If you ever played any rally simulation game on a PlayStation, two cars were always included by default: the Subaru WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO. So, to me, Mitsubishi have always been about the Lancer and the go-anywhere Pajero. Yet, Mitsubishi is more than these two icons. They have an extensive model line-up, including a brand new model that was launched in South Africa recently: the Mitsubishi Destinator.
Looking at its position in the range, I was not expecting the long list of standard equipment I was presented with. There are two models in the range, the GLS, starting at R489 900, and the Exceed, starting at R569 990. For the extra spend on the Exceed, you receive imitation leather seats instead of fabric, a larger infotainment screen, a larger instrumentation cluster, and an eight-speaker Yamaha sound system. The Exceed also features a panoramic sunroof and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat.
Mitsubishi is certainly not a mainstream brand in South Africa, as the sales figures would suggest. However, they remain committed to the South African market. Loyal Mitsubishi customers will notice a slight reshuffling of the model range. As a seven-seater, the Destinator will replace both the Eclipse Cross and the ASX models. In this segment, the rivals are cars like the Chery Tiggo 8 and the more budget-friendly Suzuki Ertiga / Toyota Rumion.
When the car was delivered, I was impressed with the overall styling of the vehicle. The flared wheel arches give it an aggressive stance. Most of the styling cues, like the T-shaped headlights, were borrowed from other models in the range to give the car a distinctive Mitsubishi face. The black cladding above the 18” alloy wheels gives it a hint of ruggedness. Although this is not an off-road vehicle, Mitsubishi actually claims a break-over angle of 20.8 degrees and approach and departure angles of 21 and 25.5 degrees, respectively. Hopefully, with these credentials, we might see an AWD version as well, but for now, the Destinator will be pulling with its front wheels only.
Stepping inside was where I was pleasantly surprised. The seats are incredibly comfortable, and the cabin feels more upmarket than the price would suggest. My only criticism of the interior would be the piano black panel around the gear lever. This surface will show scratches and smudges merely thinking about it.
Other than that, the Destinator’s front pew is a very nice place to be. The steering wheel has all the controls you would need at your fingertips. I really appreciate the fact that Mitsubishi have resisted the temptation to put an oversized screen in the centre console as you see in most cars nowadays. The infotainment system is a 12.3” unit which, as I will get into in a minute, displays a wealth of information. Thankfully, most functions like the dual-zone climate control and fan speed are still traditional buttons with the set temperature conveniently displayed on the dash, rather than hidden in a screen somewhere.
The second row of passengers is well catered for with air vents in the roof and a small fold-up table attached to the back of the front seats. The third row of seats is mostly reserved for kids and folds flat into the floor. Even back there, kids get an air vent and USB sockets. I did attempt to get into the back seats gracefully, and although successful, this will not be a pleasant place to be for someone of my height and list of historical injuries. For families with small children, this will be ideal, though.
When the third row seats are folded away, the Destinator has a substantial boot. However, when equipping a car with a third row of seats, most manufacturers forgo the parcel shelf altogether. In South Africa, opportunistic theft is unfortunately a fact of daily life, and the Destinator also sadly lacks something to cover your luggage from prying eyes. Furthermore, once deployed, the boot space shrinks dramatically, so you will probably have to invest in a rooftop luggage solution. Fortunately, the Destinator comes equipped with roof rails.
For a car of this size, I was a bit sceptical to see it being powered by a 1.5 litre engine, mated to a CVT gearbox. I am used to CVT gearboxes on scooters, and in the Destinator, it was the same feeling. You never feel the car engaging another cog as you would in a conventional automatic, unless you really plant your right foot. The revs and the speed just climb simultaneously.
The engine is turbocharged and produces 120 kW and 250 Nm of torque, which propelled the car forward with no fuss. During my week spent with the car, I used it as my daily drive. It involved city driving and some stretches on the highway. I never felt the engine lacking power to do what it was supposed to. Sure, it does not have the power of the Lancer EVO, but it was never designed to be that. It was designed to be a day-to-day people carrier, and in that role, I had no issues with either the engine or the CVT gearbox.
I mentioned the PlayStation in my opening paragraph, and the PlayStation generation will have an absolute blast with all the information that the Destinator can display on the centre console. I know that modern cars have all manner of sensors that measure everything about the car, but oh my word, I did not know just how much until I saw the Destinator’s dash. Every conceivable parameter you can think of has a graph or a needle to display its current status. There is even a GPS, a compass and a barometer built in! You can see the angle of the car, both pitch and roll, so that will be perfect for an AWD Destinator! You can spend hours customising this display to your heart’s content.
The Destinator, then, is a car for long road trips to any destination. If the road gets a bit rough, that should pose no problem for this car. I find it baffling that a brand this capable goes almost unnoticed in South Africa. Although the car is manufactured in Indonesia, it still carries a pedigree of Japanese reliability. I hope that Mitsubishi’s restructuring of the model line-up and the introduction of the Destinator bring more sales to the brand. They really deserve better!
Both the GLS and Exceed models carry a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and a 5-year/75 000 km service plan.
For more information, visit Mitsubishi Motors South Africa.
