It sure seems to be sharp, but the effectiveness is just about anything but.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
After a transient hiatus and a midcycle refresh, the underachieving 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is back and greater than ever. The look has been refined, the effectiveness tweaked and there are new technologies and creature comforts, as perfectly. Sad to say, “greater” even now isn’t really fantastic sufficient to stand out in a hugely aggressive class, and though the Eclipse Cross feels like a good compact crossover decision, it really is considerably from the very best.
Sharp seems to be
The exterior aesthetic is the one component of the Eclipse Cross that I unreservedly enjoy. Aside from the a little uncomfortable wheel-to-body ratio that is endemic of this corner of the CUV class, this is a fantastic-looking motor vehicle, especially in this example’s Red Diamond tint. (My personal favorite of the readily available shades is Bronze Metallic, which paints the crossover’s angular musculature in a classier gentle.)
The front and rear bumpers are new for the 2022 Eclipse Cross, stretching the SUV both equally bodily and visually though retaining an aggressive grille and gentle combo with Mitsubishi’s signature C-shaped chrome wings. The sloped roofline compromises a little bit on rear headroom but produces a handsome and sharp silhouette that operates perfectly and stands out amid a group of bean-shaped crossovers.
The most important exterior improve is the redesigned rear hatch, which ditches that unusual gentle bar that bisected the rear glass in favor of a less difficult style. The resculpted rump is a touch extra generic, but total the Eclipse Cross is a greater-looking motor vehicle.
Disconnected effectiveness
Under the hood, you can obtain Mitsubishi’s turbocharged one.5-liter MIVEC 4-cylinder powering the Eclipse Cross. This is the only readily available motor, and it really is mated to a continuously variable transmission with normal front-wheel drive or optional Tremendous All-Wheel Manage all-wheel drive. Output is stated at 152 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, which sounds good for this class on paper however by some means feels like fewer than marketed when the CVT will get into the combine.
The Eclipse Cross’ tail seems to be fewer like a Pontiac Aztek many thanks to reshaped lights and a simplified hatch.
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My most important grievance about the Eclipse Cross’ effectiveness is that it feels disconnected. The throttle reaction is robbed of its bite by a tag workforce of CVT rubber-bandiness and a touch of turbo lag, which would make the entire SUV really feel sluggish when passing or merging. Meanwhile, I am dealt with to a wheezy, disagreeable motor seem that, thanks to the character of continuously variable ratios, in no way quite jibes with the acceleration.
Column-mounted paddle shifters are a awesome, sporty touch. They really feel fantastic to the touch and flick, but the gradual reaction of CVT when modifying ratios will not match their tactility. At least they are mounted in the proper location.
All over city with a gentle foot, the Eclipse Cross feels good. When you give the CVT gradual, predictable inputs it settles into a awesome-sufficient groove. You can find a great deal of ability for climbing hills and the gasoline economic climate is midpack for this class. I averaged about 25 mpg for the duration of a highway-heavy week of testing, bang-on par with the EPA’s approximated 25 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Entrance-drive examples fare a touch greater at highway speeds, climbing to 28 mpg below, as perfectly as 26 mpg combined.
2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Underachievement unlocked
The steering is imprecise, which would make the Eclipse really feel clumsy on the highway and difficult to continue to keep centered in its lane. The suspension is nicely composed about bumps and potholes and exceptionally at ease for lengthier rides, but you can pay out for that softness with obvious body roll, pitch and dive for the duration of spirited driving.
Driver help and cabin tech
The Eclipse Cross’ highway confidence could be enhanced with some form of lane-centering tech, but alas you can only get a lane-departure warning technique. At the extremely least, that tech is normal tools, as is collision mitigation braking with pedestrian detection. Stepping up to the LE trim level adds automated substantial beams, though the SE products get blind-location checking with lane-improve assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
My leading-spec SEL model has the optional Touring package that rounds out the driver help suite with comprehensive-pace adaptive cruise command and adds substantial-pace braking to the collision mitigation technique. This package also adds a little head-up display screen visor that rises out of the leading of the instrument cluster and is really way too compact to really be helpful.
The pop-up plastic HUD seems to be inexpensive and is way too compact to be of much genuine use.
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A rearview digicam is normal and you can up grade to a surround-watch technique on the SEL. The button to activate the front and surround digicam feeds is located on the steering wheel, a unique placement that would make the technique exceptionally easy to accessibility when you require it. As a person who obsesses about parking flawlessly parallel concerning the lines, this little element is my favorite part of the Eclipse Cross’ tech suite.
New for the 2022 model yr is a new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment technique on the LE trim level and better. Mitsubishi also ditched its old and uncomfortable touchpad controller in favor of quantity and tuning knobs proper next to the screen. The SE model additional upgrades the cabin tech with onboard navigation featuring What3words vacation spot enter.
Irrespective of the new components, the infotainment software program is even now really bare-bones. On the shiny facet, simplicity usually means it really is also quite responsive. Furthermore, the addition of Android Automobile and Apple CarPlay usually means you can quite quickly make up for most tech deficiencies with a smartphone and a substantial-high quality USB cable.
Meanwhile, the entry-level Eclipse Cross ES employs a scaled-down seven-inch display screen that lacks the smartphone link vital for Android Automobile or CarPlay connectivity, which is a large bummer for customers lured in by the Eclipse Cross’ minimal beginning cost.
The enhancements are awesome, but the 2022 Eclipse Cross is even now a difficult provide. The competitors is just way too fantastic.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
Improved, but even now not sufficient
The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross starts at $24,590 — including the $one,195 vacation spot charge — for the front-drive SE, or $25,375 with all-wheel drive. I would endorse upgrading at least to the LE 2WD ($25,940) to unlock CarPlay and Android Automobile. The sweet location in the lineup is the SE trim. For $27,340, this will get you most of the readily available driver help tech, 24 months of accessibility to Mitsubishi Hook up telematics, and remote products and services and keyless entry. Then once again, the simple fact that passive keyless entry/start off is even now an solution in 2021 claims a ton about the point out of the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
My all-wheel-drive SEL model expenses $34,670 as examined. That is about $2,000 fewer than a loaded 2022 Hyundai Tucson Confined, but then once again, the Hyundai delivers so much extra for the dollars.
Sure, it really is greater than ahead of, but in effectiveness, cabin tech, safety methods and features the Eclipse Cross even now lags considerably behind in this extremely aggressive compact crossover class. It can be good, but you can absolutely do greater.