Mitsubishi Destinator: 4 reasons to buy

The seven-seater niche of the crossover segment isn’t as large as its subcompact counterparts, nor is it as ubiquitous as midsize sport utility vehicles (SUV), but it is certainly growing. 

There is, after all, a growing demand for family-friendly three-row crossovers since they are noted to provide a far smoother ride compared to ladder frame SUV nameplates. Additionally, these large unibody rides offer more space than subcompact and compact five-seaters. 

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation understands this and has brought in the all-new Destinator. It enters the market at an attractive price point, and so, it is poised to capture a good chunk of car buyers.

But what are the key characteristics of the Mitsubishi Destinator that qualify it as a potentially good car purchase? Here’s a list. 

Loads of amenities

Considering its asking price, which currently ranges from P1.389-P1.929 million, the Mitsubishi Destinator offers plenty of creature comforts. The aforementioned is especially true for its top-spec GT trim.

Inside the Destinator GT is a seven-seater layout equipped with leather upholstery and a dual-zone automatic climate control system with a Nanoe X air purification system. Commutes on gloomy days can be made more engaging by a panoramic sunroof and an ambient lighting system, while ease of access to its trunk is ensured by a power tailgate.

The driver of the Destinator, meanwhile, is provided with useful amenities such as an electronic parking brake, a push-to-start button, a smart (auto-dimming) rearview mirror, a keyless operation system, a leather steering wheel, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and an eight-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Other noteworthy features available inside the Mitsubishi Destinator include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Rear air-conditioning vents
• Cooled center floor console
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• Cargo underflood organizer
• Front row underseat tray
• Second row folding tables
• Eight-piece Yamaha speaker set
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Type A and C USB ports

Handling on-board entertainment and navigation for the Mitsubishi-made model is a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

With all those bits, the Mitsubishi Destinator can shape up as a comfy all-rounder - from a relatively cushy daily driver, to a plush chariot for long out-of-town drives. 

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Eye-catching exterior

Another reason to get the Mitsubishi Destinator is its exterior. For starters, it appears to slot in as the bigger brother of the Mitsubishi XForce, which means it wears the same contemporary take on the Japanese marque’s “Dynamic Shield” design. 

So, from its front section, the Destinator looks futuristic, courtesy of its complex LED headlamp and daytime running lamp layout, combined with its lower sections, which have been described by Mitsubishi as “solid and powerful.”

The aforementioned, after all, borrows plenty of SUV design cues. It has muscular-looking fender flares, large 18-inch wheels, and a generous ground clearance of 214 millimeters (mm). Sure, it isn’t as tall as the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, but it has enough clearance for the usual road bumps and the occasional rough road. 

For reference, the model is 4,680 mm long, 1,840 mm wide, and 1,780 mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,815 mm. With those kinds of measurements, the Destinator is almost on par with the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, at least in terms of heft. 

Additionally, the model boasts plenty of functional exterior parts that will make any journey more pleasurable. 

For starters, it has power-adjust/folding side mirrors, which ensure easy stowage in tight parking spots and ease in minimizing a driver’s blind spots. Likewise useful for expanding the vehicle’s cargo carrying capacity are its roof rails, which will do well with aftermarket cargo roof boxes and the like. 

Additionally, the model’s LED lighting set is a must-have for driving at night in the Philippine setting. Low visibility situations can be dealt with effectively by its front fog lamps, whereas its automatic headlamp functionality will do away with the need to fiddle with controls as the sun begins to set. 

Notably, the all-new Mitsubishi Destinator has a total of six color options to choose from. These range from sporty-looking two-tone options, quiet-looking grays and silvers, and eye-catching ones like red and blue. 

Comfy seven-seater

As established above, the Mitsubishi Destinator is a three-row, seven-seater model. But unlike most popular three-row nameplates in the Philippines right now, the said nameplate doesn’t ride on a ladder frame chassis, and this affords it several advantages. 

For one thing, it will ride smoother than any pickup truck-based SUV models. Sure, being a unibody ride sacrifices robustness and off-road capability, but most would-be adopters of the Destinator aren’t likely to use it for going through roads less travelled far out in the boonies. 

The Mitsubishi-made vehicle also utilizes a MacPherson strut front suspension system and a torsion beam for its rear end. So while it can’t carry a ton of cargo, it is likely to demonstrate “car-like” handling capabilities that will surely outpace any SUV when dealing with curved roads and corners. 

All of the aforementioned qualities of the Mitsubishi Destinator’s chassis are paired with a gasoline-powered 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine. The keyword here is “gasoline,” which means it will have fewer vibrations, noise, and stinky emissions, at least when compared to popular turbodiesel nameplates. 

At maximum, the said nameplate can generate up to 160 horsepower (hp) and 250 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. It isn’t the most powerful crossover model in the market (peppier hybrids exist), but on paper, it has enough oomph for a daily driver. The said engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which again, contributes to the smooth driving characteristic of the Destinator. 

Ready to purchase a brand-new Mitsubishi Destinator? Check out these exclusive offers from Zigwheels Philippines.

 

Comprehensive safety kit

With how chaotic the Philippine driving setting can be, buyers will like the comprehensive active and passive safety features of the Mitsubishi Destinator. 

Its basic kit consists of six airbags, anti-lock braking, ISOFIX child seat anchors, hill-start assist, active yaw control, active stability/traction control, and a 360-degree view camera.

Supporting the said features is a suite of advanced driver assist systems, which include blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, lead car departure notification, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. 

Mitsubishi Destinator: specifications

Model	Mitsubishi Destinator GT
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,680x1,840x1,780
Wheelbase (mm)	2,815
Ground clearance (mm)	214
Wheel size	18-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Power tailgate Smart rearview mirror with auto-dimming Electronic parking brake Push-to-start button Eight-inch digital gauge Drive mode selector Dual-zone automatic climate controls Panasonic Nanoe X air purifier Ambient lighting system Power-adjust driver’s seat Wireless smartphone charging pad USB ports Under-seat tray Second-row folding tables Eight-piece Yamaha speaker set Power-folding, power-adjust side mirrors Panoramic sunroof
Infotainment system	12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Seven
Powertrain
Engine	1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Transmission	CVT
Horsepower	160
Torque	250 Nm
Technology
Safety	Six airbags Anti-lock braking 360-degree view camera Active stability control Active traction control Active yaw control Hill-start assist ISOFIX
ADAS	Blind spot warning system Rear-cross traffic alert Forward collision mitigation system Lead car departure warning Automatic high beams Adaptive cruise control
Price (SRP)	P1.929 million

Final thoughts

To put it simply, the Mitsubishi Destinator, at least on paper, fits the bill as a smoother riding alternative to the typical turbodiesel SUV or MPV nameplate. Sure, one will sacrifice off-road capability and the beastly torque one can get from diesel units, but buyers can be assured that the Mitsubishi crossover will provide a more pliant ride. 

So, for people who like what they see in this model, do visit the nearest Mitsubishi dealership to give this three-row crossover a test drive. Who knows, it could just be the ride you (and your family) are looking for. 

Also read:

Here is a quick look at the PH-spec Mitsubishi Destinator's 3 variants

Mitsubishi Destinator vs. the competition

What we know so far about the Mitsubishi Destinator: 6 available colors

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