Test drive of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 150T 163 CV CVT 4WD, a very dynamic SUV

Coupé SUV design is not something exclusive to premium brands, and neither is good dynamic behaviour. Now that the market is crowded with SUVs, there are some alternatives that stand out both for their design and for their driving feel, such as this Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross that we have tested. If you are looking for a different SUV design and effective road performance, this Eclipse Cross is going to surprise you.

We tested the most complete trim level –Kaiteki– of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with the 150T 163 CV petrol engine, paired with the eight-speed CVT automatic gearbox and 4WD traction. Coupé design, driving dynamics and very complete equipment are the key features that define this Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Design: SUV Coupe with a lot of personality

In this design section, I have to be honest: looking at the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in photos, I wasn’t entirely convinced. However, in the flesh it gains a huge amount, thanks to its compact shapes and its coupé design, which has hardly any rivals in the mainstream segment. Its 4.40 metres in length make it slightly larger than a Nissan Qashqai (4.39 m), although it sits within the standard dimensions of the compact SUV segment.

At the front, the family styling stands out, with two chrome strips framing a huge front bumper. The headlights use LED technology for all lighting functions (performing their job extremely well), and even the front fog lights are LED. From the side, the rising coupé line stands out, as does the chrome on the lower section, which reminds us that this is an SUV.

Whereas at the rear is where this Eclipse Cross flexes its muscles and shows off more personality, with the glass split into two pieces (the rear visibility is surprisingly acceptable) and the lights that outline the sides and extend across the rear window. Again, at the lower part, grey finishes appear, reinforcing the muscular SUV look. Finally, we must not forget the double panoramic roof (standard on this trim) and its 18-inch alloy wheels, fitted with 225/55 R18 tyres.

When we move to the interior, the dashboard design is organised on two levels. The touchscreen stands out, which can be controlled directly by hand or from the controller on the centre console (quite easy to use), while the climate control sits on a lower level. The layout of the buttons follows a logic, as on the left side are those that activate or manage driver assistance systems (Start/Stop, lane change warning, HUD, pre-collision assist, parking sensors…), and below the climate control are the ECO mode and the USB ports.

The high quality of the finishes stands out, as practically the entire dashboard uses soft, pleasant-to-the-touch plastics, as do the door finishes (with a carbon-fibre-look trim). The driving position is elevated, with seats that offer electric adjustment for the driver only. The lateral support is not its strong point, but they are comfortable over long distances, and the raised position provides excellent visibility.

The rear seats are quite spacious, both in legroom and width. A person up to 1.75 m will travel comfortably; if taller, the roof height, owing to the coupé design, reduces space and comfort. The backrest angle is adjustable, and there are rear air vents, as well as a 12V charging socket.

The boot has a capacity ranging from 359 to 466 litres (depending on the position of the rear seats), which is still a small figure for a compact SUV. In addition, the boot floor is raised (it has a double floor), and the roll-up parcel shelf sits in a low position, leaving little usable space.

Engine and performance: 1.5T with plenty of punch

The Eclipse Cross mechanical range consists of only two engines: a 1.5T petrol with 163 CV and a 2.2 diesel with 148 CV. The petrol has been a real discovery, as this four-cylinder is very capable. It is a very smooth unit that starts to pull from around 2,500 rpm, and it doesn’t deliver its full strength until 4,000 rpm, but it keeps pulling all the way up to around 5,500 rpm, which translates into a huge usable range, with a smooth and linear feel.

Its 250 Nm of torque is available between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, while the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration takes 10.4 seconds. These are modest performance figures, but they are reinforced by the feel of this petrol unit, which lets you enjoy twisty roads and forget about the gearbox thanks to the engine’s enormous responsive range.

Paired with the engine is an eight-ratio CVT gearbox, which is comfortable without any great pretensions, but which takes away agility from a performance-oriented engine. This continuously variable transmission has no physical gears but a continuously variable ratio, although it can be operated sequentially with eight simulated gears. The good part is its comfort; the part that could be improved is the sensation of the engine being kept high in the rev range whenever we accelerate. That said, in sequential mode it allows some sporty licences. As a curious detail, if we cruise very calmly at 50-60 km/h, it is very easy for this Eclipse Cross to run in seventh gear at just over 1,500 rpm.

Handling: more dynamic than other SUVs

The dynamic set-up of this Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a positive surprise, as many SUVs have soft suspension designs that generate a certain amount of body roll, or that aim directly for comfort without focusing much on dynamics. However, the Eclipse Cross has a well-judged firm suspension feel that allows some dynamic liberties, which are only held back by tyres with a very tall sidewall. Combined with a performance engine and all-wheel drive, this makes it a noble and even fun car through corners.

It stands out for its stability on motorways and for good interior sound insulation. Most SUVs sold are paired with 4×2 traction, and this Eclipse Cross is no exception. All-wheel drive is an option worth considering for those who live in mountainous areas where it may be needed, or for improved handling, although it is always worth remembering that this is an SUV with modest off-road capability. 4WD can be selected from the “Super All Wheel Control [S-AWC]” dial, choosing between: Auto, Snow (snow) and Gravel (gravel tracks).

Consumption

In this section the figures are not encouraging: on motorways the average consumption was 8.3 litres per 100 km. That figure does not improve on regular roads, as it is hard to get below 8 litres per 100 km, and in the city the figure rises to 10.9 litres per 100 km.

Equipment

Our unit with all-wheel drive comes with the Kaiteki trim, which is the most complete in the range. Among the equipment, the following items stand out:

• Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
• Blind spot detection system (BSW)
• Rear cross traffic alert system (RCTA)
• 360° camera (Multi Around Monitor)
• Unintended acceleration mitigation system (UMS)
• Electric panoramic roof
• Premium Rockford Fosgate sound system (710 W and 9 speakers)
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Electric driver’s seat adjustment

All these elements are complemented by full-LED headlights, assistance systems of all kinds (blind spot warning in the mirror, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, rear cross traffic alert, among others).

The 9-speaker sound system [Rockford Fosgate®] with 710 W of power stands out in particular, offering a quality typical of the most expensive system from a premium brand. Nowadays very few vehicles offer this type of sound system as standard.

Personal opinion and price

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross stands out for its unmistakable exterior design, as well as for its complete equipment, with practically no optional extras. Its engine has convinced us with its power, but we believe all-wheel drive may be dispensable in an SUV, as may the automatic gearbox, which does not operate as smoothly as it should. Otherwise, it is a car that meets expectations, offering a spacious interior, except for the boot, which is penalised by the coupé line.

The Eclipse Cross is available from 19,950 euros, while our fully equipped unit costs 30,800 euros, with all-wheel drive and automatic gearbox.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira