Mitsubishi says ‘no’ to leaving with well-devised new Destinator

Destinator replaces both the ASX and Eclipse Cross as Mitsubishi’s new most affordable seven-seat SUV. Picture: Charl Bosch By its own admission, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa hasn’t had the easiest times in recent years as the monthly National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) sales figures often show. Often struggling to sell more than 200 units, the highest being 205 in July last year, the three diamonds car marker has seen its share of the local market shrink on the back of more affordable and tech-laden brands from China.

Despite this, and trading on its heritage of reliability, dealer support and dependability, it has indicated that it isn’t ready to leave South Africa soon. Admitting it has become somewhat of a forgotten brand, it further added that mainstream success is not the intended target. Instead, appeasing to a certain niche is how it views itself, with a line-up of products squarely aimed at a select audience.

Approved for South Africa earlier this year, the Destinator is Mitsubishi’s first arrival as part of its local market restructuring. Aimed at developing market, the Indonesian-made Destinator is in effect an extended wheelbase version of the Xforce, which debuted last year as the Outlander Sport. As part of a dual-purpose role, the Destinator replaces both the ASX and Eclipse Cross in becoming Mitsubishis’ most affordable seven-seat SUV below the full-size Outlander.

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Sitting above the Xpander MPV and Outlander Sport in that order, the Destinator hasn’t been envisioned as a rival for Chery or Great Wall Motors (GWM) as neither offers a similarly priced three-row alternative. As in its home market, the South African-spec Destinator has the same drivetrain as the Outlander Sport, which proved underwhelming whentested last year.

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