2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was once a coupe, but it has followed the industry's shift towards high-riding models and morphed into a crossover. New for the latest model year, the Eclipse Cross slots between the Outlander Sport and the Outlander.
Overview
Like the coupe it borrows half of its name from, the Eclipse Cross takes Mitsubishi's design language in a bolder direction. It liberally borrows styling cues from the XR-PHEV II concept introduced at the 2015 Geneva auto show.
Thick chrome accents give the front fascia a X-shaped look, while the rear end is characterized by a sizable roof-mounted spoiler and L-shaped lights connected by a light bar. A rakish c-pillar gives the born-again Eclipse an almost coupe-like roof line that puts a bigger emphasis on form than on function while maintaining some continuity in the nameplate's design lineage.
Life aboard
The upscale design continues inside. The Cross offers an interior that's modern if a bit on the drab side of the scale. An almost BMW-like screen positioned on top of the dashboard displays the infotainment system. It's controlled via a touch pad located on the center console, a setup that takes a little bit of getting used to.
The Eclipse Cross offers space for five passengers, though we'd leave the middle seat to smaller passengers. Trunk space checks in at 22.6 cubic feet with both rows of seats occupied and 48.9 cubes with the rear seats folded flat.
Technical specifications
The Eclipse Cross comes exclusively with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine tuned to provide 152 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It shifts through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight pre-programmed virtual gears. Front-wheel drive comes standard on the base model, while more expensive trim levels benefit from Mitsubishi's experience in making all-wheel drive vehicles.
The front-wheel drive Eclipse Cross returns 26 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg in a combined cycle. Selecting all-wheel drive lowers those figures to 25, 26, and 25, respectively.
Standard and optional features
Mitsubishi offers the Eclipse Cross in five trim levels named ES 2WD, ES S-AWC, LE S-AWC, SE S-AWC, and SEL S-AWC, respectively.
The list of standard features includes front-wheel drive, power steering, halogen headlights, fog lights, LED daytime running lights, chrome trim around the windows, body-colored door handles, heated mirrors, tinted rear windows, 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, cloth upholstery, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, a four-speaker sound system, and a seven-inch touch screen for the infotainment system.
Buyers have several option packages to choose from. Some give the Eclipse Cross a more eye-catching look, like the exterior package and the chrome package. The towing package adds a hitch and the required wiring.
Occupant safety
Every Eclipse Sport comes with dual front, side, and curtain airbags plus a knee airbag for the driver. Mitsubishi also includes traction and stability control systems and hill-start assist.
Driving aids like forward collision mitigation, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control are found on the list of extra-cost options.
Key competitors
The Eclipse Cross competes in the same segment as the Toyota C-HR, the Subaru Crosstrek, and the Nissan Rogue Sport.