All-new Mitsubishi Destinator wins Gold ahead of possible PH debut

More awards on the map and a few more wins in the bag. The Mitsubishi Destinator is building quite the reputation before it even gets here. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that the all-new Destinator, its newest midsize 7-seater SUV, has received the Gold Award in the Best Industrial Product Design category at the VMARK Vietnam Design Award 2025, which marks the third consecutive year Mitsubishi has earned this recognition, following the Xforce in 2023 and the Triton in 2024.

The VMARK Vietnam Design Awards, organized by the VDAS Design Association in Ho Chi Minh City, recognizes the best design projects from Vietnam and around the world. This year, 46 international experts judged 531 entries based on five main points: innovation, eco-friendliness, identity, function, and community value. Only 18 entries received Gold Awards, with the Destinator among them for its strong mix of design and practicality.

The all-new Destinator is a three-row midsize SUV that has a good SUV look with a spacious and premium cabin. It was developed with the theme “Gravitas & Dynamism.” “Gravitas” represents strength and presence, seen in its wide stance and roomy interior, while “Dynamism” reflects motion and energy through its high ground clearance and 18-inch wheels.

Naoki Akita, Program Design Director at Mitsubishi Motors, said that the Destinator was built to balance strength with comfort, made for families who enjoy every drive together. He added that this award shows how Mitsubishi’s design direction continues to evolve and be recognized worldwide.

Hiroaki Ozawa, Head of Sales and Marketing for Mitsubishi Motors Vietnam, shared that since the concept version of the Destinator was shown in Vietnam last June, many have expressed strong interest in the upcoming production model. He also mentioned that the award helps build excitement ahead of its official launch in Vietnam by the end of 2025.

The Destinator was first previewed in the Philippines as the “DST Concept” at the 2024 Philippine International Motor Show, giving us an early look at its design. Since Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation already sources the Xpander lineup and Xforce from Indonesia, the possibility of the Destinator arriving locally seems strong.

Now that it bagged another award, we’ve got one more reason to wish for it to arrive soon. While we wait and hope it lands on PH roads, you can browse Mitsubishi’s lineup on AutoDeal.com.ph and get a quote without having to step outside.