Euro Mitsubishi Shogun sales end after 37 years
More than 100,000 have been sold in the UK since 1982, but now the Shogun's time has come to an end
Despite never offering the cachet of something like a Land Rover Defender, or even a Toyota Land Cruiser come to think of it, the Mitsubishi Shogun has endured, endearing itself to buyers with a blend of sturdiness, dependability and go-anywhere ruggedness. It's been doing that for 37 years in the UK, in fact, but with European production ending, so the Shogun's time on sale has come to an end.
Since 1982, Mitsubishi UK has sold 114,164 Shoguns across four generations. The current model has been on sale since 2006 in various guises and, though it's fallen short of the class best for a while, has continued in the Shogun mould of off-road prowess, chunky towing ability and near-faultless reliability. It represents another of the breed of unpretentious, simple off-roaders that has suffered with the rise of the SUV. The white car you see here is the last Shogun to be imported - a SWB Barbarian - one that shall remain on Mitsubishi's heritage fleet.
Most on PH will surely know the Shogun for the Pajero Evolution of 1997, the legendary homologation special that ostensibly only served to fulfil changed entry requirements for the Dakar rally. In its near four decades on sale, the Shogun triumphed on the gruelling rally no less than 12 times in one form or another.
Those days seem a while ago now, however, the Mitsubishi range now jam-packed with trendier (and probably more competitive) SUVs: the ASX, Eclipse Cross, Outlander and Shogun Sport. We'll bid farewell to the Shogun, then, how we remember it best - demolishing the dunes on the Dakar.
I would imagine most of their sales are the 4x4 pickup
it looks like their ww sales of pajero/shogun have plummeted according to wiki sales data, and i guess that has lead to the discontinuation.
does not leave Mitsubishi selling many cars in the UK now, in fact cannot recall anything else they do sell...
the little colt, ASX- anything else???
A fair few 4x4 type vehicles with overlaps - the Shogun probably fell off the radar and was too expensive.
The mk1 was boxy but quite well equipped inside compared to the competition I seem to recall.
I owned a 93 SWB Mitsubishi Pajero about 10 years ago. Brilliant Car. Mine was running a 2in body lift and 33in Mud Terrarins. Was very capable off road and quite comfortable on it too.
the 2.8TDI engine was super smooth. As smooth as the 2.7TDV6 in my old Discovery 3. Fuel consumption was pretty bad at 20mpg on diesel, but we are talking 1980s tech engines here.
It snowed about three weeks after I bought it and I happily pulled a few people up a local incline and it didn't even brake a sweat. Mine had duel batteries and an optional LSD.
All I did in the time I owned it was fit a decent stereo and repaired a CV boot and changed the fluids. 2in body litf also made it very easy to work on underneath.
3 speed Auto with Overdrive was quite smooth but at the same time a bit low tech. However it is miles better than Mrs Bakerstreet's 2015 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso EGS (Worst gearbox ever)
does not leave Mitsubishi selling many cars in the UK now, in fact cannot recall anything else they do sell...
the little colt, ASX- anything else???
A fair few 4x4 type vehicles with overlaps - the Shogun probably fell off the radar and was too expensive.
The mk1 was boxy but quite well equipped inside compared to the competition I seem to recall.
I suspect the fact these are slow, look quite dated and aren’t a ‘luxury lifestyle vehicle’ is what’s finished them off. The ability to pose about round town and outside the hairdressers in something white, curvy and with bit black wheels sells far more cars than the ability to tow a burger van or go up hilly roads in the snow.
This has to be part of the reason for falling sales.
If they had redesigned and updated it, could it have been more popular?
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