“Mitsubishi still makes the eclipse?!”
This was the response I received 100% of the time when I revealed to friends and family that I would be reviewing the new Mitsubishi Eclipse. This Eclipse has the surname “Cross” behind it but I never got that far when talking to people. They heard the name Eclipse and their jaw would drop. “They’re still making those?”
If those same people would have waited a fraction of a second later they would have heard the full name; the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. This is not your father’s Eclipse; if you a millennial, then that statement applies to you. The 90s and 2000s was the era of the original Eclipse; a sporty compact car that was not only fashionable but affordable. While it enjoyed popularity throughout these two decades, interest waned with competition became stiff and the Eclipse was finally retired in 2012.
Now it has come roaring back but with some added girth that has transformed what was once a compact into a crossover. Makes sense too, crossover are more popular than ever in 2019. Now it’s second year of production, the 2019 Eclipse Cross might still be a little late to the Crossover party and while it carries name recognition, does it have enough swagger to make a fashionably late entrance?
What I Dig About the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
An Eye-Catching Exterior – It’s no small challenge to stand out visually in today’s crossover market but the 2019 Eclipse Cross succeeds at striking a key balance between traditionalism and exciting form factor. However there is a catch;, the Eclipse Cross is best viewed in profile. The deep indentations that run along the top and bottom of the doors nicely compliment the angular windows and the sharply receding roofline. I don’t mind the elongated tail light that cuts the rear window in half – but only from the outside. Peering through that split rear window from the rear view mirror takes some getting used to and I never quite felt comfortable with it. The nose and accompanying grille of the Crossover Eclipse is a bit of a mixed bag; I actually like the chrome in the grille and the swoop from headlights to daylight running lights.There is something a bit erratic about the placement of elements up front but instead of being off-putting, it’s an intriguing front facia that certainly leads the eye in many directions.
Smooth, Comfortable Ride – The driver sits higher than expected in the Eclipse Cross and that elevated position in rewarded with a smooth driving experience that always felt like the vehicle was firmly hugging the road. No off-kilter roll felt there, even on sharp corners, and steering is nimble. While the Eclipse Cross isn’t exactly roomy, it’s not cramped either so there space to comfortably seat 4 adults – adding a fifth might be pushing it. The cabin is quieter than I was expecting while traveling at higher speeds; a pleasant surprising considering that some of the material inside the cabin feels less than luxurious.
Generous Features and A Heck of a Warranty – Starting at $23,595 for the base model, the Eclipse Crossover falls in the middle of the small crossover pack when it concerns price. But few base level crossovers come with standard features like a 7” touchscreen with bluetooth, a rearview camera and LED running lights. The SEL 1.5T S-AWC trim I tested came with alloy wheels, safety features like Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic, and heated front seats (which I’ll never use in Texas.) That trim starts at $26,695. But the real draw here is the impressive 10 year/100 mile powertrain warranty that Mitsubishi offers on all of its trim; most of its big competitors don’t even come close to matching this. On top of that a 5 year/60,000-mile New Vehicle limited warranty ensures that Mitsubishi stands behind its vehicle’s build.
Fosgate Goodness – It’s an option that came in included in the Touring package on the Eclipse Crossover I tested, but if money wasn’t an option I would certainly opt for the 710 watt Rockford Fosgate premium audio speaker system. 9 speakers strategically placed throughout the cabin emit a beautifully nuanced sound that will make your eardrums giddy with excitement. Add Apple Car Play and Android Auto to the mix and you got a musical masterpiece on wheels
What Made Me Say “Meh” About the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
A performance/style mismatch – As snappy as the Eclipse Cross is dressed, it doesn’t follow through on an equally snappy performance. The 1.5-liter turbo-4 engine gets the job done but doesn’t provide enough excitement to leave a lasting impression. This block produces 152 horsepower and an impressive 184 lb-ft of torque but it’s paired with an automatic transmission that feels a bit lazy between gear shifts. This sluggishness isn’t overly noticeable and no one is buying the Eclipse Crossover for speed but a bit more fine tuning might have carried it the extra mile in terms of performance.
An Unattractive Interior – There are interesting design elements about the interior of the Eclipse Cross but combined these elements are not enough to create an overall outstanding aesthetic. Build materials feel less than top notch and the dash configuration is modern but lacking in originality. The seats, both in front and in the back, are a bit small and rigid with not much play to make them comfy. The “thin display” version of the infotainment screen offered on some trims does add some style to the dash but the standard, in-dash screen offered on the base model is off putting, specifically in the way that it appears to stretch the dash upward. It’s perplexing that the interior is such a steep contrast from the exterior design – almost like two different design teams worked on each separate from one another.
A Clunky UI for the Infotainment System – The SEL 1.5T S-AWC trim I tested came with a 7” Thin Display that juts out from near the top of the dashboard – this is too far for the driver to reach so the only way to navigate the system is to use the atrocious touchpad controller near the shifter. I’ve used systems like this in vehicles from other manufacturers but the touchpad in the Eclipse Crossover has thus far been the most cumbersome I’ve used. The touchpad is highly sensitive and it often took me multiple tries to get the correct on-screen selection I was aiming for. The user interface software itself was functional but navigating the menus with the trackpad often left me frustrated. It was enough to wish my review vehicle came with the in-dash, touchscreen version that is included standard in the base model. At least then I could have bypassed the touchpad all together.
Conditions for a Perfect Storm
Mitsubishi had a unique opportunity when it revived the Eclipse brand and whether or not they took full advantage of that opportunity, they started off on the right foot. By transforming their infamous compact car into a crossover Mitsubishi not only wisely entered a segment of the market that is continuously growing but also built off of the shoulders of a brand name that is already highly recognized. To boot, they created a crossover that visually stands out from the crowd. All the essential elements were present to create a perfect storm of automotive greatness.
So it’s a shame that the 2019 Eclipse Cross isn’t a grand slam, despite apparent and obvious effort from Mitsubishi. Two many missed opportunities in design and performance create a somewhat mediocre experience in the Eclipse Cross and in such a competitive crossover market, there is no room for anything other than revolutionary.
This 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was tested at $33,305.00
