Since the start of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2018 model year, we think this is a better choice than expected in the uninteresting automotive segment.
Mitsubishi speeds up in the growing competition of cars. Not dramatically – I think it runs much faster compared to the previous Shake – but the Japanese automaker is a little more with its new products. We are impressed with the new and innovative redesign of the 2022 Outlander, a three-row SUV that is well suited to drive the company. Instead, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, updated with the Land Thunder Drive program, pushed us behind the wheel of a smaller SUV, reminding us that the brand still needs to work.
The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is no small shortcut. The Eclipse Cross tops the list of our favourite small SUVs, old and new. The updated model pushes the older version somewhat into memory, but it is still packed with dated interior and dim powertrain.
Since the start of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2018 model year, we think this is a better choice than expected in the uninteresting automotive segment. The sub-compact is somewhere between compact shortcuts in size and price, which makes it a place that attracts some buyers due to its unique location.
At the time of the bizarre release that we think was triggered by a certain global pandemic, the 2021 edition did not exist. The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is not a complete redesign – it runs on the same platform and offers the same engine and transmission as the previous one – but the exterior design gave it a more serious output, with better upgrades on the inside to make daily life easier.
Externally, updates focus on small shortcut tips. The redesigned front fascia light clusters are divided into upper LED driving lights and lower stacked headlights and fog lights. Mitsubishi’s dynamic shield grille design features a chrome sash, a black diamond-like mesh in the middle. The face of the Eclipse Cross has the perfect human face and the overall look of the person is aggressive and fun.
The product is larger on the back than on the front. Instead of a standard hatchback with a large single-piece window, the cone is a two-piece rear view glass, separated by full-width taillights by a fox spoiler-shaped panel. The 2022 Eclipse Cross is 5.5 inches longer than the 2020 model, with four of them attached to the back. It has a cargo capacity of 23.4 cubic feet (0.8 more than the 2020 version), which can fold the second seat to 50.1 (1.2 cubic feet increase). This adds up to 11% extra floor space for larger and / or wider items.
Although the extra space is a welcome improvement, the rearrangement of the Eclipse cross dashboard and centre console is still useful. The infotainment screen, which measures 7 inches and 8 inches on the base ES model, is moved two inches closer to the driver. This allowed Mitsubishi to eliminate the unwanted, console-attached touchpad like the Lexus, instead relying solely on touchscreen inputs and allowing for better cup holders.
Larger screen-mounted models include Apple Car-Play and Android Auto and a TomTom-based navigation system with SE and SEL trim. A row-mounted flip-up head-up display is available. We found that the interior trim and construction were of reasonable quality considering the price of the car. There are no obvious cost-cutting measures and some options, such as heated steering and rear seats, are unexpected. Another admirable addition in 2022: the body maintains volume and adjustment.
As we mentioned earlier, the Eclipse Cross is unique in that it is longer than the Honda CR-V with the wheelbase, but shorter overall. There is plenty of leg room for four passengers, but less headroom than most competitors. The sliding rear seat serves to increase the space between the passenger and cargo compartments. In the real world, lumbering elephants are exposed by the aggression of speeding midgets.
We never considered the Eclipse Cross particularly sporty, but its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is compatible with the 152-horsepower, 184-pound-torque, smaller counterpart. The continuous, interchangeable automatic transmission keeps the engine in the beautiful condition of its intermediate power band, so it is sufficient to launch from the foot to the ground instantly to pull four wheels for traction on a loose surface.
Eclipse Cross is not perfect, but it never slows down. The turbocharged engine is not as bold as the naturally required Honda HR-V and Subaru crossover. CVDs are not exactly desirable for driving dynamics, but at least the Mitsubishi engine is not as exploitative as the Honda, and the Eclipse Cross’s 57 lb-ft of torque is higher than the HR-V. A pair of column-mounted pads converter works well if the driver wants to go through eight pre-conceived ratios.
Wrapping up
If we focus on the refresh 2022 Eclipse Cross, it is certainly worth for buyers to shop.