Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed 2022 Review

Twelve variants make up the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross small SUV line-up, with buyers given the option of front- or all-wheel drive and petrol or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, the latter joining the range in mid-2021.

Several grades are on offer, including the range-opening front-drive petrol Eclipse Cross ES (from $31,490 plus on-road costs) and topping out with the more powerful all-wheel drive Eclipse Cross Exceed PHEV (from $54,490 plus ORCs).

Here we’re testing the top-spec petrol-powered Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed, which is available in front-wheel drive form for $39,490 plus ORCs, or with all-wheel drive for another $2500, which is the set-up in our test car that starts at $41,990 plus ORCs.

A Diamond White paint job adds $940 to the invoice, bringing our tester’s price to $42,930 plus ORCs.

Standard equipment in our tester includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs), a head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry with push-button start, and heated seats for the front and outboard rear passengers.

Not one, but two sunroofs are a welcome addition, allowing plenty of light into the cabin, even if it’s just the front one that opens.

Services are due every 12 months or 15,000km, with prices capped at $299 per service for the first five years when serviced with Mitsubishi, which also means you’ll be covered by the brand’s 10-year warranty (capped at 200,000km).

It’s worth noting that if you opt for the plug-in hybrid Eclipse Cross, service pricing is slightly higher.

If you can get past the polarising exterior design of the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed – which is arguably more palatable up front than it is at the rear – you’ll find a well-equipped SUV.

Covered by a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, albeit based on testing in 2017, standard safety and driver assistance gear includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert and auto high beam.

Lane change assist also comes standard on top-spec Exceed grades, although we found only an audible warning was given when wandering out of a marked lane.

We found the adaptive cruise control to be a little touchy as well, braking too aggressively at times when it caught up to another vehicle.

The other driver aids work well, and although the reversing camera seems like it could do with some improvement, it’s difficult to tell whether poor camera quality or the archaic 8.0-inch touch-screen is the real issue.

The Eclipse Cross Exceed loses points for its dated instrument cluster as well, where there’s no digital speedometer and the display (including its graphics) just look super-old.

Elsewhere, both front seats come with electric adjustment, but you’d be forgiven for missing the heated steering wheel feature, the button for which is tucked away behind the gear shift.

It’s impossible not to notice the piano black centre console and, sadly, just how easily its surface collects fingerprints, dust and micro scratches.

While it gets the job done, the powertrain in the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed has to be its most underwhelming quality.

Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which sends its 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque to all four corners via an on-demand all-wheel drive system.

As mentioned, the top-spec Exceed can also be had as a front-wheel drive, while a more economical plug-in hybrid powertrain is also on offer.

If you’re after an SUV with a bit of get-up-and-go, you’ll likely find the Eclipse Cross underwhelming and you get the sense it might struggle with a full set of passengers on board.

Day to day with two adults on board, power delivery is acceptable, but it’s still sluggish off the line and the standard fitment of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) tends to make engine noise prominent inside the cabin.

On the move, potholes and bumps are no problem for the Eclipse Cross, which feels confident and collected, taking small imperfections in its stride, although larger dips tend to tremor through the cabin.

It’s not as sporty or firm as rivals like the Mazda CX-30, but the Eclipse Cross handles the basics well, with steering on the lighter side and an overall comfortable ride for all.

Shockingly, we saw our tester’s average fuel consumption rating as high as 15.8L/100km after a seven-day test that consisted of standard highway and suburban driving. That’s more than double Mitsubishi’s combined claim of 7.7L/100km with no obvious explanation.

From the pilot’s seat, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is an easy SUV to drive and live with.

One of the first things that stand out when you get behind the “leather-bound” steering wheel is that the tiller itself feels a bit rubbery; we would’ve liked it to feel softer under hand.

Moving on, forward vision is good and there’s plenty of seat adjustability to suit humans of all shapes and sizes, but a chunky C-pillar also makes for a small blind spot at each rear corner.

The Exceed’s leather-appointed seats are soft and well cushioned, but lumbar support would make long trips a lot more comfortable.

In the second row, adults of average height will find legroom and headroom adequate, but the standard fitment of two sunroofs cuts into the latter, which taller folk will likely notice.

Heated outboard seats, a single 12-volt outlet and an arm rest with cup holders makes the second row experience a little more pleasant, however the omission of rear air vents is a huge disappointment.

Storage throughout is decent, with a good-sized glove box and centre console, along with big door pockets up front and bottle holders in each rear door.

Accessing the 405-litre boot (with all five seats in use) is easy – even without an electric tailgate – but closing it can be tricky as the tailgate feels heavy and hard to pull down at first, before it suddenly passes a stiff section and slams shut. It’s awkward.

Meanwhile, a retractable fabric cargo cover hides items in the boot and, for the record, every Eclipse Cross gets a space-saver spare tyre.

Subjectively speaking, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed isn’t the most attractive small SUV out there.

But it is functional, easy to live with and equipped with enough tech to keep families connected and safe, even if there are better-equipped options at this price point.

For those willing to spend the extra cash over the popular front-drive ASX, the Eclipse Cross will serve as a more spacious family hauler.

That said, those carting around more than a few family members might find the mid-size Outlander a more suitable option.

Either way, we reckon this quirky small SUV is still worth a look.

How much does the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed cost?
Price: $41,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)