IT'S probably the biggest waste of cutting edge technology in everyday use.
Huge off-roaders kitted out with the sort electronic aids that can see you safely up the side of a mountain, yet the most demanding task they ever tackle is negotiating the supermarket car park.
That's one of the reasons why Mitsubishi decided to go back to basics with the latest version of its heavy duty mudplugger the Shogun.
The Shogun Field is a no-nonsense model, aimed at people who use their off-road vehicles as they were intended - for dealing with the rough stuff.
It offers all the wizardry of the Japanese company's 15 other Shogun models but is a little less flashy and more of a workhorse.
There are three and five-door versions costing £23,000 and £27,000 with manual transmission and £28,499 for the tested long wheelbase Field model with auto shift.
And a fine piece of machinery it is too, especially if you stick to the instructions on the can.
The transmission is one of the Shogun's strongpoints and the five-speed INVECS-II auto set-up offers two systems in one - it can learn and adapt to an individual's driving style in fully automatic mode, and also be operated as a clutchless manual shift.
Four-wheel drive is engaged via a separate box and there are four operating modes ranging from two wheel drive that directs the power entirely to the rear wheels up to 4WD for extreme conditions like snow, mud and sand.
To provide the ultimate in adhesion there's also a more recent innovation called M-ASTC which, as the initials suggest, looks after active stability and traction control.
But enough of the jargon, the bottom line is that the Shogun - and to me that means the five-door model - is the real deal if you live in a rural area, follow country pursuits or regularly drive off-road.
If the school pick-up and a trip to the shops are about as wild as it gets then there's no shortage of soft-roaders or luxury sports utility vehicles more suited to the task.
One of the reasons is the Shogun's engine. Make no mistake the 3.2 DI-D direct injection diesel is a fine unit, and surprisingly economical considering the weight it has to propel, but it's also noisy and lacks any real acceleration.
And while it cruises nicely once up to speed, it isn't the most nimble of vehicles.
What buyers do get though is a raft of kit, sensible interior layout, terrific load space and, in the case of long wheelbase models, a pair of extra forward-facing seats that can be simply folded into an underfloor compartment or removed altogether.
An overall feel of prestige is conveyed by the tough leather seats and dark walnut inlays while equipment includes electric sunroof, climate control, premium CD sound system and roof rails.
FAST FACTS
Mitsubishi Shogun Field LWB 3.2DI-D auto
Price: £28,499
Mechanical: 158bhp, 3,200cc, direct injection diesel engine driving all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 106mph
0-62mph: 13.8 secs
Combined mpg: 26.9
Insurance group: 16
CO2 emissions: 251g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 6yrs anti-rust; 6yrs paint