Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review (2018-2020)
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Lots of standard equipment
Sharp, coupe-like styling
Five-star rating from the safety experts at Euro NCAP
Cons
No plug-in hybrid or diesel
Very small boot
High running costs
The CarGurus verdict
The compact crossover market is packed with talent, and although it has its strengths, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross struggles to stand out. Mitsubishi's hard-earned reputation for building reliable cars and the generous standard specification are the main reasons to choose the Eclipse Cross over a Kia Sportage, Seat Ateca or Volkswagen T-Roc. From the driver's seat, however, it's no better than mid-pack in such a fiercely contested class. The low-speed ride is uncomfortable, and having just one engine option limits its appeal. It doesn't help that the engine is rather thirsty.
Inside, the Eclipse Cross has a more upmarket feel than most Mitsubishis, and there's decent passenger space. However, boot space is very tight indeed for a car of this size. If you want coupé-like styling, durability and lots of kit, the Eclipse Cross is worth a look. But most compact SUV buyers will be able to find alternatives that suit their needs better.
Pretty much every carmaker offers a compact SUV these days. They’re hugely popular with buyers, but the flipside is that it’s hard for manufacturers to stand out in this increasingly saturated market. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross arguably does so thanks to its styling, with a sporty, sloping back end and dramatic crease lines running down the side.
Even the name is a reference to the original Mitsubishi Eclipse, a sporty little coupé that appeared in the first Fast and Furious film. So does that mean that the Eclipse Cross delivers a sporty drive? Er, no. It’s one of Mitsubishi’s more competent SUVs on road, but it still lags behind the best in this fiercely competitive class. Practicality isn’t outstanding, either, so keen pricing and decent equipment levels are the main appeal.
That’s particularly true in the second hand market, where the Eclipse Cross now finds itself. Mitsubishi wound down its new car sales in the UK in 2021, but dealers continue to offer aftersales care, warranty cover and servicing for existing cars.
Mitsubishi’s SUVs have traditionally sold on their rugged, practical nature. They weren’t necessarily the most stylish or the best to drive, but they had space and simplicity on their side. The Eclipse Cross, however, stumbles somewhat at this very important hurdle.
Legroom in the rear seats is sufficient for adults, as long as the sliding rear bench is all the way back on its runners. However, that leaves just 341 litres of boot space. That's very poor when you consider the Kia Sportage has a capacity of 520 litres. You can find more room by moving the Mitsubishi's rear bench forwards, but then legroom is tight. Even with the seats all the way forwards, the boot capacity lags behind many of its competitors. Headroom is also pretty tight in the back, especially if the car has the panoramic sunroof fitted.
From the driver's seat, the Eclipse Cross handles neatly without being the kind of car that really gets under your skin. The steering is sharp, and body movements are kept firmly in check at high speeds, but if you are looking for a rewarding drive from a compact SUV, there are plenty of more polished alternatives, such as the Seat Ateca and the Peugeot 3008. At low speeds the ride is firm and sharp bumps are felt with a whack.
The automatic gearbox may be a CVT, but Mitsubishi has designed it to work more like a conventional automatic. So there are eight fixed ratios instead of continually variable gearing. Gearshifts are smooth, in fact we prefer the auto to the clunky shift of the 6-speed manual gearbox.
As for engine options, diesel's decline in popularity was already well underway when Mitsubishi launched the Eclipse Cross back in 2018. This was reflected in the decision to offer the Eclipse Cross with petrol power only. A 2.2-litre diesel was considered, but never arrived.
There's just the one petrol engine, a 161bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. It's a free-revving engine and very quiet once cruising, although some drivers will miss the mid-range punch of a good turbodiesel. Adding some extra muscle would make the Eclipse Cross feel more sporty.
Inside, the Eclipse Cross has a more upmarket feel than many Mitsubishis. It's certainly better finished than the smaller ASX, for example.
From launch, the car was offered in 2, 3, and 4 specifications, along with the limited run First Edition. Just 250 of these were made, fully loaded with kit. Following a facelift in 2020, these models were replaced with the Verve, Dynamic and Exceed trim specs.
Even the most basic of these three has lots of equipment, with 16-inch alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a reversing camera, cruise control and climate control. To call it the entry-level model is to do it an injustice, and the long list of standard kit goes a long way to explaining why the Eclipse Cross appears to be more expensive than some of its rivals.
Dynamic spec adds a head-up display, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and more. Exceed cars have black leather upholstery, a powerful nine-speaker stereo, a powered panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree camera system. Unusually, no Eclipse Cross has satellite navigation: Mitsubishi works on the basis that drivers will use their smartphone through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. In fairness, these apps do generally work a lot better than the in-built systems anyway.
We can understand why Mitsubishi decided against adding a 2.2-litre diesel to the range, but this does mean high-mileage drivers in particular will have higher running costs than if a diesel engine had been made available. And despite Mitsubishi being well known for plug-in hybrid technology in the Outlander PHEV SUV, this kind of powertrain has never been offered in the Eclipse Cross. So your choice is not which engine to choose, but whether to choose manual or automatic, and whether the automatic should be front- or four-wheel-drive.
For lowest costs, the 1.5 turbo manual should be first choice. It achieves 36.2-37.7mpg on the combined cycle. These are WLTP figures, so should be more accurate than mpg tested to the old and outdated NEDC standard. Switching to the CVT auto means slightly worse fuel economy. The combined figure for this model is 34.4mpg. As you'd expect, the 4WD auto has the worst economy. The official figures suggest you can expect 32.5mpg.
How does that compare with the Mitsubishi's rivals? Well, the Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI Evo of the same era has an official combined figure of 39.2-44.8mpg as a manual, while the DSG auto returns 39.8-44.1mpg (there's no Karoq 4x4 with this engine). So it's fair to say there are more fuel-efficient compact SUVs than the Eclipse Cross, even if you only compare it to other petrol crossovers.
Insurance for the current line-up ranges from group 18 for the Verve to group 20 for the Exceed automatic. So premiums shouldn't be too steep whichever model you choose.
The Eclipse Cross was launched in January 2018, which means that all models will now come under the same £165 flat rate system for Vehicle Excise Duty. Overall, though, the Eclipse Cross is relatively expensive to run compared with its rivals, especially those which offer a broader choice of engines and powertrain technologies.
Mitsubishi has a reputation for building tough and reliable cars. There's no sign that the Eclipse Cross is going to change that.
The split rear screen hampers visibility when reversing, so check over any used buy carefully for any scuffs from parking. We'd also have a careful look at the alloy wheels for signs of kerbing, especially the higher-spec models riding on 18-inch alloys.
Mitsubishi is quite a popular brand with caravanners, so check if any used Eclipse Cross has a tow ball fitted. That shouldn't necessarily put you off, so long as there's no sign of a slipping clutch on the test drive.
The Eclipse Cross has been the subject of a safety recall for faulty software in the stability control and autonomous emergency braking systems. Either fault can lead to these systems failing to work as they should, increasing the risk of a collision. This applies to model year 2018 vehicles made before May 2018.
If you are thinking of buying a nearly new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, it may still have some of its five-year/62,500-mile warranty remaining. That's longer than the standard cover on most rivals, although the mileage allowance is greater if you choose a Hyundai, Kia, or Toyota. Despite pulling out of the new car market, Mitsubishi will still honour this warranty through its UK dealerships.
- The roster of safety kit is very extensive. Forward Collision Mitigation is Mitsubishi's term for autonomous emergency braking, which can apply the brakes if the driver isn't paying attention to a hazard up ahead. There's also a Lane Departure Warning system and automatic headlights that switch themselves from high beam to dipped beam to avoid dazzling other road users. When tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP in 2017, the Eclipse Cross scored five stars and its 97% rating for protecting adult occupants is especially impressive.
- The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was the first car from the Japanese brand to feature its Smartphone link Display Audio (SDA) infotainment system. This uses a 7.0-inch touchscreen, but can also be controlled via a trackpad. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. The screen is a little small compared with those in some rivals, and you'll need to use your smartphone as a satnav as there's no built in navigation, so make sure your phone contract allows for plenty of data.
- Four-wheel-drive versions of the Eclipse Cross send 80% of the engine's power to the front wheels in normal driving conditions. However, the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system will vary the split front to rear and left to right depending on the throttle opening, vehicle speed and driving conditions. Up to 45% of the engine's power can be sent to the rear wheels. S-AWC can also brake individual wheels to help the car stay on course when cornering. In addition to the Auto mode for use on tarmac, there are Snow and Gravel settings to adapt the 4x4 system to the weather and terrain.
- If you are looking for an Eclipse Cross on a tight budget: Go for the early front-wheel-drive 2 spec. It may be the entry-level car, but it could be a mid-range model compared with the specification of some rival crossovers. Stick with the manual gearbox for the lowest price, and don't be afraid of a car that's covered a lot of miles, because Mitsubishis are usually very reliable.
- If you’re looking to buy nearly new: Choose Verve spec. As with the older model, there's no compelling reason to look beyond the entry-level model, as it's generously equipped and more affordable to buy than the rest of the range. By all means spend more if you want to, but you're not missing much if you choose an Eclipse Cross Verve.
- If you want a car that's capable in all weathers: Pick a 4WD. Mitsubishi has tuned its 4x4 system to improve the handling of the Eclipse Cross compared with the front-wheel-drive model, although you'd be hard-pressed to notice when driving at sensible speeds. You will notice the benefit in wet or wintery weather, though. Just be aware that 4WD versions will use slightly more fuel.
- If you want all the toys: Pick a 4 spec car if you’re looking at earlier versions, or an Exceed if you have the budget for a nearly new example. You get just about every conceivable gadget in one of these top spec cars. The Exceed auto has a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and lots more.
