Safe to say in a class of two the Shogun is king, but when the competitor is the loveable, but archaic, Land Rover Defender, it doesn’t sound quite as impressive.
This (relatively) pint-sized 4×4 packs a mighty pull with its ability to haul 2.8 tonnes, and if you ever get stuck in the mud you’ll be so far off the beaten track you’ll need to be good with your smoke signals.
On the road, like the 4×4 it’s based on, it’s less impressive. It’s noisy and imprecise to drive but far better than the previous model. Performance is disappointing, too, bearing in mind there’s a 3.2-litre motor under the bonnet. But even more upsetting is the price – £21,026 plus VAT is serious money, but then again, the Shogun SWB is a serious piece of kit.
Verdict: Expensive, but almost untouchable off-road and a loyal, but unrefined, work mule on.
