by Deiondre van der Merwe
Mitsubishi has the US wrapped around its pinky finger and is the fastest progressing Asian-badged automaker in the USA. For a good reason, too, with NHTSA and Kelley Blue Book awards being thrown at their vehicles from every direction. Mitsubishi as a whole is definitely something to write home about, but is the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross? The compact crossover SUV looks great on the outside and offers functional practicality but seems to fall behind rivals in many areas, not the least of which is Mitsubishi's insistence on using a hallowed sports car name for a mainstream crossover SUV. Power comes from a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder with 152 horsepower on tap with front- and all-wheel-drive available and a CVT automatic handling mundane chores like traffic. But in the compact realm, rivals like an all-new Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5 simply dominate, and the Eclipse Cross pales in comparison. Possibly the only benefit to owning an Eclipse Cross would be having a "remember that one mistake I made" story to tell at the barbeque in a few years.
Given that it was only introduced to the market in 2018, the Eclipse Cross doesn't boast an extensive list of additions to its 2020 range. This year, the lineup culls the SEL Premium trim from the inventory and bids farewell to its $2,500 GT Touring package, but adds an SP special edition model in their stead with limited availability. On the inside, an upgraded infotainment system with an extra USB port is found along with power-adjustable lumbar support on the driver's seat for added comfort. The LE trim and upwards now adds standard safety features inclusive of lane departure alert, high beam assist, and forward collision warning with pedestrian monitoring. All-wheel-drive equipped models receive a new lightweight AWD system, too.
See trim levels and configurations:
Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES |
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$22,995 |
LE |
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$24,095 |
SP |
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$25,295 |
SE |
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$25,645 |
SEL |
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$27,145 |
Here's where we can finally stop being total Debbie Downers about the Japanese SUV's capabilities. Of course, there are still spots here where it's lacking, but, to be fair, we'll start with the good stuff. The Eclipse Cross provides a nice level of comfort and soaks up smaller bumps with skill, though its pliable nature results in some significant body-roll in and out of the bends. Bigger bumps are guaranteed to throw the SUV off though, and taking the road less traveled might result in some discomfort, especially when the 18-inch wheels are opted for. Its light steering is a pro for parking, but numb feedback results in negative over-all maneuverability.
The Eclipse lacks a lot of excitement and trails far behind the CR-V's engaging driving experience and punchy acceleration. It's also less refined than rivals like the upscale CX-5 or even the Hyundai Tucson.
Almost everything that the Mitsubishi Eclipse does, a rival can do better. We gave the SUV the benefit of the doubt in many categories, but the Eclipse is simply a bran muffin amongst red velvet cupcakes. The interior is nicely put together, and Mitsubishi offers a fantastic array of class-leading warranties for its newest SUV. Still, aside from those positives, it was an arduous task to find any areas that the Mitsubishi outshined its well-respected rivals. That being said, if the Eclipse had a stand-alone evaluation, it would prove to be capable enough to live with, but putting it next to the competition sealed its fate. The SUV is outshined by rivals in terms of size, performance, and, most notably, its meager trunk space offering. Aside from its class-leading warranty and nice interior setup, perhaps the only other positive of the Eclipse would be that it's around $2,000 cheaper than rivals, but for an extra two thousand, you can get your hands on a CR-V that puts most rivals to shame.
Nearly $3,000 cheaper than the Eclipse, the Hyundai Kona produces roughly the same power as the Mitsubishi and delivers better fuel consumption with EPA estimates of 27/23/30 mpg, outshining the Eclipse's 26/29/27 mpg figures considerably. Notably, the Kona is smaller than the Eclipse if you compare them on the outside, but it offers more space in the front, although rear seat and cargo volumes are smaller - the Kona is classified as a subcompact SUV, after all. The Kona offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from the base upwards, along with a range of safety features, while on the Eclipse Cross you have to climb the trim ladder to get access to such features. If you're after a small family SUV and you're mindful of your budget, the Kona is the better choice, despite the spatial compromises made.
Pricing for the Jeep Compass comes in roughly $1,000 cheaper than the Eclipse. The Jeep offers more power out of the gate at 180 hp, but receives significantly lower EPA estimated figures of 22/31/25 mpg from the bigger 2.4-liter displacement motor. But the Jeep does offer more space than the Eclipse, including trunk measurements, and the infotainment suite is vastly superior to that of the Mitsubishi. The exterior of the Jeep isn't as sassy as that of the Eclipse, but the interior feels more premium in general, with higher quality materials used than its Japanese rival. We prefer the way the Jeep drives, too. Unfortunately, the Jeep's NHTSA crashworthiness rating doesn't quite match up to the Eclipse Cross's reviews, but, considering that for less money it offers more power, more space, and a better interior than the Eclipse, the Jeep is the better buy of the two.
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