The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is an important vehicle for the brand and one that holds a legitimate spot as an alternative to such stalwarts as the Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V and Subaru Crosstrek. That’s some real stout competition if we do say so. Heck, Mitsubishi has even taken the extra step of including a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty to reassure buyers that they are all that. Is the Eclipse Cross up to the task? Read on to find out more.
The Eclipse Cross is not a new vehicle, having been on the road since 2018. And it’s not a sports coupe like its dearly departed cousin that gained fame in the early versions of the Fast and Furious movies. Instead, think of it as a reimagining of the nameplate and a reorganization of the brand as it comes into its own under the stewardship of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. In order to get the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross right, they skipped the 2021 model altogether.
Unlike a three-row Sport Utility Vehicle, the new Eclipse Cross is a five-passenger, five-door crossover utility vehicle available in front or all-wheel drive versions. It is powered by a single offering: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 152 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The power is merely average, just like the fuel economy. By EPA numbers, expect 26 city/29 highway for the FWD version while the AWD version clocks in at 25 city/26 highway on regular gas.
Power from the 1.5-liter mill is sent to the front or all-wheel drive system via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Steering wheel-mounted paddle shift levers are on board to allow a driver to simulate stepping through the gears of the Mitsu’s in the same manner as a Formula 1 driver if he ever got behind the wheel of an Eclipse Cross.
The new Eclipse Cross is 5.5 inches longer than its previous model. That extra length comes from a front leading edge that has been extended by 1.5 inches but still manages to stay within the company’s Dynamic Shield look. A new hood and bolder grille also lend to that appeal. A revised rear end extends the overall length by four inches and cleans up the visual mishap that occurred with the previous split window design.
The sloping roofline lends an air of sportiness to the overall look of the Mitsubishi. It is actually a refreshing alternative to all the boxy vehicles we have grown used to seeing on the road today. The overall length is 173.4 inches which comes up short compared to the Nissan Rogue that checks in at 183 inches.
The Eclipse Cross is available in three trim levels ranging from base LE, mid-level SE and top-line SEL.
The interior of the Eclipse Cross has received a once-over with what you can call minor revisions that help increase the vehicle’s liveability. There’s a contemporary 8-inch display screen that is now closer to the front seat occupants enabling easier access overall. It is decidedly improved over the previous model and now features a standard volume and tuning knob. The center console is now improved for more spacious storage. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are exclusively part of the 8.0-inch display package.
The SEL tester we tried at Napleton.news features a leather interior with full grey upholstery. The rear seat legroom can be tight until we realized that the seats could slide to and fro as needed. A dual-panel sunroof opens the interior to the elements and gives a class-above appearance to what would be an otherwise price-conscious vehicle. Behind the rear seat, you have 23.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold those rear seats forward and that space climbs to 50.1 cubic feet, which is good for at least six rollaboard suitcases.
The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross caught us totally off-guard. We honestly weren’t sure what to expect because we were hot and cold for the brand in years past. We even owned a 1984 Colt Turbo that was a pocket rocket of the best sort, but it disappointed us when we drove through the car wash only to feel squishy wet rear carpeting because some assembly line worker forgot to install drain plugs in the factory.
That was in another lifetime.
Today’s Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a much more refined and smooth ride. Sure the 152 horsepower is not spectacular, nor is the average mileage, but what the Eclipse does deliver is plenty of fun! Easy cruising is a prime factor here, thanks to new refinement that has worked its way into this revised model.
Rapid acceleration is not really a thing here, but this Mitsu still delivers without having the engine let you know of its displeasure for being asked to produce. The ride is comfortable and throwing it into a curve does display a hint of body roll, but not enough to require cleanup on aisle two (the back seat).
Overall, we think the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is all about confidence. Confidence in Mitsubishi’s place in the automotive world, confidence to deliver a product that doesn’t look like everyone else’s and confidence in their product overall, to the point that they offer a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
If that doesn’t give a buyer confidence, nothing will.
This post was published on July 13, 2021
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