Well on the way to “classic in its own lifetime”, Mitsubishi’s veteran 4x4 Shogun has been revised for 2012 and given a makeover. Just before Christmas too, the company’s ‘UK Dealer of the Year’ was announced and the winner was Smithy Garage, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Meirionnydd-Gwynedd.
Founded by JH Roberts, Blacksmith and Farrier, who began the move into the motor trade in 1939, the business is now run by his sons John, David and Einion. Smithy Garage earned a clear 5 star score in aftersales and customer support throughout the assessment period with 95%-100% of customers saying they would recommend the dealership to family and friends.
Founded by JH Roberts, Blacksmith and Farrier, who began the move into the motor trade in 1939, the business is now run by his sons John, David and Einion. Smithy Garage earned a clear 5 star score in aftersales and customer support throughout the assessment period with 95%-100% of customers saying they would recommend the dealership to family and friends.
But this was no “one-off”, the Meirionnydd company has a very full Mitsubishi trophy cabinet including European Dealership of the Year for 2004/2005 and top European Aftersales Award for 2008. “Aftersales and customer support is the key factor in setting a business apart” said John Roberts, “for us a customer is just as important after handing over the keys as in the run-up to closing the deal”.
John himself worked the petrol pumps at the garage from the age of 11 in 1960 – the year when the ‘Smithy’ turned over full-time to motor cars. “You couldn’t do that today”, he says, but it was a significant date, “I remember my father remarking that he hadn’t shod one horse during the whole of 1959”. “Tro ar fyd” as we say in Welsh – how the world had changed.
Having dealt in both Rootes Group (Humber, Hillman, Singer, Sunbeam) and British Leyland cars, the firm decided to take on the Mitsubishi franchise in 1976. It has never looked back.
Initially a joint venture with the Colt Car Company, the Japanese company’s UK arm remains at Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Closer to the countryside, perhaps, it has certainly been more successful in creating a Land Rover-like up-market rural image than its more obvious Japanese rivals, Toyota and Nissan.
The current Shogun line dates from 1981 with new cars in 1991 and 2006. The 3.2 litre 200 bhp Diesel arrived in 2009 – a four cylinder engine with a shedload of torque. Headline change for 2012 was rendering this unit Euro V compliant.
CO2 improvements range from 14% for the manual (213g/km) to 20% for the automatic (224g/km). Choice of SWB three door (5 seat) or LWB 5 door (7 seat) remains and (official) fuel consumption figures are better too: 36.2 mpg (30.7 mpg previously - 3 door); 33.2mpg (26.7 mpg previously – 5 door).
The old Equippe, Elegance and Diamond model names have gone to be succeeded by SG2, SG3 and SG4 (5 door LWB: £32,129-£40,999) but “Warrior” remains with cheaper SG2 for 3 door SWB variants (£29,499-£32,599).
Trim and bodywork has been smartened up and equipment levels improved: SatNav comes with every model apart from cheapest SG2 now but the gearbox (manual or automatic) remains a five-speed affair unfortunately rather than six.
The Shogun however remains a proper dual-purpose 4x4 – high and low ratio gears together with a centre differential lock. ABS braking and ESP stability control is there of course and this electronic input aids the inherent low-ratio compression engine braking when descending steep or slippery slopes.
Mitsubishi calls its 4x4 system “SuperSelect” – it offers rear wheel drive high ratio for on-road cruising in good conditions and 4x4 High if things deteriorate or for a more ‘press-on’ driving style. This can cope with a fair range of off-road activity too and torque-split front/rear is 33/67 varying up to 50-50 as required.
Switching from 4x2H to 4x4H can take place without stopping at speeds up to 60mph. In addition 4x4HLc locks the centre differential for more difficult terrain and 4x4LLc engages both low ratio and CDL for the really severe stuff.
It’s not just a fit-for-business drivetrain either. Alrthough no longer a body on frame (separate chassis) construction, such as Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol and Pathfinder, a chassis-equivalent has been integrated into the bodywork for extra strength. Braked trailer maximum is 3,500kg (3,300kg SWB).
By contemporary standards the Shogun is tall and relatively narrow (no bad thing in a tight car park) and it can feel like an old-school ‘top-heavy’ 4x4 at times.Handling and ride quality is not bad at all but this is basically still a tough long-life vehicle which reminds you of that if you hit a pothole or bump at any speed.
Cheaper by and large, Shogun’s asking prices do approach basic versions of the more modern and sophisticated Volkswagen Touareg or Land Rover Discovery. It retains a strong appeal and loyal following however due in large part to its overall comfort, equipment, practicality and credibility as a very capable 4x4.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the National Farmers Union of Wales.
John himself worked the petrol pumps at the garage from the age of 11 in 1960 – the year when the ‘Smithy’ turned over full-time to motor cars. “You couldn’t do that today”, he says, but it was a significant date, “I remember my father remarking that he hadn’t shod one horse during the whole of 1959”. “Tro ar fyd” as we say in Welsh – how the world had changed.
Having dealt in both Rootes Group (Humber, Hillman, Singer, Sunbeam) and British Leyland cars, the firm decided to take on the Mitsubishi franchise in 1976. It has never looked back.
Initially a joint venture with the Colt Car Company, the Japanese company’s UK arm remains at Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Closer to the countryside, perhaps, it has certainly been more successful in creating a Land Rover-like up-market rural image than its more obvious Japanese rivals, Toyota and Nissan.
The current Shogun line dates from 1981 with new cars in 1991 and 2006. The 3.2 litre 200 bhp Diesel arrived in 2009 – a four cylinder engine with a shedload of torque. Headline change for 2012 was rendering this unit Euro V compliant.
CO2 improvements range from 14% for the manual (213g/km) to 20% for the automatic (224g/km). Choice of SWB three door (5 seat) or LWB 5 door (7 seat) remains and (official) fuel consumption figures are better too: 36.2 mpg (30.7 mpg previously - 3 door); 33.2mpg (26.7 mpg previously – 5 door).
The old Equippe, Elegance and Diamond model names have gone to be succeeded by SG2, SG3 and SG4 (5 door LWB: £32,129-£40,999) but “Warrior” remains with cheaper SG2 for 3 door SWB variants (£29,499-£32,599).
Trim and bodywork has been smartened up and equipment levels improved: SatNav comes with every model apart from cheapest SG2 now but the gearbox (manual or automatic) remains a five-speed affair unfortunately rather than six.
The Shogun however remains a proper dual-purpose 4x4 – high and low ratio gears together with a centre differential lock. ABS braking and ESP stability control is there of course and this electronic input aids the inherent low-ratio compression engine braking when descending steep or slippery slopes.
Mitsubishi calls its 4x4 system “SuperSelect” – it offers rear wheel drive high ratio for on-road cruising in good conditions and 4x4 High if things deteriorate or for a more ‘press-on’ driving style. This can cope with a fair range of off-road activity too and torque-split front/rear is 33/67 varying up to 50-50 as required.
Switching from 4x2H to 4x4H can take place without stopping at speeds up to 60mph. In addition 4x4HLc locks the centre differential for more difficult terrain and 4x4LLc engages both low ratio and CDL for the really severe stuff.
It’s not just a fit-for-business drivetrain either. Alrthough no longer a body on frame (separate chassis) construction, such as Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol and Pathfinder, a chassis-equivalent has been integrated into the bodywork for extra strength. Braked trailer maximum is 3,500kg (3,300kg SWB).
By contemporary standards the Shogun is tall and relatively narrow (no bad thing in a tight car park) and it can feel like an old-school ‘top-heavy’ 4x4 at times.Handling and ride quality is not bad at all but this is basically still a tough long-life vehicle which reminds you of that if you hit a pothole or bump at any speed.
Cheaper by and large, Shogun’s asking prices do approach basic versions of the more modern and sophisticated Volkswagen Touareg or Land Rover Discovery. It retains a strong appeal and loyal following however due in large part to its overall comfort, equipment, practicality and credibility as a very capable 4x4.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the National Farmers Union of Wales.
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