I’ve been critical of Mitsubishi as of late, a once-thriving brand that filled a good mix of models and variants has been reduced to very few selections. Not to mention that the line-up continues to age and get left behind by most of the competition.
So, when Mitsubishi decided to debut the DST concept in the Philippines back in 2024, it signaled the next step in the brand's fight to stay relevant in one of its strongest markets globally. The DST was eventually launched as the Destinator in 2026, and I have to admit I was genuinely optimistic that this could be where things took a turn for the good. I needed to find out for myself if the Destinator was the real deal or just another misstep.
I was able to borrow the Destinator in the top-trim GT variant, which differentiates itself from the GLX and GLS variants by offering ADAS, the Yamaha-tuned sound system, and a panoramic sunroof. We’ll get to those later, but essentially the Destinator sits between the Montero Sport and the Xpander, as a true 7-seater SUV (so Mitsu says).
I’d first like to address the best part about the Destinator, and that's the looks. It takes the design language of the Xforce, but somehow it works more as a big SUV rather than a crossover. I’m also glad it didn’t take the Xpander’s design, considering that it’s aging already; then again, the DST concept is supposed to herald Mitsubishi’s new design philosophy. In terms of size, the Destinator is bigger than I thought it would be. Dimensionally, it’s shorter than the Montero Sport (4,680 mm versus 4,840 mm), but wider (1,840 mm versus 1,815 mm). Its wheelbase is actually longer at 2,810 mm versus 2,800 mm! This is a plus if you’re in the market for a true 7-seater SUV.
Its interior is pretty straightforward in terms of design and layout; there’s really nothing out of the ordinary. It has a fully digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has wireless charging, and even the center storage/armrest has a cool box function. Apart from that, there are air conditioning vents and controls for the rear passengers, foldable trays for the 2nd row, and USB charging ports for all passengers. I need to give a special mention to the Yamaha sound system, which I found to be an absolute treat. As someone who prioritizes sound quality, the Destinator’s Yamaha speakers nail the brief. They aren’t the best I’ve ever heard, but definitely better than most OEM options.
One feature I found to be a surprise was the digital rear view mirror, using the camera at the rear, it projects an image through the mirror itself, which took some getting used to, but I found that turning it off during the day was better to eliminate sunlight glare, while at night though the feature helps give you a clearer picture of what’s behind. The best interior feature, though, has to be the space. It’s definitely roomy with an abundance of head-, leg- and cargo room. At 175 cm, I was also able to properly fit in the third row; it was not as cramped as I was expecting it to be.
Space aside, the Destinator is also easy to manoeuvre around. Despite its size and heft, it’s easy to drive in the city thanks to its light steering and top-notch visibility. Compared to typical midsize SUVs, it’s a cinch to park too.
That’s where the good news stops, because what comes next are some glaring frustrations. Powering the Desinator is a turbocharged 1.5-liter making a decent 163 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. The transmission is, of course, a CVT, for better efficiency. That efficiency is severely lacking in reality as the best fuel economy figure I got in the city was just 7 km/L. On the highway, it did just 15 to 16 km/L. Bear in mind, it was just my wife and me in the car; imagine loading it up to the gills with people and luggage, that’ll definitely go down. The gearbox also has this rubberband effect, particular at low speeds. Whenever the accelerator’s let go off, it would jerk and shudder the cabin.
In this day and age, any form of fuel efficiency is a top ask from car buyers. And for some reason, Mitsubishi lagged behind here, launching the Destinator without any form of hybrid or electrification tech.
Next up, there’s the build quality. The Destinator is built in the same factory as the Xpander in Indonesia. This means that most of the materials used for the interior come from the Xpander as well, which is fine for a budget model, but for something priced around P 1.93-million it lacked the premium feel I was expecting. Some of the hard plastics also creaked and squeaked from time to time. Generally, it generally just felt like a car built on a budget.
And on the subject of price, that’s the biggest issue of them all. This top-of-the-line Desinator GT asks for too much money and give so little. For just a little more, you can have a Toyota Zenix Hybrid or a BYD Tang DM-i! This makes me genuinely conflicted about the Destinator. I like how it behaves in the city and the sheer space and practicality it offers, but those weren’t enough to overlook the lack of a hybrid and the steep asking price.
The Destinator has the potential to be a top-seller for Mitsubishi, but it desperately needs the right pricing and a hybrid system to compete in a tough segment. Need we remind them what happened when they tried to sell the Fusion against the Innova all those years ago?
Words and Photos by Pablo Salapantan
Napag iiwanan na Mitsubishi sila nlang wala NEV dito
ReplyDeleteMitsubishi failed to innovate. The reason why they're lagging behind in vehicle sales worldwide. Soon, BYD gonna dislodge them for that # 2 spot here in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteoverpriced. mitsubishi thinks buyers would be convinced that the features, instead of build/material quality, will justify the price. for that price, if you are not carrying 7 people all the time, go with the CX-5.
ReplyDeleteFuzion was great but it didn't produced the Diesel Variant which was a drawback against the Innova
ReplyDeleteSir Uly, you forgot to discuss again the underpinnings and the NVH. Maybe the fuel rating will improve once you add more mileage? Will it crawl up to Sagada or even Tagaytay at full complement?
ReplyDeleteHope you can provide a full review soon.
I didn't write this review. I was supposed to have been lent the Destinator this week...it didn't arrive and I didn't follow up LOL.
DeleteHello! Pablo Salapantan here, the reviewer of the Destinator. Thanks for pointing out the NVH, to be honest it was okay, although the engine was a little noisy, in terms of ride comfort it definitely rides better than the PPV SUVs, but harsher than a Zenix
DeleteSir Pablo thanks for the input. Do you think the engine and transmission wont have a hard time going up mountain resorts at max capacity?
DeleteSorry for the late reply, I don't think so naman, there's sufficient power and torque but at the expense of fuel economy
Delete1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine seems small for a 7-seater. For sure the engine feels like a small turtle carrying a heavy shell that’s why it’s not that fuel efficient. I believe the solution would be to either increase the displacement or hybridize it.
ReplyDeleteIf you want an MPV, there are cheaper, better options. If you want an SUV, same. If you need 7 seats, same. Mitsubishi is counting on loyal customers to buy this, but loyalty is rare these days. This will suffer the same fate as Xforce. I'm seeing new ones of the latter with the window stickers worn down from constant wiping and cleaning in the showroom. It's been clearly sitting there for a long time.
ReplyDeleteMitsubishis had a cooler line up back then until the SUV and MPV craze came along.
ReplyDeleteGrew up with a Singkit Lancer in my childhood days and a Shark Galant in my childhood and teenage years.
If only Daihatsu continued updating the Rush, this Destinator might have a run for its money.
ReplyDeleteThe GT at almost 2M? Might as well save up some to get the more torquey Fortuner or the more modern RAV4 HEV.
The Xpander has a hybrid version and so does the XForce. It's almost an inevitability that the Destinator will get there too. It's just not happening fast enough, though.
ReplyDeleteI've test driven this and driving it feels like driving a big Raize Turbo for some reason than it does a bigger Xpander. The Destinator feels as nimble as the Raize Turbo oddly enough. Insulation of the Destinator is not particularly impressive IMO, I think it is just a step above the MPVs like Stargazer and Xpander. Not impressive considering its 2M price tag.
ReplyDelete