Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a car that the automaker presented to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in 2017. A car whose appearance combines elements of a classic SUV and a coupe. And it is this alchemy, which many car manufacturers practice on their cars, that has a noticeable and positive effect on its external dynamic appearance.
I currently got a piece for the editorial test, model year 2020 with a total of eight kilometers driven, in the highest INSTYLE equipment, turbocharged gasoline fifteen-cylinder and automatic continuously variable transmission CVT.
SUV coupe
The size of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ranks between the ASX and OUTLANDER models offered. However, its external appearance comes with a quite "trendy" solution, combining elements of the popular SUV body and dynamic elements of the coupe body.
The front part of the car is definitely worthy of praise, its appearance was determined by the new design direction of the car company and we can currently see it, for example, on the new L200 or the new ASX .
The front part therefore has a relatively rich bent chrome plating, which gives the car considerable dynamism with its shapes. The dynamism of the front part is additionally supported by the wedge-shaped shape of the front lights, which elegantly follow the already mentioned chrome elements.
The side profile of the car is also quite good, its wedge-shaped shape is also prescribed in this part and thus adds sportiness and power to the car. In the context of the whole car, the aforementioned power levels off in the rear section. Thanks to its "coupe" appearance, it is equipped with a horizontally divided rear window, this partition in the exterior is connected to the rear taillights and the third brake light is also located in it. The bulkiness of the rear part is mainly represented by the rear bumper, which is relatively high in the corners and reaches to the rear taillights.
The rear part of the car is quite a hot topic for me and unfortunately I haven't come to the taste of it yet. Dynamic proportions and a sporty character are brought about by a short rear overhang, which, however, in my opinion, does not get along well with the massive and rounded concept of the rear bumper. Quite a shame.
On the contrary, a very pleasant addition was the "sports package" on the tested car, which enriched the car with moldings lining both the sills and the front and rear bumper. The red line, which these elements had, made the car optically cohesive.
Spacious interior
The interior of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is primarily spacious, both in the front and rear positions. It is also quite well made. Unfortunately, its dark sides include its slightly "outdated" controls. The layout of the individual controls and the variety of their graphic renderings do not look completely contemporary. Otherwise, the dashboard is quite clear and well organized.
As part of the highest tested INSTYLE equipment, the on-board infotainment display emerges from the dashboard, which can be controlled by touch or using the "touchpad" on the center panel. It is also equipped with an automatic transmission selector, which also has the option of manual shifting, and you can also "shift" the paddles under the steering wheel. On the center panel there is also the controller of the S-AWC system, with which you switch between the driving modes AUTO, SNOW and GRAVEL.
The instrument cluster in front of the driver has classic speedometer and tachometer indicators, between them is the on-board computer display, which is not controlled on the multifunction steering wheel or on the levers below it, but unfortunately directly on the instrument panel behind the steering wheel.
As I have already mentioned, the space for the crew is sufficient, the rear bench will also offer a shift of the seat and the possibility of folding the backrests. The short overhang of the rear part of the body then brings a certain toll in the form of a smaller luggage compartment, which offers a basic volume of 341 liters.
Supercharged 15-liter and continuously variable CVT
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is still offered with only one powertrain. It is a petrol turbocharged MIVEC 15-litre engine with an output of 120 kW (163 hp). The unit can be combined with a six-speed manual transmission or a stepless CVT transmission. You also have the choice between driving only the front or both axles. The four-wheeler is then only offered with a CVT automatic transmission.
I have to praise the engine and transmission, the turbocharged engine works with a combination of direct and indirect fuel injection and with variable valve timing. Its operation is very quiet, refined, moreover, it is quite potent, without any hint of supercharging. The stepless CVT transmission gets along very well with the car, it has eight virtual preset stages, which you can also shift with the gear selector in the center panel or the paddles under the steering wheel. This combination of engine and gearbox is therefore very user-friendly. It is difficult to assess the consumption, the car had driven only 8 km when it was taken over, but the on-board computer showed fairly realistic values slightly below the 8 litres/100 km mark.
The AWD drive here is handled by the S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) system, which, according to the evaluated information, works with the distribution of torque to individual wheels. In addition, the system works with the option of choosing an automatic driving mode, a mode for snow and a mode for a gravel surface.
Chassis-wise, the Eclipse Cross is quite confident, perhaps only the steering could provide more feedback.
In conclusion
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and its 2020 model year do not bring us much new, but its positives still include an interesting purchase price, a large interior space for the crew, a turbocharged gasoline engine with adequate performance for the car with a very user-friendly stepless automatic transmission. For me, its weakest point is the handling of the rear part with its overhang to the size of the luggage compartment.
According to the price list for the "model year 2019", the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is offered (offered) in the basic INFORM equipment with a six-speed manual and front axle drive only, at a promotional price starting at CZK 499,650 including VAT.
We also have the price list of the tested piece, i.e. "model year 2020" available, and here again the INFORM basic equipment with a six-speed manual and front axle drive only is offered from CZK 509,650 including VAT. So there is no significant increase in the selling price. The tested top-of-the-range INSTYLE with automatic CVT transmission and AWD drive starts with a price of CZK 814,850 including VAT. For the sports package, which the tested car also had, you will pay an additional 26,990 CZK including VAT.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is certainly an interesting choice in the given segment. It will offer versatility, spaciousness and good driving characteristics. Personally, I would be fine with a "two-wheeler", so I would choose a lower level of equipment and take advantage of the interesting purchase prices.
