Mitsubishi Destinator vs Toyota GR86

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Mitsubishi Destinator in South Africa

Mitsubishi Destinator

Exceed 1.5T CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 569,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 120 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
VS
Toyota GR86 in South Africa

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 173 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 10.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mitsubishi Destinator vs Toyota GR86: the short answer

Destinator and GR86 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Destinator starts ZAR 259,910 cheaper Destinator from ZAR 489,990 · GR86 from ZAR 749,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Destinator GR86
Maximum Power Destinator120 kW @ 5000 rpm GR86173 kW @ 7000 rpm
Maximum Torque Destinator250 Nm @ 2500-4000 rpm GR86250 Nm @ 3700 rpm
Engine Size Destinator1499 cc GR862387 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Destinator13.9 km/l GR8610.9 km/l
Ground Clearance Destinator214 mm GR86130 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Mitsubishi Destinator

Exceed 1.5T CVT

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Destinator

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

GR86

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Which One's Right for You?

Destinator

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

GR86

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Destinator GR86
Model Introduced Year 2026 2022
Generation First-generation Destinator Second generation GR86 with improved 2.4L engine
Facelift History South African launch specification introduced in March 2026. Second generation introduced in 2022 with more power
Facelift Launched Since Current specification 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Sedan
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Medium seven-seat SUV Sedan
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Sedan
Color Note - White, Red, Black, Grey, Blue
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1270 kg
Spec Destinator GR86
Length 4680 mm 4265 mm
Width 1840 mm 1775 mm
Height 1780 mm 1310 mm
Wheelbase 2815 mm 2575 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 214 mm 130 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 185 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 50 l
Boot/Cargo Space 152 l 237 l
Kerb Weight 1500 kg 1270 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2090 kg 1660 kg
Payload Capacity 590 kg 390 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 4 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.4 m
Front Headroom 890 mm 998 mm
Rear Headroom 850 mm 958 mm
Front Legroom 1055 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 620 mm 891 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Destinator and GR86 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Destinator 50 vs GR86 67.

Efficiency index: Destinator 54 vs GR86 45.

Safety-equipment index: Destinator 73 vs GR86 96.

Practicality index: Destinator 63 vs GR86 46.

Ownership-cover index: Destinator not separately scored vs GR86 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

GR86 leads by 1 points

Destinator and GR86 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 61 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 87% source coverage
61
#1 Evidence leader

GR86

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 96 Check Ownership 43
Performance 67
Efficiency 45
Safety 96
Practicality 46
Ownership 43
Leads by 1 points
60
#2

Destinator

79% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 73 Check Performance 50
Performance 50
Efficiency 54
Safety 73
Practicality 63
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GR86 +17 Efficiency Destinator +9 Safety GR86 +23 Practicality Destinator +17

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

GR86

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 45/100
Safety 96/100
Practicality 46/100
Ownership 43/100

Destinator

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 73/100
Practicality 63/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota GR86 leads the specification evidence index with 61 pts vs 60 pts for Destinator

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, GR86 leads. However, Destinator may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Destinator vs GR86 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.