Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross fills compact niche
For people of a certain age — say anyone over 40 — the Mitsubishi Eclipse name stirs fond memories of an iconic two-door coupe which emerged in the 1990s and lived on until 2012.
With their distinctive power-bulge hoods and available turbocharged engines, the Mitsubishi Eclipse-Eagle Talon-Plymouth Laser triplets were ubiquitous on Chattanooga streets 20 years ago. (Full disclosure: In a previous lifetime I owned both Talon and Laser, and they are both among my favorite cars.)
The Eclipse name is so associated with the coupe profile that it takes some mental gymnastics to re-imagine it as a small SUV, but that’s what Mitsubishi would like us to do. By adding “cross” to the name we are to remember it’s a crossover vehicle.
As Mitsubishi has become virtually exclusively an SUV brand, the Eclipse slots nicely under the bread-and-butter Mitsubishi Outlander and above the sub-compact Outlander Sport. In our view, it’s a nicer, more-modern product than its Outlander brethren with sharper styling and more up-to-the-minute electronic features.
Locally, Edd Kirby’s Adventure Mitsubishi on West M.L. King Boulevard had 14 Eclipse Cross SUVS in digital inventory this week.
WHAT IS IT?
A new-for-2018, five-passenger compact SUV with a 1.5-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine making 184 horsepower. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission, and fortified by an all-wheel-drive system that has separate settings for “snow” and “gravel.”
STYLING
The Eclipse Cross features sharp, sculpted body lines and the brand’s trademark “dynamic shield” grille. The rear design is a bit busy and includes a split, rear
window that takes some getting used to. The interior is an upgrade from existing Outlander models.
Our SE trim tester features attractive cloth seats and some faux, carbon-fiber trim pieces. A computer-like track pad on the center console controls some of the infotainment functions including the Mitsubishi Connect suite of emergency and smartphone functions.
WHAT WE LIKE
The quiet cockpit; clear, easy-to-read gauges; optional seat heaters; electric parking brake and fuel-saving economy mode.
ITS GOOD FOR CHATTANOOGA BECAUSE
While four-wheel-drive is not mandatory in our region, it sure does help get your SUV moving up an occasional snowy road if you live at altitude. Online In the market for a new vehicle? To access more than 180 of Mark Kennedy’s local Test Drive columns visit www.timesfreepress. com/testdrive.
WORTH AN UPGRADE
Our SE trim tester provided by Mitsubishi came with no moon-roof, no rear-seat AC vents nor power seats.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
We also found the hatch and tail-light designs a bit over-cooked for our tastes.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST A base, ES-trim model starts at $24,290. Our mid-trim tester has an MSRP of $27,715.
WHILE YOU ARE LOOKING
Also check out the Chevy Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape.
If you are looking for a compact SUV with modern styling and a long (100,000 mile) power-train warranty, the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a solid choice.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @ TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook. com/mkennedycolumnist.