The Shogun is impressive off-road and benefits from the 3.2-litre diesel's huge amount of pulling power. Gearboxes have low ratios for added grip and the option of a rear differential lock for super-muddy conditions. On-road, however, the engine can struggle to move the weight of the Mitsubishi, so the Shogun feels a little sluggish overtaking.

You could happily spend hours conquering the roughest off-road terrain in the Shogun - the suspension and steering make the Mitsubishi handle extremely well for a car of its size. On-road the ride isn't great, and you won't be boasting about the Shogun's on-Tarmac handling at the pub either.

The Shogun's diesel is a little gruff, but at low off-road speeds it isn't too bad. On-road it's more tiresome, higher speeds generating lots of wind noise around the large door mirrors and upright windscreen. Tyre noise is also evident on Tarmac.

The Shogun's tough reputation is likely to pay off with strong resale values. Fuel consumption is only on a par with the competition, so prepare to throw a lot of juice in the tank over a year. Like its rivals, every Shogun is also in the top 35% company car tax band.

The no-nonsense off-road ethos of the Shogun is evident in the way it's built. Cabin materials are more hard-wearing than classy, but like the rest of the car they feel like they'll easily last the distance. Simple design and engineering should guarantee many a trouble-free mile, on- or off-road.

Traction and stability control systems are standard across the range and aim to keep you out of trouble. Anti-lock brakes come with electronic brakeforce distribution for more stable stopping power. Front, side and curtain airbags are also standard along with keyless entry and alarm.

There's enough adjustment in the driver's seat to get most people comfortable, but the steering wheel adjusts for height only, not reach. All-round visibility is a strong point, while controls are grouped together sensibly and are easy-to-use.

The long wheelbase version is a big car with bags of space. You're unlikely to hear passengers on the first two rows complain about head- or legroom, but the third row seats are best reserved for children. The rear seats tuck away under the boot floor when they're not needed and leave masses of boot space. Short-wheelbase three-doors are, obviously, far less roomy and harder to get into.

All Shoguns have climate control, alloys, MP3-compatible CD player, electric windows and mirrors and keyless entry. Warriors get electrically adjustable and heated leather seats, sat-nav, cruise control, metallic paint and 30GB hard disk for music storage. Elegance cars are fitted with an upgraded stereo and rear air-conditioning while Diamond models are decked out with chrome and 20-inch wheels.