Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2018 – 2021) Review

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross could have been a contender in the hard-fought mid-size SUV class, yet it was hampered by having no diesel or hybrid versions. It wasn’t great to drive, either, which meant many buyers ignored it, instead opting for a Ford Kuga, the big-selling Nissan Qashqai or the generous seven-year warranty of a Kia Sportage. Read on for our full Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross review.

Everyone and their aunt has some sort of SUV-style model in their line-up. Not to be left behind, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was the Japanese brand’s version of the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson.

So what makes the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross stand out from the used car crowd?

Mitsubishi used lots of words like ‘defiant’ and ‘engaging’ when talking about the styling. There’s certainly a lot going on, but whether you like it is down to personal preference. At least it’s not generic.

It also feels well made and is a step forward from the likes of the Mitsubishi ASX, with less in the way of hard plastics and a generally nicer feel throughout. It’s not as impressive in this respect as the SEAT Ateca, but everything works intuitively and it feels solidly built.

Practicality-wise, it’s a good family car. The coupe-esque rear end may cut into the loadspace somewhat – and the split rear tailgate glass compromises the view out the back – but the capacity is a usable 448 litres, and the rear seats slide back and forth, plus they also recline. 

There’s just one engine – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol. The lack of a diesel will mean high-mileage drivers ruling out the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The 1.5-litre petrol is a decent unit that’s responsive yet quiet, and with 163PS, isn’t short of power.

Claimed economy is 42mpg in a two-wheel-drive model, but you’ll probably see a figure in the early 30s in real life. 

The standard six-speed manual is far better than the optional CVT automatic. The latter is fine at a sedate pace, but ask for any meaningful acceleration and you’re greeted with the usual whine, as the engine sits at constant revs. Both transmissions are rated to tow 1600kg.

Where the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross struggles is on the road. It’s not especially good to drive, with too much lean in corners, a hard ride on models with bigger wheels and steering that feels artificial. It’s disappointing given how promising the rest of the car is.

While it’s well equipped, there are just too many gaps in the overall package for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross to stack up next to many more able rivals.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross review here.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn’t the best SUV around to drive. In fact, it lags behind much of the competition. In and around town, it’s perfectly adequate, although rear visibility is hampered by the odd split tailgate design.

On poor surfaces, it’s let down by an overly stiff ride, which is particularly noticeable on models with 18-inch wheels. These are standard on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 3 trim and above.

Despite the car being fitted with sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, it’s far from enjoyable to drive, with lean in corners, further hampered by the electric power-steering, which feels artificial and lacks any weight.

On the upside, the four-wheel-drive versions are capable on loose surfaces, making the car a good bet for those who live in more remote parts of the countryside.

Just one engine is available – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol.

With 163PS, it has more power than the 1.5 TSI Evo engine used in the Volkswagen T-Roc, plus it develops 250Nm to give it sufficient low-down pulling power that you rarely have to work it hard in everyday driving.

It’s a refined engine, too, and while there’s not as much sound insulation as in a Volkswagen, it’s nonetheless quiet and rarely sounds coarse.

Both two and four-wheel drive models are available.

The standard two-wheel-drive manual is actually the best model in the range. The six-speed gearbox has a nice smooth shift, and gives the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross more than enough get-up-and-go around town.

You can spend more by going for an automatic version; indeed, it’s the only gearbox choice if you want a 4WD variant.

Sadly, it feels like any other CVT, so while you know it’s designed to make the engine work at the optimum revs in terms of blending economy and performance, there’s still an unpleasant whine when you accelerate.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross got a five-star crash rating when it was evaluated by safety body Euro NCAP in 2017.

All models get seven airbags, automatic emergency braking that works up to speeds of 50mph, lane departure warning and tyre pressure monitoring. 

They also get Active Yaw control on the front wheels, so the car remains easy to control even if you go into a corner carrying too much speed.

If you want more safety kit, then you’ll have to look for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed trim that adds active cruise control. As well as holding you at a set cruising speed like the standard system, this can also accelerate and brake, keeping a safe distance from the traffic in front. It comes with Lane Change Assist, too.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 4 trim comes with a 360° camera, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross’s 1600kg towing capacity is 500kg less than a four-wheel-drive, diesel Skoda Karoq can manage.

However, it’s still a useful tow car and can haul an unbraked trailer of up to 750kg.

There’s decent space in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and, although six-footers will find headroom tight in the back – which is not helped by the sloping roofline – it’s no worse than many other SUVs of this size.

The boot could be better, though. It’s narrow due to the bulky wheelarch intrusions (one of which houses a speaker) and there are lots of gaps for things to fall down into. The rear seats don’t fold down flat either. 

On the plus side, those back seats do have eight different recline settings, while the bases slide forward by 20cm, so you can increase boot space if needed and still carry passengers.

The interior of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was a big step forward for the brand, with a more upmarket feel and fewer hard plastics than were used on previous models.

It gets all the basics right, with a decent driving position, comfortable yet supportive seats and intuitive controls.

It’s clearly a well put together interior, so although not as premium as some of the competition – there are still some slightly naff buttons hidden away, while the silver plastic is unlikely to fill you with joy – it still feels solid and built to last.

Mitsubishi didn’t try to reinvent the wheel here – the interior is pretty standard in terms of layout and design, although there was a new touchpad controller that was standard on all models, along with a bright colour screen on the dashtop.

The laptop-style touchpad is similar to the one that Lexus uses and although it’s a little unusual, you soon get used to it.

Is it as simple as having a touchscreen? Probably not, but it works well, and navigating around the different menus is straightforward, even if the touchpad can be a little hesitant to react at times.

The limited appeal of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross for most SUV buyers creates a keen opportunity for those who do fancy it, as prices are lower than for many rivals of a similar age and mileage.

A six-year-old Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with less than 60,000 miles to its name could be yours from £10,500.

Go for a later car, and a three-year-old example with just 25,000 miles under its wheels can be parked on your drive from £16,500.

While there is only one engine option in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, there are two gearboxes to pick from. With the manual, it claims 42.2mpg, while the CVT auto had an official consumption figure of 36.7mpg.

Looking at our Real MPG data, the manual offers a true economy of 37mpg, while the CVT fares worse at 31mpg.

The CVT has slightly higher carbon dioxide emissions of 154g/km compared with the manual’s 151g/km, but both pay the same flat rate of £190 per annum for road tax.

Insuring a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross won’t break the bank, as it sits in groups 18 to 20, based on which version you choose. That’s on a par with its major rivals.

A bright spot for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is that the company has a good reputation for reliability, so you should only have to worry about routine maintenance.

As Mitsubishi is no longer present in the UK market, you will have to look to independent garages for service work, which should be straightforward.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2 trim comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, Smartphone audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB, six speakers, rear-view camera, Bluetooth hands-free connection and a touchpad controller.

It also has projection halogen headlamps, cruise control, climate control air-conditioning, auto lights and wipers with auto high beam, LED DRLs and interior lighting, rear spoiler, Front Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning and seven airbags.

This model further includes wheelarch moulding, a black side sill garnish, front and rear silver skid plates, privacy glass, colour keyed mirrors and door handles, plus black interior door handles.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 3 models have two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, head-up display, fabric interior with silver stitching, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, keyless entry and start, heated door mirrors with power fold, soundproof windscreen, silver side sill garnish, plus front and rear parking sensors.

Choose the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 4 and it has a Rockford nine-speaker system, black leather interior with orange stitching, power driver’s seat adjustment, power panoramic roof, LED headlamps with wash function, 360° camera, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist.

When it was launched, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross First Edition came with premium Red Diamond metallic paint, silver front and rear styling extras, front, rear and side carbon extensions with a red styling line, a First Edition mat set with red trim, and a First Edition exterior rear badge.

This was limited to 250 models.