© JAMES TAYLOR
Editor: Land Rover Enthusiast Magazine

BACKGROUND

The second-generation Shogun which was introduced in 1991 was a very clever piece of product development. It retained all the strengths of its predecessors, but dressed them up in more aerodynamic and contemporary styling and added improved equipment levels. The package allowed the range to be moved further upmarket in many territories, including the UK, yet without losing the market base on which it had built its reputation. With the arrival in 1994 of the top-specification 3.5-litre V6 models, the Shogun moved into direct competition with the Toyota Land Cruiser VX and the Range Rover in the luxury 4x4 market, while the cheaper models remained competitive in the family estate market where the first-generation Shoguns had been so successful.

However, there is a far greater variety of Shogun models available worldwide than appears in British showrooms, and in most territories the vehicle has retained the Pajero name. The full model range includes variants such as a high-roof LWB estate and a SWB cabriolet, and of course equipment levels vary from country to country. So it was that the British importers were quickly able to bring in cheaper models at the beginning of 1995 when the market seemed to demand it. The importers claim that the Shogun would sell even more strongly in the UK if sales were not limited to around 3,600 examples a year by the quota agreement.

All Shoguns were upgraded at the beginning of 1994, with both mechanical and cosmetic improvements.

Character summary

The Shogun is a deliberately stylish 4x4, with an aggressive appearance on top models as a result of its wide wheelarches. These are absent from base-model LWB examples. The styling translates less successfully into SWB form, and the three-door models tend to look rather dumpy and foreshortened.
High equipment levels on top models and very comfortable seats right across the range make these very good road vehicles. The LWB estates have light and spacious interiors and are ideally suited as family vehicles; they also make excellent tow cars. However, they do feel rather large and cumbersome, even when fitted with the full complement of driving aids including automatic transmission and power-assisted steering.

Performance summary

The second-generation Shoguns continue the tradition established by their predecessors of being easy to drive. The V6 petrol engines give very good road performance, and the 3.5-litre V6 (also seen in the Mitsubishi 3000GT sports coupe) is a particularly smooth, refined and powerful unit. The later 2.8-litre turbodiesel is also an excellent engine, though it naturally lacks the sparkle of the big petrol engines.

On the road, these vehicles feel very stable, with good cornering abilities. The complicated Super Select transmission takes some time to understand, but presents no actual difficulties (it allows four-wheel drive to be selected on the move and automatically locks the centre differential if wheelspin threatens; the rear differential can be locked separately). As with earlier Shoguns, rearward visibility is poor if the occasional seats are in their stowed positions.

Off-road, a lack of wheel articulation at the front is the Shogun's biggest failing. The SWB models are, of course, more able than the LWB estates. The V6 petrol engines are biased towards road use and are not over-endowed with bottom-end torque although the y are perfectly adequate for most situations. The 2.8-litre turbodiesel, on the other hand, is an excellent engine for off-road use.

Reliability, weaknesses, spares

The second-generation Shoguns are built to an impressively high standard and have so far shown up no serious weaknesses. Spares are available only through Mitsubishi dealers and can be rather expensive. A wide range of accessories can be bought through dealerships.

Resale values

The second-generation Shoguns - LWB models in particular - are widely liked, and used examples do not linger long in the showrooms. Resale values are firm and will probably continue to be so for several more years