The 2024 Philippine International Motor Show was memorable for one thing – it’s the first time that a concept car had its debut on Philippine soil. Mitsubishi unveiled the Mitsubishi DST Concept that had the world abuzz. In what many thought was a replacement or all-new design for the Montero turned out to be a unibody 7-seater car that was bigger than the Xpander.
Now, Mitsubishi made things official. The all-new Mitsubishi Destinator is a midsize 7-seater SUV that’s built with a unibody design, much like the Xpander and Xforce. The name comes from the brand’s aspiration that the car will inspire its owners to chase after new destinations with confidence.
“This marks the third global strategic model born in Indonesia, following the Xpander crossover MPV and the Xforce compact SUV, and it will be marketed globally with a focus on the ASEAN region,” said Takao Kato, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors.
The all-new Destinator will sit between the Xpander and Montero in terms of size. It’s 4,680mm long and 1,780mm tall. It’s a bit wider than the Montero at 1,840mm (Montero at 1,815mm). Despite the shorter length, the Destinator has a wheelbase of 2,815mm while sitting 214mm above ground, compared to the Montero’s 2,800mm wheelbase and 218mm ground clearance.
Mitsubishi remained faithful to the aesthetic of the DST Concept, as the Destinator retains almost all the design cues of the concept car. The front has an upward L-shaped Daytime Running Lights, vertical lighting underneath with the headlights hidden beside it, and an imposing grille with honeycomb design.
The side profile still has chiseled shoulders that emphasize the all-black alloy wheels. Its C-pillar is smartly hidden with its black finish, leading to a floating roof design. Meanwhile, the rear tailgate gets a DESTINATOR emblem that further adds to the edge of the car.
Inside, the cabin of the Destinator is reminiscent of the Xforce’s, with a few revisions in shape. The corner air vents are not as connected visually to the door panel, while the dashboard has a different shape and material. The center air vents are also in a different shape, while the aircon controls under it and the center console are mostly similar. It also has a 2-tone interior as anything below the window line is in black, and those above it in white.
The Destinator improved upon the practical touches present on the Xpander and Xforce. It has a compartment under the cargo floor, the second row center armrest doubles as a gateway for the cargo area, and the front seats have a pocket for a smartphone on the upper section. What’s unique to the Destinator are the pull-out trays behind the front seats, and the air vents on the ceiling. There’s also an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the and Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium system.
Mitsubishi surprised us with the powertrain of the Destinator. During the first drive of the Xforce, they said they’re not developing a turbocharged engine for the car (despite its sporty nature). Surprise, surprise, the Destinator comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4B40 engine but it was derived from the Eclipse Cross and Outlander. It produces 161 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, paired to a CVT. It’s accompanied by 5 Drive Modes named Normal, Wet, Tarmac, Gravel, and Mud. Mitsubishi also promises that the suspension is tuned for comfort on ASEAN roads.
Safety is elevated with the arrival of Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing, or Diamond Sense in Indonesia. It includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Mitigation System, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Automatic High Beam, Leading Car Departure Notification, and Multi-Around Monitor along with 6 Airbags.
Sales of the all-new Mitsubishi Destinator will begin on July 23 in Indonesia. There’s no arrival date yet for the Philippines although it could be soon. The Triton pickup’s sales will surely be affected by the Excise Tax and so Mitsubishi Motors Philippines would need a new model to supplement their numbers.
