Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross shares name, not performance, of coupe predecessor

For 22 years the Mitsubishi Eclipse was an eye-catching coupe with a convertible option. The sportiness demonstrated by the Eclipse was a total win for the Tokyo-based automaker.

Enter the 2020 Eclipse Cross, now a subpar compact crossover SUV.

The original Eclipse would certainly be turning in its grave if it knew its name was slapped on a 1.5-liter turbocharged crossover outputting only 152 horsepower. Although peppy, the Eclipse Cross’s CVT transmission is whiny and loud in the cabin compared to its rivals, our recently tested Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

The Eclipse Cross is small and defined specifically for city-like commuters who need to fit the unorthodox crossover, with limited rear-view vision, on street parking or in tight spaces.

Struggle is an understatement on the open road with its underpowered motor-transmission combination, but it wasn’t designed specifically for that at all. The Super-All Wheel drive system is nice and standard in our Octane Blue Metallic version while other models include the ES, LE, SP and SE, which are priced lower than our loaded SEL test model.

The interior is nice and plush and has great standard features, including adjustable heads-up display, roomy leather seats, and a glamorous infotainment system. Similar to Lexus SUVs, we did enjoy the center console “pad” for navigating around the infotainment system, giving it a bit of class for the affordable compact crossover.

Overall, the Eclipse Cross is not your usual crossover most commuters are searching for, but if unusual and city-like purposeful traveling is your way of transportation, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is right up the one way street of your choice.

MSRP: $22,845

As tested: $30,245

MPG: 26 city, 29 highway, 26.3 as tested

 

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