Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV unveiled

As the updated 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross rolls into dealerships this month, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant has just been revealed in Japan ahead of an Australian launch later next year.

Expected to be the first plug-in hybrid small SUV offered by a mainstream brand in Australia, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV has not yet had pricing confirmed but will certainly undercut the bigger Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which starts at $47,990 plus on-road costs.

The MINI Countryman PHEV ($60,900) became Australia’s first small SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain when it launched in 2019, but the relatively high price and premium positioning narrows its appeal.

The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV is expected to start from about $40,000, with the Japanese brand hoping to generate interest along similar lines to Toyota’s popular (non-plug-in) hybrid SUV range that includes the small C-HR (from $37,665) and mid-size RAV4 (from $37,070).

The regular Eclipse Cross is priced from $30,290 plus ORCs.

Arriving in Australia around September 2021, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV will use the same powertrain as the Outlander PHEV, which combines a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (94kW/199Nm) with twin electric motors – one at the front (60kW/137Nm) and one at the rear (70kW/195Nm).

A single-speed planetary gearbox is used to transfer power to all four wheels.

The high-output permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors are powered by the same 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack as in the Outlander PHEV, but Mitsubishi says EV cruising range in the Eclipse Cross is a little higher, 57km versus 55km.

The space required for the PHEV powertrain sees luggage capacity drop from 405 litres in the regular 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (110kW/250Nm) Eclipse Cross to 359 litres in the PHEV.

Charging the battery takes a claimed 4.5 hours with a regular 230/240V power outlet, dropping to 25 minutes for an 80 per cent top-up using a fast charger (60 Amps or higher).

Top speed in EV mode for the Eclipse Cross PHEV is expected to be around 135km/h, like its sibling.

Mitsubishi has not yet released efficiency figures, but the plug-in Eclipse Cross should match (if not better) the Outlander’s ultra-low 1.9L/100km combined-cycle fuel consumption rating and 43g/km CO2 emissions figure.

The Eclipse Cross PHEV has unique damper/suspension and steering settings to match the extra weight brought with the electric motors and battery, while air ducts under the floor improve underbody air flow and improve aerodynamics to keep energy consumption down.

Regenerative braking can recharge the battery slightly and there are several drive modes (normal, gravel etc), three hybrid modes (series hybrid, parallel hybrid, all motors) and a battery save mode.

The AWD and S-AWC systems have been carried over from the Outlander PHEV but recalibrated for the smaller and lighter SUV.

Other new features over the regular Eclipse Cross models include remote smartphone operation of battery charging times (to benefit from off-peak charging), plus there’s a 100V/1500W power point in the boot to run household devices and appliances and can be used during power outages.

The small SUV can even supply power for a household for up to 10 days when the petrol tank is full and the battery is charged, accounting for 10kWh per day. This bi-directional energy transfer, or vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging, has been in the Outlander PHEV since 2017 but is not yet compatible in Australia.

Local specs are still to be confirmed, but the plug-in hybrid variant should pick up the new exterior design and updated cabin with 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system, as seen on the regular range. Updated safety systems and advanced driving aids are also expected.

Stay tuned for a full review of the facelifted Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross soon.