Overall Rating |  |
Pinin is the baby of the Shogun family and tries hard to uphold family standards. It's affordable, quite youthful, good off-road, reliable and fairly tough, but it's compromised by too many imperfections.
For
- Agile mini-4x4 that's good value
- Well built, well equipped, with good reliability
- Easy to drive on- or off-road
Against
- Choppy ride on all but the smoothest roads
- Engine noise, wind noise and road noise
- Thirsty when laden and driven hard
Road Test
Pinin sits between Grand Vitara and RAV-4; classier and costlier than the former, it's less stylish or sporty than the latter. Its attractions are its no-nonsense image, undeniable off-road abilities and excellent reliability.
There's no diesel option, which will discourage some buyers, but the petrol engines - Mitsubishi's efficient GDI direct-injection units of 1.8 and 2.0 litres - are lively and fairly economical, returning 30mpg or more. On-road handling is acceptable, with accurate steering and not too much body roll, but refinement is poor. The ride is choppy and lurchy on both the short-wheelbase three-door car and the larger five-door, which should be smoother as a family-carrier. Noise is ever-present - from wind, engines and road.
Pinin is smaller than RAV-4, so you can't expect huge interior space. The rear seats are cramped on the three-door, and there's less load space. Cabin trim is unimpressive but equipment on all but the cheapest versions is generous.
Need To Know
NCAP: 3
Best Models: 2.0 GDi 5-door
Worst Models: 1.8 MPi 3-door
Alternatives
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Star Ratings
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