What is it? Mitsubishi’s future will follow two key paths: crossovers and electric vehicles. The first path will now include the Eclipse Cross — a retro name on a modern ride. First, it has a very strong presence. Mitsubishi’s design has tended to follow the stylistic trend rather than lead it, so this is a big step forward. It has a sharp face and a very strong back-end illuminated by LED lighting. The cabin also makes significant advances, with superior materials and arriving with the latest connectivity tech. A centre console-mounted touchpad controller gives fast access to all infotainment facets, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Head-up display is also part of the package, as are some advanced safety technologies such as forward collision mitigation.
Why does it matter? The Eclipse Cross promises perky performance with good fuel economy; under the hood sits a new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While there were no hard numbers given, Mitsubishi said the engine delivers “better low- and midrange torque” than either of its current 2.0L and 2.4L engines. The power is relayed to the road through a new CVT with an eight-speed manual mode and the company’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system. It features Mitsubishi’s brake-based Active Yaw Control (AYC) system; based on information from a myriad of sensors, it brakes the appropriate rear wheel to turn the Eclipse into a corner with more authority.
When will Canada get it? The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will hit Canadian roads later this year or early next.
Should you buy it? The introduction of the Eclipse Cross gives Mitsubishi a true contender in the hot and rapidly expanding compact crossover market. It also showcases what to expect of Mitsubishi’s future crossovers.
