The Aztek with the clever boot cover
Why no sat-nav?
Inexplicably, the Eclipse Cross doesn’t have navigation, even as an option (Apple CarPlay or Android Auto steps in instead), yet bizarrely it will tell me my longitude and latitude. Very helpful if I’m deep o Cape Horn on the Southern Ocean, but not a lot of use when I’m trying to ind Nuneaton – which, sadly, is the more likely scenario.
That back end
It’s fair to say the Eclipse Cross’s rear aesthetic has caused controversy, drawing comments ranging from a ‘modern Pontiac Aztek-esque monstrosity’ to ‘very cool – I like it’. Personally, I’m not a great fan – it looks like a coupe was dropped on a dinghy – and the narrow track doesn’t do the thing any visual favours either. But I can live with it.
Covering bases
How odd that such a seemingly irrelevant thing could be so useful. In the Mitsubishi there are no fewer than ive positions for the boot cover, depending on where the rear seats are positioned or the size of cargo you want to cover, or even the option to just store it unobtrusively out of the way. Sounds trivial, but it’s tremendously handy.
Sitting comfortably
It’s a proven scientiic fact that 89.32 per cent of Japanese cars have a crap driving position. Fortunately, the Eclipse Cross falls into the 10.68 per cent that don’t. I actually it very comfortably into it, with all limbs arranged correctly, although softer cushions and additional lumbar support wouldn’t go amiss for those longer trips.