MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS
The new Eclipse Cross is a handsome new SUV that looks right at home on British roads.
It’s probably fair to say that Mitsubishi is a fairly conservative brand when it comes to design and overall product flair, but occasionally it comes out with a car that gives off a really vibrant and fun aura. In the current range, that car is this, the Eclipse Cross.
Now, if you like your Japanese cars you might recognise the ‘Eclipse’ name. Back in the 1990’s, Mitsubishi used this name for a small sports car made between 1989 and 2011 but it was never sold here in the UK. The name has been revised for the new SUV we have here, after all, ‘Sports’ is part of the ‘SUV’ recipe.
At the moment the Eclipse Cross is only available with one engine – a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol that produces around 160bhp. Depending on the model you choose, it comes with either a manual or automatic gearbox which sends power to the front or all 4 of the wheels. Mitsubishi has serious all-wheel drive pedigree, making the 4WD cars the most desirable and giving the SUV surer footing when it comes to wintery weather conditions. If petrol power isn’t for you, don’t worry. In time, Mitsubishi has said it plans to introduce a 2.2-litre turbo diesel to the Eclipse Cross, that shouldn’t be too far away into the future.
The handsome, bold styling of the Eclipse Cross carries over into the interior, which maintains a thoroughly Japanese feel but is far more sculpted than what appears in many other Mitsubishi products. The firm often says it is proud of the new interior here, and it should be. A touchpad similar to that found in Lexus’s is used to help navigate the infotainment system and there’s a host of standard equipment and gadgets. Noticeably, there’s no satellite navigation. Mitsubishi says this is because many customers now use their smartphone connectivity and use apps such as ‘Waze’ to navigate instead of using manufacturer-supplied navigation systems.
Practicality wise, the Eclipse Cross offers plenty of space for passengers and a good sized boot – 448-litres with the rear seats in play, 1,140-litres with them folded down. Synergy customers with safety in mind will also be pleased to note that the new Eclipse Cross scored 5-stars during Euro NCAP crash testing and comes with active safety features to help avoid unfortunate situations.
Mitsubishi is on a bit of a roll with its products at the moment and the new Eclipse Cross is a confident, vibrant offering that really shows off the form the Japanese giant is in.