The Car Connection Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Overview
Rankings
- #17 in Small SUVs
- #51 in Crossover SUVs
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a compact crossover from the automaker that borrows one of the brand's popular names for its unconventional application.
The Eclipse Cross is smaller than the Outlander and Outlander Sport SUVs, and has a sloped roofline that is all its own. It is offered in ES, LE, SE, and SEL trim levels with all-wheel drive standard on all trims as of the 2023 model year.
MORE: Read our full review of the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
With the Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi has a budget minded entry that offers something close to compact utility but at a subcompact price point. It competes against other value-minded crossovers like the Nissan Rogue Sport, Kia Seltos, and Volkswagen Taos.
The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
After taking a year off in 2021, the Eclipse Cross returned with a redesign for 2022 that changed up its styling inside and out. Gone is the split tailgate for a more conventional one and the front has been changed to more closely resemble the larger Outlander. Lower light clusters now house the headlights and fog lights, with thin LED daytime running lights appearing next to the large front grille.
The powertrain still uses a 152-hp 1.5-liter turbo-4 mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Keeping this constant was not a positive, it still feels sluggish and passing maneuvers require planning.
Inside, the touchscreen has been repositioned to be closer to the front passengers so they can reach it and the touchpad that used to control the screen has been eliminated. A 7.0-inch screen comes standard, with an 8.0-inch screen found on all trim levels except the base model. The larger screen comes with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, but not the smaller screen. Head and leg room in the second row is still limited, it can fit adults but they'll only be comfortable on shorter jaunts.
Automatic forward emergency braking is standard, along with lane departure warnings. Blind spot monitors, automatic high beams, and a surround view camera are also available. Adaptive cruise control is only offered on the top SEL trim, since it's the only trim level equipped with radar.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross History
The Eclipse Cross was introduced in 2018 as the first new crossover from Mitsubishi in several years, with a dramatic roofline that defined its shape and packaging. The small crossover offered an aggressive wedge shape, punctuated by rising windows in the back and a dropping roof in the rear. All trim levels of the Eclipse Cross wore daytime LED running lights, which pronounce the crossover's arrival better than the chrome accents and upright grille. The tailgate of the Eclipse Cross has a horizontal split, which slices through the middle of the rearward view.
Power came from a 1.5-liter turbo-4 that made 152 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission option was a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and in most cases the Eclipse Cross featured all-wheel drive (though that would change on future models). The Mitsubishi all-wheel-drive system was new for Eclipse Cross too: it's a full-time system that electronically transfers power from the front to the rear wheels for better traction.
In most models, Mitsubishi equipped the Eclipse Cross with a touchscreen and touchpad to control its 7.0-inch infotainment screen. Safety features were sparse, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning are available on top trims only—something competitors are offering on base trim levels.
After its introduction for 2018, the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was unchanged from the year before it. For 2020, Mitsubishi added an SP trim and made minor equipment adjustments.
