Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross - What you need to know

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross small SUV received a major update in 2021, starting with the petrol-engined range that was later joined by three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models for the first time.

At the time of writing, the petrol-engined Eclipse Cross models are offered in four grades – ES, LS, Aspire and Exceed – while the PHEV versions are available in ES, Aspire and Exceed.

All have an automatic transmission and there’s the choice of two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive across the petrol-engine range, with the PHEV AWD only.

Prices range from $31,490 plus on-road costs for the entry-level ES 2WD, climbing as high as $54,490 plus ORCs for the Exceed PHEV AWD.

Let us delve into the features and models to discover the right one for you.

The entry-level Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 2WD has the following standard features:
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Air-conditioning
• Cruise control
• Digital radio
• 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Reversing camera
• Hill start assist

Seven colours make up the palette, but only one comes standard: white.

If you want one of the other six you’ll pay $740 for a metallic finish or $940 to get the pearl finish.

Across the board, safety features on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross include seven airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction, yaw and stability control.

There’s also forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection that audibly and visually warns of an imminent collision then automatically applies the brakes if the driver doesn’t respond.

Other standard safety items include LED daytime running lights, a rear-view camera, intermittent rear wiper, emergency brake assist, cruise control with speed limiter, hill start assist, two ISOFIX child seat anchorage points and three top tether restraint points.

The Eclipse Cross was rated five-star safe in 2017 by ANCAP.

If you go with the entry-level PHEV, the ES, you’ll get lane departure warning added to the safety suite.

Moving up to the LS treats you to more safety gadgets like rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing headlights with auto high beam.

You’ll need to select the Aspire model to get adaptive cruise control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, blind spot warning, lane change assist, multi-camera monitors, front parking sensors and rear cross traffic alert, the latter warning you of an object or person moving into the path of the vehicle.

Only the Exceed gives you LED headlights, something to consider if you do a lot of night or country driving, while the ultrasonic mitigation system also on-board the top-spec model reduces the chance and severity of hitting something if you accidentally push the accelerator when stationary or driving at speeds up to 10km/h.

Every Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross model operates Apple CarPlay, Android Auto music and phone streaming through a central 8.0-inch touch-screen that is also accessible by voice commands.

While the ES makes do with four speakers, slip over to the LS and enjoy your music or radio through six speakers. Or, better still, head to the Aspire and its premium sound system with eight speakers and four tweeters.

Do you want integrated satellite navigation? Sign up for the Exceed as it’s the only model with it.

While all models have a leather-bound steering wheel, if you want more than the fabric seat trim of the ES and LS, the Aspire gets you microsuede leather-look trim with heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.

But for the real McCoy make a beeline for the Exceed, with its leather-trimmed, powered and heated front seats, plus heated steering wheel and heated rear seats as well.

Want a sunroof? Then stick with the Exceed as you can’t get it in any other model.

How about a head-up display (HUD)? Once again, tick the Exceed box and enjoy seeing your vehicle’s speed, plus a raft of other functions and information, displayed in colour on the windscreen.

And to keep everyone in their comfort zone, bypass the ES and LS and go for the Aspire with its dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning.

Is privacy glass on the shopping list? You only need to stretch as far as the LS for this feature.

What about the handiness of heated and folding door mirrors? The LS has you covered for these too.

The petrol-propelled Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross offers a ‘one-size fits all’ package when it comes to powertrain – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.

Mounted transversely, the engine channels its torque through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Sports mode override and fixed-ratio steps selected via the gear lever or steering wheel paddles.

The ES and Aspire come as a front-wheel drive only, with the LS and Exceed front- and all-wheel drive. Known as Super All-Wheel Control, the AWD system operates in three modes: Auto, Gravel and Snow.

The three PHEV models – ES, Aspire and Exceed – are AWD only and powered by a 2.4-litre petrol engine that combines with two electric motors (one at each axle) to produce a combined output of 94kW and 199Nm.

The motors draw their energy from a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack that offers a claimed electric-only range of 55km. The transmission is a single-speed fixed-gear arrangement and the driving modes include: Series Hybrid, where the petrol engine acts as a generator for the battery; and Parallel Hybrid, with all the motors driving together, above 70km/h.

One up from the entry-level Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, the LS is well specified and carries the same driveline as all other petrol-engined models, so it would take plenty of soul searching to stump up more than $40,000 (on the road) for the Exceed.

That said, if you want to splurge and budget is not an issue, go the whole hog and get the AWD Exceed so you can go exploring off the beaten track or get to that favourite surfing, picnic or camping spot.

You’d have to be very keen to fork out an almost 50 per cent premium on the front-wheel drive ES petrol model to get the PHEV AWD version – your entry into Eclipse Cross plug-in motoring.

How much does the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross cost?
ES 2WD – $31,490
LS 2WD – $33,490
LS AWD – $35,990
Aspire 2WD – $36,240
Exceed 2WD – $39,490
Exceed AWD – $41,990
ES PHEV AWD – $46,990
Aspire PHEV AWD – $50,490
Exceed PHEV AWD – $54,490

*Prices exclude on-road costs