Mitsubishi Motors Unveils New Mid-Size SUV 'The New Escalator' in Indonesia
Date: July 17, 2025
Contact: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Public Relations Department
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has announced the world premiere of its new mid-size SUV, 'The New Escalator', in Indonesia. The vehicle will be exhibited and available for sale starting July 23rd at the 32nd GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. MMC plans to sequentially introduce the model in other ASEAN regions such as Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as in South Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Africa.
New 'The New Escalator'
Produced at Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (West Java, Indonesia), 'The New Escalator' is a 7-seater mid-size SUV developed with the concept of "The Confidence Booster for Energetic Families." It offers a spacious 3-row layout designed for comfort. The name 'DESTINATOR' reflects the desire to support families in embarking on new journeys to their destinations. The SUV features a sophisticated and authentic SUV design, a spacious and high-quality interior for all occupants, and powerful yet smooth acceleration with safe and reliable driving performance across various conditions.
President and CEO Takao Kato's Comments
"'The New Escalator' is a 7-seater SUV that allows the entire family to enjoy adventures in comfort. As the third global strategic model originating from Indonesia, following the crossover MPV 'Xpander' and the compact SUV 'Xforce', it will be deployed globally, primarily in the ASEAN region. Indonesia is a crucial pillar for Mitsubishi Motors' business, and we will continue to contribute to the development of the automotive industry and the regional economy by expanding production and sales of models like 'The New Escalator', delivering products that satisfy customers worldwide."
World Premiere Video of 'The New Escalator' (Indonesian and English)
Special Website for 'The New Escalator' (Indonesian only)
Key Product Features
Refined and Authentic SUV Design
- A commanding presence that grips the road, exuding a dignified stance.
- A body design that conveys powerful SUV driving, achieved through its high ground clearance for excellent off-road capability and maneuverability.
- A front face featuring an acrylic grille that blends strength with luxury and advanced aesthetics.
- A rear design that expresses off-road capability and practicality.
Spacious and High-Quality Interior for All Occupants
- A comfortable 3-row seating arrangement providing ample space for everyone.
- A panoramic sunroof that creates a bright and open atmosphere, complemented by 64-color ambient lighting for an enhanced night driving experience.
- Abundant storage and versatile utility features for each seat.
- A 12.3-inch smartphone-linked display audio (SDA) and an 8-inch digital driver display to support comfortable driving.
- The 'Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium' audio system for all occupants to enjoy.
Powerful and Smooth Acceleration with Safe and Secure Driving Performance in Various Conditions
- A 1.5L gasoline direct-injection turbo engine and a CVT that balances powerful acceleration with fuel efficiency.
- Five drive modes for optimal handling and drive force adjustment based on road conditions (front-wheel drive).
- A suspension system that provides a comfortable ride on various ASEAN road surfaces.
- High ground clearance and excellent forward visibility for confident driving on rough roads and in adverse weather.
- Advanced driver assistance systems and connected features for safe and comfortable driving.
Product Specifications (Indonesian Specifications)
Refined and Authentic SUV Design
- Concept: "GRAVITAS & DYNAMISM"
- The "GRAVITAS" concept is expressed through a stable stance that firmly grips the earth and a spacious cabin that comfortably accommodates up to the third row. The horizontal lines of the front nose, combined with its rich thickness, create a dignified presence. The pillars are blacked out, and the cabin is enveloped in smooth surfaces to further emphasize the spacious interior.
- Body Design: The high ground clearance and the dynamic side body design suggest powerful SUV performance and excellent maneuverability. The large 18-inch tires are framed by sculpted front and rear fender flares, evoking the muscularity of an athlete and hinting at the SUV's robust driving capabilities. Large skid plates and side protectors enhance the sense of protection and ruggedness.
- Front Face: The "Dynamic Shield" design concept, symbolizing performance and safety, is applied to the front. The front grille, lamps, and bumper are integrated with horizontal and vertical lines to emphasize strength and stability. The grille features a three-dimensional design with an inner honeycomb pattern covered by a transparent acrylic outer grille, adding a sense of luxury and modernity.
- Rear Design: The rear design features a hexagonal "Hexa-Guard Horizon" concept, inspired by the spare tire of the classic Pajero, signifying off-road prowess. The tailgate has a rich, curved surface to enhance practicality and presence. The T-shaped daytime running lights and rear combination lamps create a wide stance, with vertical elements adding to the sense of strength.
Spacious and High-Quality Interior for All Occupants
- Seating: The interior is designed for comfort for all 7 occupants, with ample space. The instrument panel flows dynamically into the door trims, creating a sense of spaciousness. High-quality soft materials are used throughout to enhance the premium feel.
- First Row: The first-row seats are designed for a comfortable fit with ample headroom. The shoulder area is adjusted to facilitate easier communication within the cabin.
- Second Row: The second-row seats offer generous space for shoulders and hips, with a sliding function of up to 100mm for enhanced comfort.
- Third Row: The third-row seats provide sufficient hip room and knee room for comfortable long drives. Rear air vents are also included for passenger comfort.
- Panoramic Sunroof and Ambient Lighting: An electric panoramic sunroof (tilt and slide, with safety mechanism) enhances the sense of openness. The SDA system allows for precise control of the sunroof and sunshade (in 5% increments) and can be tilted for ventilation. The 64-color ambient lighting system, controllable via SDA, adds to the interior's ambiance, with options for static illumination, gradual color changes, or pulsing effects for relaxation.
- Storage and Utility: Convenient storage spaces are provided throughout the cabin, including cup holders in door trims and the floor console. Foldable seat-back tables and pockets are available for the front seats. USB Type-A and Type-C ports are provided for each row, ensuring comfort on long drives.
- Luggage Space: The luggage compartment offers ample space, capable of holding four 1-gallon water bottles even with the third-row seats in use. Versatile seat arrangements, including 4:2:4 split-folding for the second row and 5:5 split-folding for the third row, allow for the transport of long items when the seats are folded flat.
- Infotainment: A large panel integrates the 12.3-inch SDA and 8-inch digital driver display. The SDA offers a multi-meter display inspired by the Pajero's triple meters, enhancing the driving experience. It also controls the panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting. The digital driver display shows essential driving information, including drive mode changes.
- Audio System: The 'Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium' audio system, co-developed with Yamaha Corporation, features 8 speakers. Yamaha's sound masters have tuned the system to create a rich and immersive sound experience, optimizing the cabin acoustics for the 'The New Escalator'. Four listening positions are set for each seat to ensure high-quality sound for all occupants.
Powerful and Smooth Acceleration with Safe and Secure Driving Performance in Various Conditions
- Engine and Transmission: The SUV is powered by a 1.5L MIVEC turbo engine, based on the 4B40 turbo engine, featuring a water-cooled intercooler and an Atkinson cycle for high power and combustion efficiency. It delivers 120 kW of maximum power and 250 N･m of maximum torque for responsive acceleration. The CVT provides linear acceleration control, offering smooth and quiet operation in city driving and responsive acceleration for overtaking or merging.
- Drive Modes: The front-wheel-drive system utilizes Mitsubishi's four-wheel-drive control technology to provide safe and comfortable driving. Features like Active Yaw Control (AYC) for enhanced cornering, traction control, and integrated engine and power steering control adapt to various road conditions. Five drive modes are available: "Wet" for slippery surfaces, "Tarmac" for sporty driving on paved roads, "Normal" for balanced everyday driving, "Gravel" for unpaved roads, and "Mud" for challenging off-road conditions.
- Suspension: The suspension system features MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, enhancing straight-line stability and handling while improving ride comfort. Tuning was conducted based on extensive testing on various ASEAN road conditions. The steering system is designed for easy maneuverability, especially for U-turns, with a quick gear ratio.
- Ground Clearance and Visibility: A minimum ground clearance of 214mm (244mm without undercovers) and excellent forward visibility ensure confident driving on rough roads and in wet conditions. Approach, departure, and break-over angles of 21.0, 25.5, and 20.8 degrees respectively, help clear obstacles.
- Safety and Connected Features: The 'Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing' suite includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The body structure is designed for collision safety, incorporating 6 SRS airbags. Connected features include automatic emergency calls in case of airbag deployment and an SOS call button for assistance. Smartphone connectivity allows users to check fuel levels, vehicle location, and control the air conditioning.
