way of driver engagement, it’s still worth pointing out that the ‘Sport’ in Shogun Sport is definitely a misnomer. It’s only off-road where the car feels capable and truly competent.

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport diesel engine

The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport uses a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that supplies 179bhp and gets the car from 0-62mph in 11 seconds. It’s the same engine used in the Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck, and it shows; it’s fairly unrefined and feels a little agricultural in the Sport.

14

At least a new the eight-speed automatic gearbox is a lot smoother than the engine. It sends power to the rear wheels to save fuel, but can send it to all four when the terrain demands it. The Shogun Sport can also be put into a low-range setting, with locking central and rear differentials for enhanced off-road performance.

Off-road is where the Shogun Sport feels most capable; the car’s equipped with a terrain selector system with modes for loose gravel, snow and mud, sandy and rocky surfaces. Wading depth is a useful 700mm, too. This aspect of the Shogun Sport’s performance is a good thing if you plan on off-roading or using the car in muddy fields frequently, but less so if, like most SUVs, the car will be used on the road most of the time.