IMOTO: MITSUBISHI DESTINATOR
MITSUBISHI Motors headquartered in Tokyo, Japan is one of the most respected companies in the world due to its solid history of producing high quality vehicles.
Even now, the management of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa still prides itself on producing the Pajero which became a hit in the way it was attractive in the 80’s.
Even members of the public, especially those who have extensive knowledge about cars, do not shut their mouths, telling you clearly that Mitsubishi had released the car’s radio.
The challenge facing Mitsubishi is whether it will be able to attract customers for the SUV Destinator produced in Indonesia?
The Destinator was officially launched at an event in Casalinga, Muldersdrift, Gauteng.
Mitsubishi is launching this car with a good history following the success of the Pajero Sport in 2016, and the Xpander in 2018.
What followed was that the Mitsubishi Destinator was chosen as the car of the year at the GridOto Awards held in Indonesia, in 2025.
Its modern grille made of hard plastic is eye-catching from a distance.
It can be seen that the engineers who were in the shampoo spilled, they did not take it lightly, they did everything carefully to heat up the competition for customers who have recently heard about Chinese SUVs.
At the bottom of the grille there are LED lights to fight fog in summer and winter, especially in the province of KwaZulu-Natal which is adjacent to the Khahlamba mountains and in the central region which is Hilton. The hood has a Panoramic Sunroof that lets in the light well.
The boot, which you can open by swinging your foot under, does not load a lot of goods when the seats are all open, but when the rear ones are folded down, it has a well-laid out space for luggage if you are going to cross the waist with the family.
The interior has comfortable leather seats, a leather steering wheel, charging points from the front and rear and there is air conditioning in all of them. You press a button to turn it on or off.
Ine-touchstreen infotainment engu-12.3 inch ne-digital instrument cluster engu-8.0 inch.
Behind the front seats there are trays where you can put a laptop and a place to put a glass for drinking water or a drink.
Under the bonnet they put a 1.5 turbocharged 4 cylinder petrol engine. It has a CVT gearbox. It has a power of 120kW and a torque of 250Nm.
In terms of safety, it has Active Yaw Control which they say helps in corners by looking slightly inside the front wheel when turning. This they say makes it apply power to the wheel and stick to the road.
Other features include hot and cold air conditioning, 360 degree cameras that show you everywhere, six airbags, Active Stability and Traction Control and Hill Descent Control. Another important one is to show the air pressure in the tires.
Hill Start and other safety features. It has Lane Change Assist, Blind Spot, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
It has wheels with 18-inch rims and has a ground clearance of 214mm.
Although the Destinator comes from the same stable as the Pajero Sport, Outlander, Eclipse Cross and ASX, what is noticeable is that it is different in the way it is built.
We drove the Exceed with state-of-the-art safety equipment from Casalinga to Rocky Road towards Dr Beyers Naude, Muldersdrift. Those who were traveling with them are experienced drivers and we finished the trip with them satisfied with the way it drove. They say that even though it’s a CVT it doesn’t make any strange noises.
No one will sit tight. It is open enough for family members to sit comfortably. From the front to the back, family members won’t die of loneliness because it has Yamaha speakers, and it also has charging points that use USB Type C.
In an interview withIt’s the weekendthe Director of Mitsubishi Motor South Africa, Takalani Bruce Mukhola, stated that the Destinator is ready to connect with families in all parts of South Africa.
“No matter where you go with it, it won’t be a problem in the mud. It’s a safe car that will go anywhere. It will help parents with children who live together to be able to carry their belongings when they go to play,” said Mukhola.
Price:
GLS: R489,990
Exceed: R569,990
They come with a five-year warranty, five-year roadside assistance, and a five-year service plan that ends after 75,000km.