- Mitsubishi Destinator is a FWD, seven-seat SUV launching first in Indonesia on July 23.
- It features a 1.5-litre turbo producing 120kW/250 Nm, paired exclusively with a CVT.
- Interior includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Yamaha audio system and full ADAS suite.
Mitsubishi has pulled the covers off a fresh contender in the ever-expanding SUV arena: meet the Destinator.
Despite its bold, Pajero-esque styling, this isn’t a revival of the iconic off-roader. Instead, the Destinator charts its own course as a front-wheel-drive, seven-seat SUV developed specifically for ASEAN markets.
Billed as the production version of last year’s DST concept, the Destinator is underpinned by the same platform as the smaller Xforce. But it ups the ante with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 120kW and 250Nm, channelled exclusively through a CVT to the front wheels.
That drivetrain setup, while no match for rock-crawling, is backed by five selectable drive modes, generous ground clearance, and a comfort-biased suspension, enough to tackle uneven roads and unpredictable weather with ease.
Bold face, bigger base
While some may mistake it for a camouflaged Pajero mule, the Destinator wears its own identity.
The new SUV sports a bold grille, aggressive LED lighting and sculpted lines straight from the concept sketchpad, though toned down slightly for production, with chunkier pillars and tamer bumpers.
At 4680 mm long and riding on a 2815 mm wheelbase, it’s a touch shorter than the Outlander, but with a longer wheelbase promising improved cabin stretch.
Inside, the seven-seat layout caters to growing families, albeit with a caveat: Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed boot space figures, but with all seats up, don’t expect a lot of room for cargo. Fold the second and third rows flat, and the picture improves significantly.
Gadget count: modest but modern
Tech-wise, the digital cockpit is serviceable, if slightly more conservative than the concept hinted at. You’ll find a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster nestled in a gloss-black frame.
Extras include a Yamaha-branded premium audio system, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof and Mitsubishi’s latest suite of advanced driver assistance features.
The Destinator will make its public debut at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show on July 23, with Indonesian sales starting immediately. Wider rollouts are planned for Vietnam, the Philippines, South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. All units will be built at Mitsubishi’s Krama Yudha facility in Indonesia.
Whether it can live up to the name or shake off inevitable Pajero comparisons remains to be seen. But as a value-driven, road-friendly family haulier, the Destinator seems ready to go the distance.
