A thoroughbred effort from a pedigree brand
Mitsubishi Motors promises that grand destinations await with the all-new Destinator. So much so that the car continually plays adventure videos of people mountain biking, canoeing and hiking on the infotainment screen. Some of us found that interesting. Others thought it quite odd.
Which left the office split. And not quite expecting what was to come. See, the past two Mitsus we’ve had never quite overwhelmed us. So we thought what’s this? Smoke and mirrors? Happily it was definitely not. Because this boxy, or monolithic, as they call Destinator, went on to surprise us. And in the best of ways too
To start with, Mitsubishi is a thoroughbred badge. Over 155 years old, one Yataro Iwasaki founded the Mitsubishi shipping line in 1870. Forty-seven years later, Mitsubishi built Japan’s first car, the Model A in 1917. Its kamikaze Zero fighters scared the wits out of the Allies in World War 2. But more recently, it’s all-wheel drive rally Lancers and raid Pajeros ruled motorsport on dirt towards the end of the last millennium.
Destinator is a Mitsubishi through and through
Today it’s part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. And let’s just say the first few triple-diamond vehicles to seep out of that may not have met with our lofty expectations of the brand. Nothing really wrong at all. But lacking good old Mitsubishi brilliance. So cue the arrival of this perhaps worryingly tagged Destinator, All that history considered!
Interestingly, however, unlike several recent siblings, the Destinator does not share any Nissan or Renault geneses. This one’s all-Mitsu. Built on a stretched version of its own regional architecture shared with the Outlander Sport and Xpander. It also has a unique drivetrain, powered by Mitsubishi’s own 120 kW 250 Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged 4B40 engine.
Developed in Indonesia as a bargain seven-seater SUV, Destinator is sold in the ASEAN markets, Latin America and right here on sunny South Africa. Starting this side of four hundred and ninety grand, you’ll drop R569K for this Exceed. Which is slap bang in the middle of that alphabet soup of relatively completely unknown and unproven cars out of the Land of the Copy Watch.
This 1500 runs like a two-point-five
First off, don’t be fooled by that little 1.5-litre turbocharged engine. Once again, square in the middle of those rival engines produced by the million in secret Chinese sweat shops, unlike them, this genuine Mitsubishi unit needs little introduction. Not that there’s anything wrong with the others, but where do they come from?
Best of all, this 120 kW 250 Nm lump runs like we once expected from a 2.5 litre. While using as much fuel as a 1500 should. A second generation unit, it brings a new cooling system and watercooled intercooler to benefit both performance and fuel efficiency.
Turning the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission, performance is pretty impressive as you may notice in the box below.
Torquey, punchy and responsive in town, it pulls well when asked on the open road and overtakes easily. The CVT seems invisible in regular running but becomes as intrusive as any other when you push. Suspension is plush rather than performance, so expect a bit of body roll when asking. It’s a most comfortable car in regular driving.
Destinator is a bargain 7-seater
That thanks to MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension backed by Active Yaw Control and five Normal, Wet, Gravel, Mud and Tarmac driving modes. Not that it’s a 4x4, but Destinator has class-leading of 214 mm ground clearance and favourable 21.0 degrees approach, 20.8 degree break-over and 25.5 degree departure angles. Just in case!
ADAS safety technology includes latest active and passive driver assistance systems and six airbags to earn the Destinator a maximum five-star 2025 ASEAN NCAP rating. This Exceed adds a multi around view monitor, rear view camera with parking sensors, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, tyre pressure monitoring system and an electric parking brake and cruise control
A three row seven seater with air conditioning vents in all three rows, the driver gets a power adjustable seat, a multifunction steering wheel and eight-inch digital dials. The rear pews all fold down in a 40:20:40 and 50:50 split for infinite seating configurations to cater for every family or load need. The power tailgate comes with hands-free foot gesticulation opening, memory height and anti-pinch .
A pleasant surprise, all in all
The well animated 12.3-inch Smartphone-link display has cool Dynamic Yamaha Sound audio and a wireless charger console tray. Creature comforts include a panoramic sunroof, 65 colour ambient lighting and dual-zone climate control. Add driver and passenger pockets, a seatback table and 25 storage spaces ready to gobble up your goodies.
All in all we were pleasantly surprised by the Mitsubishi Destinator. A well-priced, keenly positioned and well thought out car, it comes from a thoroughbred manufacturer. Among a sea of totally unknown brands and models that sound more like toothpaste or a toilet detergent, this Mitsubishi even has a really great name. Destinator! Think of it like that and it makes so much more sense! – Michele Lupini
Road testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Mitsubishi Destinator 1.5T Exceed
Engine: 120 kW 250 Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol I4
Drive: CVT FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.68 sec
0-100 km/h: 8.27 sec
0-120 km/h: 11.65 sec
0-160 km/h: 22.27 sec
400m: 16.0 sec @ 140 km/h
80-120 km/h: 6.01 sec
120-160 km/h: 10.61 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 190 km/h
Fuel: 7.2 l/100 km
CO2: 172 g/km
Range: 625 km
Warranty/Service: 5y unl./5y 75K km
LIST PRICE: R569K
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