A legacy manufacturer in South Africa, Mitsubishi admits they're not a volume seller but pride themselves on providing reliable vehicles, strong dealership service, and delivering on the leisure front—the age-old saying of quality over quantity.
Related: 8 Things we love about the Mitsubishi Triton
Cue the Destinator, an Indonesian-made 7-seater SUV with a price point to disrupt the half-million Rand mark. Typically, there are plenty of Chinese manufacturers that tend to play and rule the roost. The Destinator was unveiled in 2025, but doesn't serve as a replacement for the outgoing ASX. Does the Destinator have the chops to compete? We'll assess that here in our first impressions. This article will focus on the Exceed variant, which we drove at the launch.
Styling
The Destinator employs Mitsubishi's Hexaguard and Dynamic Shield visual design motifs. The Dynamic Shield relates to the front end and symbolises protection with the prominent grille and trim surrounding it. At the same time, the Hexaguard is set back with a sharp hexagonal motif. The T-shape head and taillights are neatly integrated into the design motifs as well. Combine those elements, and you'll see that this sort of rugged design language is found throughout the Mitsubishi range. It works for the brand by making the cars stand out more, but you still see the usual SUV design characteristics, such as broad shoulder lines, body cladding, and overall size. I think the Destinator looks cyberpunk, almost unique, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is also in line with New Energy Vehicle approaches in the time to come.
Interior and Space
Inside, the Destinator is certainly geared towards families with small children. The whole car appears to lean towards a utilitarian appeal, but with some luxury materials. The child's focus is also evidenced by the 2nd seat row fold-down tray tables, not only for eating but also for placing tablets. For the driver, though, the centre stack is neatly arranged, and the dual-zone climate controls are divorced from the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The quick access to vehicle functions, rather than sifting through menus, is welcome. Speaking of, the system from our initial operation is decent, and the screen clarity is good. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as you'd expect, are available wirelessly.
In the GLS Exceed variant, there is a Yamaha sound system, and you can hear that some tuning has been applied to suit the cabin environment. I like it. Spacewise, I would have liked a slightly larger glass expanse to improve visibility, but overall, the space in the front and 2nd-row seats is good. Though I'd strictly relegate the third row to small children and, at a stretch, adults for a short commute, as leg and headroom are limited for adults. Boot space is rated at 620 litres with the third row seats folded down. The cabin is fairly quiet with minimal NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness). Additional luxury features include a panoramic sunroof
The Drive
Propelling the Destinator range is the 4B40 four-cylinder turbo petrol engine. It produces 120 kW/250 Nm and sends it to the front wheels via a CVT. The powertrain in this format is well-calibrated, with only a bit of noisy groaning from the CVT when you need to get a move on. Power delivery is brisk and smooth, and there's a sense of urgency when you need to set off and overtake. Claimed fuel consumption is rated at 7.2L/100km. Where some tuning needs to be done is the suspension, while the ride quality itself is agreeable, the Destinator feels underdamped, resulting in some bouncy handling. Despite that, I do like the steering feel, as it's not completely devoid of weight and feedback. All in, though, for the family commute, the Destinator will do the job competently.
Safety
ASEAN NCAP: ★★★★★
The Destinator comes with the following notable safety features:
- 6 airbags
- ISOFIX
- Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing (MMSS - BSW, LCA, RCTA)
- Parking Sensors (Front & Rear - Exceed, Rear only - GLS)
- Active Stability Control with Traction Control
- Hill Start Assist
- Multi Around Monitor (Exceed), Rear View Camera (GLS)
Pricing
| Model | Pricing |
| Mitsubishi Destinator 1.5T GLS | from R489 990 |
| Mitsubishi Destinator 1.5T Exceed | from R569 990 |
The Destinator purchase price includes a 5-year/75 000km service plan and a 5-year /Unlimited km warranty and roadside assistance.
*Pricing stated here was correct when publishing and is subject to change without prior notice.
Verdict
As value propositions go, the Destinator isn't a bad choice if you're looking for an SUV in a price bracket that competes with strong Chinese competitors. Apart from a few driving quirks, it's worth a test drive if you want a vehicle that won't break the bank and has a legacy of reliability to back it.
