2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross new car review

This Japanese brand is one of the few mainstream car makers that sell affordable new vehicles and it has an ace up its sleeve to sweeten the deal.

Cheap cars from new Chinese brands are becoming increasingly popular, but shoppers looking for a brand name can find good deals over at Mitsubishi. Here’s everything you need to know about the Eclipse Cross small SUV.

VALUE

The Eclipse Cross Black Edition LS costs $39,580, $2390 more than the LS on which it is based.

The extra money buys bigger 18-inch black alloy wheels, black mirror caps and black front and rear skid plates.

Mitsubishi offers a conditional 10 year warranty.

Inside the standard trim is replaced with imitation suede and synthetic leather bolsters, while the front seats are heated and the standard steering wheel is replaced by a leather steering wheel. Standard fare includes push-button start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, four USB ports, rear parking sensors and climate control.

The centre screen is on the small side, while there are old-fashioned analog speedo and tacho dials in front of the driver.

It is one of very few new cars that makes do without a digital speedo and there’s a ton of shiny black plastic on the dash and doors, which gives the cabin a dated, downmarket look. There’s nothing essentially wrong with the layout but it lacks the pizzazz of rivals at this price.

Mitsubishi has the longest warranty in the business at 10 years, but there’s a catch. To qualify, you must service the vehicle with the Mitsubishi dealer network, or else the warranty drops to five years.

Five years capped price servicing costs a reasonable $1895 and if you stick with the dealer network you can get 10 years capped servicing, although the last five services are more expensive than the first.

The cabin lacks the pizzazz of newer rivals.

COMFORT

The seats are well padded and supportive but only the driver’s is electronically adjustable. Vision is good and the controls are easy to navigate, although rear passengers do without their own air vents and rear headroom is a little compromised by the way the roof slopes at the rear. The boot is a decent size. The cabin can get a little noisy under acceleration and the suspension sometimes struggles to isolate passengers from bumps and thumps.

SAFETY

The Eclipse Cross is getting pretty long in the tooth and therefore misses out on some of the latest driver aids. It has auto emergency braking, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert but there’s no lane-keeping assistance, radar cruise or rear auto braking.

The Eclipse received five stars in independent crash testing back in 2017 but that rating will expire in December this year.

The Eclipse Cross was crash tested way back in 2017.

It scored highly for adult passenger protection (97 per cent) but child occupant protection was less impressive (78 per cent). Testers noted weak protection for the neck on the 10-year-old dummy. The Eclipse also received a below-par score of 58 per cent for driver assistance tech.

ON THE ROAD

The Eclipse Cross is based on the same fundamental underpinnings as the ASX, which dates back to 2010.

There have been no significant changes to the chassis in that time and it shows on the road, where a firm, crashy ride and below-par noise suppression take the gloss off the driving experience.

It still corners respectably and driver confidence is helped by light but accurate steering but it feels off the pace when compared to newer rivals. The engine is honest and responsive enough for overtaking and climbing hills, aided by a CVT auto that keeps the revs on the boil. But the noise and vibration rises with the revs.

It’s not the most efficient small SUV but it runs on the cheapest unleaded petrol.

Claimed fuel consumption is reasonable at 7.3L/100km and it takes standard unleaded. We managed to get pretty close to that claim on a mix of freeway and suburban running.

VERDICT 3/5

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the Eclipse Cross, but it has been overtaken by more modern rivals.

ALTERNATIVES

Mazda CX-30 Touring, from about $41,500 drive-away

Slightly more expensive but leather seats, more safety gear and a more polished drive.

MG ZST Essence, from about $33,990 drive-away

Significantly cheaper, with more modern cabin and loads more standard gear. Average driving manners.

Kia Seltos Sport+, from $38,490 drive-away

Old-school engine has less power and torque but well equipped, more modern cabin and better dynamics.

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS BLACK EDITION

PRICE $39,580

ENGINE 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol, 110kW/250Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING 10 years/unlimited km (if serviced with Mitsubishi) $1895 for five years

SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-departure and blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beam

THIRST: 7.3L/100km

SPARE: Space saver

LUGGAGE: 405 litres

Originally published as 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross new car review