After establishing its presence in the Philippines in 1963, Mitsubishi has become a household name among Filipinos. This nostalgic relationship is what makes the Mitsubishi Destinator special.

Its global debut as the DST Concept was held here at last year’s Philippine International Motor Show. And now, this seven-seater crossover is ready to move Filipino families.

Looking like a bigger version of the Xforce, the Destinator is a compact crossover measuring 4,680mm long, 1,840mm wide, and 1,780mm high. This is a vehicle that specifically suits Philippine roads as seen with its 214mm ground clearance (244mm without the engine cover).

Powering the machine is a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine with 160.8hp and 250Nm of torque. Whereas the Xpander was known for its rather old four-speed automatic, the Destinator has a continuously variable transmission to send power to the front wheels.

Inside you’ll find a 12.3-inch infotainment system (eight-inch for the GLX variant) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Exclusive to the top-of-the-line GT variant is the eight-speaker Yamaha sound system.

All variants get Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing, but you’ll have to go with the GT to get the full suite of features, such as the adaptive cruise control and the forward-collision mitigation.

The Destinator GT is also the first vehicle to feature compatibility with the Mitsubishi Connect app. This is the brand’s digital subscription service for safety and convenience features.

You can use it to turn on the air-conditioning before you get in the car, so that the cabin is cool and comfortable the moment you step inside. There’s also emergency assistance for untoward incidents on the road.

As previously mentioned, here are the prices of the Destinator:

• GLX Turbo CVT
  • SRP: P1,389,000
  • Introductory price: P1,289,000
• GLS Turbo CVT
  • SRP: P1,599,000
  • Introductory price: P1,499,000
• GT Turbo CVT
  • SRP: P1,929,000
  • Introductory price: P1,799,000

Mitsubishi has gone the extra mile to ensure that the Destinator is an adventure-ready vehicle for the Filipino family. If you’d like to check it out for yourself, you can visit the public display at Ayala Malls Manila Bay and the test-drive area at ASEANA City Concert Grounds until November 23 (Sunday).

Do you think the Mitubishi Destinator is destined for success among Filipinos?