The seven-seater SUV has become the modern family workhorse. It needs to carry children to school during the week, swallow luggage for weekend getaways and still be comfortable enough for the daily commute. It’s a big ask, and one that many manufacturers claim to have mastered.
After spending a week living with the Mitsubishi Destinator 1.5T Exceed, I came away convinced that Mitsubishi wasn’t trying to reinvent the family SUV. Instead, it focused on getting the fundamentals right, and that might just be its biggest strength.
I’ll be honest, Mitsubishi hasn’t always been known for producing the most exciting-looking SUVs, but the Destinator changes that conversation.
During my week with the car, it attracted more attention than I expected. Whether I was parked outside my children’s school or stopping at the local shopping centre, people were curious about what it was. The bold Dynamic Shield front fascia, slim T-shaped LED lighting and muscular wheel arches give it genuine road presence without looking overstyled.
Standing on stylish 18″ alloy wheels with 214 mm of ground clearance, the Destinator looks every bit the modern SUV. Better still, it doesn’t look like a people carrier disguised as an SUV. The proportions are balanced, confident and exactly what today’s family buyer is looking for.
Designed for real life
This is where the Destinator really began to win me over. By the second day, it had quietly become the family’s preferred mode of transport. School bags found their place in the boot, water bottles occupied the cupholders, and everyone’s phones somehow ended up connected to one of the many charging points throughout the cabin.
The biggest endorsement, however, came from my son. Every single morning he rushed straight for the third row, insisting it was “his seat”. Unlike many seven-seaters where the rear seats feel like an afterthought, the Destinator’s third row is genuinely usable. If there’s one group of people who never hide their opinions, it’s children, and he absolutely loved travelling back there.
Mitsubishi has clearly spent time thinking about everyday usability. The second-row seats slide and fold easily, while the third row folds flat when extra luggage space is needed. Throughout the cabin there are 25 storage compartments, something I appreciated more and more as the week went on.
Our Exceed model featured a crisp 12.3″ infotainment display alongside an eight” digital instrument cluster. Thankfully, Mitsubishi has resisted the temptation to hide everything inside the touchscreen. Climate controls remain physical buttons, making them far easier to use while driving.
The panoramic sunroof, Yamaha Premium audio system, wireless charging pad, ambient lighting and powered tailgate all help give the cabin a premium feel that comfortably exceeds expectations at this price point.
Effortless everyday
I have to admit that when I first read the specification sheet, I wondered whether a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine would be enough for a seven-seater SUV, but my concern disappeared fairly quickly.
Producing 120 kW and 250 Nm, the turbocharged four-cylinder feels eager in everyday driving. Whether joining fast-moving traffic, overtaking slower vehicles or climbing hills around Pretoria East, the Destinator never felt like it was running out of breath.
The continuously variable transmission deserves credit too. CVTs often receive criticism, but Mitsubishi has calibrated this one exceptionally well. It remains smooth, refined and perfectly suited to the relaxed nature of the Destinator.
Most of my driving took place exactly where many owners will use theirs – around Pretoria East, tackling school traffic, office commutes and weekend shopping. Throughout the week the Destinator proved effortless to drive, easy to park and surprisingly manoeuvrable for a vehicle of its size.
Official fuel consumption is rated at 7.2 l/100 km, making it an attractive proposition for families spending plenty of time on the road.
COMFORT BEYOND THE CITY
Although most Destinators will spend their lives on tarred roads, it’s reassuring to know they’re capable of venturing a little further.
The suspension, comprising MacPherson struts up front and a torsion-beam rear axle, delivers a comfortable ride over potholes, speed humps, and rough suburban streets without feeling unsettled.
Our Exceed derivative also featured five selectable drive modes – Normal, Wet, Gravel, Mud and Tarmac – together with Mitsubishi’s Active Yaw Control system, technology derived from the legendary Lancer Evolution. It’s unlikely many owners will push the limits, but it’s comforting to know the capability is there when road conditions become less predictable.
Safety is also a priority in the new Mitsubishi, as every Destinator comes equipped with six airbags together with a comprehensive suite of active safety features. The Exceed adds Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a Multi Around View Monitor and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
Combined with its five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, the Destinator provides exactly the sort of reassurance families expect from a modern SUV.
LAST WORD
Seven days is usually enough to expose a vehicle’s weaknesses. Instead, the Mitsubishi Destinator quietly became part of our family’s daily routine.
It handled school runs with ease, swallowed the weekly shopping without complaint and never once felt cumbersome despite its generous dimensions. More importantly, my family genuinely enjoyed travelling in it, and my son’s determination to claim the third row every morning probably sums the vehicle up better than I ever could.
Mitsubishi hasn’t tried to build the fastest or most luxurious SUV in this segment. Instead, it has concentrated on getting the fundamentals right. The Destinator is comfortable, spacious, practical, well-equipped and backed by Mitsubishi’s reputation for reliability.
Report by BRYAN KAYAVHU | Images © MITSUBISHI MOTORS
