Mitsubishi Destinator: The SUV for Adventurers Who Never Leave the Pavement
Mitsubishi has unveiled a vehicle that aims to look bold but demands little in the way of actual bravery. The new three-row crossover, aptly named Destinator, is launching in Indonesia—and makes no attempt to even flirt with all-wheel drive. This so-called adventure vehicle for active families comes with only front-wheel drive and a whole lot of hope.
Built on the same platform as the smaller Xforce, the Destinator looks like a tired throwback to the Pajero, sprinkled with leftover styling cues from last year’s DST concept. Size-wise, it sits below the Outlander: 4,680 mm long, 1,840 mm wide, and 1,780 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,815 mm. It all sounds reasonable—until you notice it rides on timid 18-inch wheels. So much for rugged ambition.
The approach and departure angles—21 and 25.5 degrees—are technically respectable, but only if you’re not afraid of getting stuck before the gravel even turns to trail. Because let’s face it: what could be more reassuring than knowing you’ve got three rows of seats and zero chance of making it past the first rocky bend?
Inside, the Destinator tries to pass for modern, with a dual-screen layout featuring an 8-inch digital cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen. But it’s nothing we haven’t already seen in the Xforce. Extras include 64-color ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, Yamaha audio, and a checklist of driver-assist features few will ever fully explore.
Under the hood, a 1.5-liter turbo engine delivers 163 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, mated to a CVT—a setup not exactly engineered for thrills. And once again, let’s not forget: no all-wheel drive. Not even as an option.
Production kicks off in Indonesia, with sales starting July 23. Mitsubishi hasn’t disclosed pricing yet. And even if this seven-seat marvel eventually makes its way to the Middle East or Africa, one question lingers: who exactly is the Destinator for, if not those who believe adventure means finding a parking spot at the mall?
