Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Overview

In recent times, Mitsubishi has come up with really tempting new-age designs, and the Eclipse Cross is the best epitome of it. This sporty crossover doesn’t promise only an all-new design language to be expected from Mitsubishi in the future but also showcases the new face of Mitsubishi when it comes to offering technologies on board. Offered in two engine options and four different variants, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross’s paint schemes are Red Diamond, Bronze Metallic, Sterling Silver, Light Blue, White Pearl, Black Mica, Titanium Grey, and White Solid.

Interior & Features

On the inside, things are not as dramatic as they are on the outside, as Mitsubishi has made the overall cabin slightly more modest looking. However, it is not boring in any manner, thanks to the subtle use of black and silver inserts in the overall cabin.

The three-spoke steering wheel, as well as the instrument console behind it, looks very modest, however, the center console looks a bit fascinating. It houses a touchscreen infotainment system as well as rectangular AC vents in the upper portion which looks slightly protruding out, while the lower one houses buttons for climate control.

The Eclipse Cross packs in a number of comfort and convenience features to make it feel contemporary, such as full leather upholstery, tilt and telescopic steering, cruise control, driver set height adjustment, dual zone climate control, sunroof, and a 9-speaker Rockford-Fosgate premium sound system. The Eclipse Cross has ample amount of space to seat five adults, however, due to the sloping roofline, headroom is at a premium.

Exterior

The Eclipse Cross, by far, has been one of the most dramatic looking Mitsubishi vehicles till date. Gone is the boring old school stance and boxy designs seen on the previous generation SUVs like the Pajero – the Eclipse Cross previews a very swanky design which makes it a very sporty looking vehicle.

The Eclipse Cross gets a sleek and tapering down design for the front grille, with two horizontal slats on it. The angular headlamps flanking the grille look sleek and pointy, making the front fascia quite aggressive. Like in every other new generation Mitsubishi UV, the Eclipse Cross also gets angular extensions on the front bumper, within which the trapezoidal fog lamps are positioned.

The angular theme of the overall design of the Eclipse Cross is well executed on the side profile as well, with the crossover getting a sloping down roofline and aggressive cuts and creases on the side doors. The subtle use of chrome on the window frame as well as side body molding gives it a premium touch, while the body cladding, as well as roof rails, give it a rugged appeal as well.

It is the rear profile of the Eclipse Cross which feels a way too dramatic – some may like it, some may not. The main reason for this subjective appeal in its rear design is the massive rear spoiler, which integrates with the tail light assembly. The tail lights, too, are designed in their own aggressive manner, with the boomerang-shaped lights placed on the C-pillar besides the tapering down windscreen.

Ride & Handling

Complementing the sporty styling of the Eclipse Cross is the agile driving dynamics of the crossover. The Eclipse Cross gets Macpherson struts with coil springs at the front and multilink with coil springs at the rear, with stabilizers at both the ends to keep the body roll well under control. The disc brake setup at both the ends manages to bring the Eclipse Cross to a halt with great poise.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Eclipse Cross is being offered in a choice of two petrol engine options. The smaller 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces 150 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque, and is offered with both front wheel and 4WD options. On the other hand, the bigger 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine generates 150 PS of power and 198 Nm of torque, and gets only front wheel drive layout. While the 2.0-litre engine gets CVT with 6-step modes, the 1.5-litre engine is being offered with a CVT with 8-step modes.

Braking & Safety

The Eclipse Cross is packed with a number of safety features such as front, side, curtain and knee airbags, ABS with EBD, forward collision mitigation system, lane departure warning, blind spot warning with lane change assist, ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation system, rear cross traffic alert, and tire pressure monitoring system.

Verdict

The Eclipse Cross, by far, is the sportiest looking Mitsubishi UV in recent times, with the swanky styling complementing the traditional Mitsubishi ethos of practicality, refinement, and reliability.