Exterior The name combines the automaker’s old Eclipse sports coupe with the trending crossover segment, and Mitsubishi’s attempt to also combine design cues from both has produced one awkward-looking vehicle. The Eclipse Cross looks a lot like the automaker’s other vehicles, with a few exceptions. The brand’s large shield grille is front and center, but the new model’s face is more intense with gaping foglight inlets, a nose-heavy design in front and wedgelike styling in back. High-mounted taillights that bisect the rear glass contribute to the oddball, angular look that, at certain viewpoints, recalls Pontiac’s design-challenged Aztek.
Interior Mitsubishi says the Eclipse Cross’ interior represents a big leap forward in terms of both materials and design, and that its cabin is the most refined in the automaker’s lineup. It sports a wraparound design for a cockpit-like feel, and gloss black trim adds to its sporty look.
Other cabin highlights include a 7-inch multimedia screen that sits high on the dash and looks like a tablet; it can be controlled via touch or a console-area touchpad, and is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. There’s also a color head-up display ahead of the gauge cluster.
Two new-to-Mitsubishi convenience features are making their debut on the Eclipse Cross: heated rear seats and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. Also in back, passengers are treated to a configurable backseat that has nine reclining positions and can slide forward and backward nearly 8 inches, Mitsubishi says.
Under the Hood A new engine also makes its U.S. debut in the Eclipse Cross: a turbocharged 1.5-liter direct-injection four-cylinder that makes 152 horsepower. The lone engine (at least in the U.S.; a diesel version will be available in Europe) will pair with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Mitsubishi calls the new engine fuel efficient, but has not yet released fuel-economy estimates.
Mitsubishi’s all-wheel-drive system, dubbed S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control), is available. Three driver-selectable modes are included (Auto, Snow and Gravel) that alter the system’s responsiveness.
Safety A full suite of safety features is standard on the mid-level SE trim and up, but unavailable on lower trims. Features include blind spot warning, lane departure warning, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, automatic high beams and a multiview camera system.
