The subcompact crossover SUV market is full of vehicles vying for your attention. Each one has unique characteristics that make them standouts, whether it be fuel efficiency, cargo capacity, price, or driving enjoyment. So what does the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross bring to the table?
Performance
Engine – The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine which produces 152 hp & 184 lb-ft of torque (113 kW & 249 Nm). Those numbers are not class-leading, in fact they’re very average for this class, but because it is turbocharged, it feels peppy from a stop. It doesn’t struggle to get up to speed nor does it ever feel as though it is impeding traffic behind it. But the engine doesn’t feel as peppy when the car is traveling on highways. You have to allow for a bit more when performing an overtaking maneuver otherwise, you’ll be cutting off a lot of faster moving traffic.
Fuel Economy – Unfortunately the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is not a particularly efficient subcompact crossover. It is rated for 9.6 L/100km (24.5 MPG) in a city and 8.9 L/100km (26.4 MPG) on a highway. On highways,it is possible to get slightly better fuel economy figures than what it’s rated for but the city fuel economy is accurate. During my week with the car, I averaged 9.2 L/100km (25.5 MPG).
Transmission – The 1.5L turbo engine is paired with a CVT automatic. There’s nothing too special about this transmission apart from the fact that it replicates virtual gear changes. In a way, that defeats the purpose of having a CVT. If the engineers wanted to replicate gears, why not give the car a traditional 6 or 7 or 8 speed automatic transmission?
Braking – The brakes of the 2024 Eclipse Cross are average. They stop the car in a reasonable distance in emergency situations with the brake pedal feeling not too firm but not too spongy either. It is easy to modulate the brake pedal for smooth stops.
Handling – Mitsubishi prides itself on their Super All-Wheel Control system. But that was in the past with the Lancer Evolution and Lancer Ralliart. These new crossover SUVs have a center differential that controls the front to rear power distribution but they don’t have any locking front or rear differentials to control the power from side to side. That’s done by the brakes just like many other crossover SUVs. There is a button on the center console to select from normal, Gravel or Snow conditions which will alter the characteristics of the AWC system but it doesn’t make the Eclipse Cross any more entertaining to drive. The steering feels numb but light for ease of maneuverability and there is a bit more body roll through corners than some other subcompact crossovers such as the Mazda CX-30 or Kia Seltos.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The soft suspension should make for a comfortable ride but it feels overly floaty over certain roads. If there are dips or road undulations, it’s as though the shocks barely prevent the body from settling down.
Furthermore, I found the driver’s seat uncomfortable. The padding is good and the bottom cushion provides enough support, but the side bolsters in the backrest feel as though they were digging into the side of my lower back.
Interior Space – The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has an ample amount of headroom & legroom for the front occupants. However, for my above average height of 6’4”, the seat did not go down far enough which made it feel as though my head was closer to the headliner than in some other subcompact crossover SUVs. But my hair never touched the headliner.
Space in the back seats is not as commodious with the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross having less leg space and headroom than the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, and even the Mazda CX-30. But one benefit to the 2024 Eclipse Cross is the dual-pane sunroof. The rear portion does not open but it does allow for more light in what is an otherwise dark rear occupant area.
Behind the seats, the Eclipse Cross further trails behind some competitors. It has 663 L (23.4 cu-ft) with all rows of seats up and 1,419 L (50.1 cu-ft) with the 2nd row seats down. The Mazda CX-30 has less cargo capacity across both rows with the Toyota Corolla Cross having less behind the 2nd row but all other subcompact crossovers have more space. There is a spare wheel under the trunk floor and the Eclipse Cross can be equipped with a power liftgate.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin can become a noisy place once the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross builds speed. In fairness, this car was equipped with snow tires which are generally louder than all-season tires but the tire noise is more noticeable than in some other subcompact crossovers with similar tires. Additionally, there was a squeak coming from the trunk area when driving over bumps. I can only deduce that it was the foam filler lightly rubbing against the spare tire. The 1.5L engine felt smooth and it did not have an auto start/stop system. Engine noise was not too intrusive under normal driving conditions.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross starts at $29,398 CAD ($26,345 USD) while the Noir trim will set you back $37,998 CAD ($29,195 USD). This is almost a top spec trim with only the GT at $38,498 CAD ($31,145 USD, Ralliart) being more expensive.
Gadgets – For the almost $40,000 CAD price tag, the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross does come with quite a few convenience features. Some of the highlights include the dual-pane sunroof, surround view cameras (unfortunately they are very low resolution but you can quickly display a bird’s eye view via a button on the steering wheel), heated front & rear seats along with a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, power liftgate, and keyless entry with push button start with a head-up display being available on the topmost trim level.
The touchscreen measures 8-inches in diameter but the infotainment system that it displays looks very old. It has the basics like AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, and Satellite radio along with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, but while CarPlay is wireless, Android Auto is still wired. Additionally, the graphics & menu structure is more 2004 than 2024.
Interior Design – The design of the cabin is simple and straightforward. The car has simple and large physical buttons and switches to control important and frequently used items such as the climate. The materials are also quite good for this class of vehicle. Most touch points are soft and I like the combination suede & synthetic leather appointed seats as they do not get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. Additionally, the center and door armrests are very well padded. The lower portions of the cabin are made up of hard plastics but that’s fine as you’ll generally never touch those areas. One material that I don’t like is the gloss black around the center console. It’ll get scratched up and stained very easily in a family crossover such as this.
Exterior Design – The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a unique looking subcompact crossover SUV. It looks a bit bigger in person than its dimensions suggest on paper. The Noir trim adds 18” black alloy wheels with black lug nuts, black grille, black hood emblem, black side mirrors, black door handles, and black roof mounted spoiler. However, if you’re not a fan of black, you can get it in titanium grey metallic as well.
Safety – The standard ES trim of the Eclipse Cross comes well equipped with safety & driver aids. Moving up one trim level will add features such as blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and auto high beam. Moving up one more trim level will add adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and surround view cameras.
Warranty – One of the main reasons why you’d consider the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is due to its warranty. It is covered by a 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and 10 year / 160,000 km powertrain warranty. In the United States, this warranty is 5 years / 60,000 miles, & 10 years / 100,000 miles respectively. If you want peace of mind in case the engine decides to break down, you don’t have to fork out thousands of dollars to repair it or replace it. It’s covered by a long warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on U.S. warranty, click here.
Conclusion – Overall, the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross offers peace of mind motoring, at least here in Canada. In the United States, Hyundai & Kia offer the same warranty periods. Hyundai also has the Kona which is bigger and less expensive and Kia offers the Seltos which is my overall pick as the best subcompact crossover SUV at the moment. If you want one that is more engaging to drive, the Mazda CX-30 is still the best. If you want efficiency, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid costs the same as this Eclipse Cross Noir. Or if you want to save a big chunk of cash, the Chevrolet Trax can be had for less than $25,000 CAD. The point is, there are many vehicles in this segment that all have unique features which set them apart. The Eclipse Cross has the long warranty but it’s not the only one and unfortunately it doesn’t have anything else to make it a standout in a crowded market. The annoying thing is that Mitsubishi makes the Outlander and Outlander PHEV which I think are great and unique SUVs. But the Eclipse Cross cannot stand up to its bigger brothers.
Thank you to Mitsubishi Motors Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Mitsubishi-Motors.ca
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Gallery
