Mitsubishi is spoiling buyers for choice with its Eclipse Cross small SUV that takes in 10 models across a range of price points and includes three plug-in hybrids.
It’s a lot to get your head around.
I’ve got the Black Edition 2WD here, which is $35,990 plus on-road costs (and $40,510 drive-away in WA).
Going by price alone, it faces stiff competition from the MG ZS Excite, which is $23,999 D/A and was the 2023 top performer in the busy small SUV segment (under $45,000) where, oddly, the Eclipse Cross also competes with its sibling, the ASX.
Note, the 2023 Eclipse Cross LS Black Edition continues for 2024 as the Eclipse Cross Black Edition in its own right, sitting above the LS in the range with added features that are largely focused on style but include some extra driver-assistance and tech upgrades.
Black Editions for 2024 also come with the addition of rear fog lamps and, in order to comply with upcoming regulations, the automatic headlight system can no longer be switched off.
The look
Clearly Mitsubishi is taking its cue from black-series versions of luxury vehicles like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and Porsche, which black-out the exterior and interior colour scheme and push performance capabilities.
It this instance, however, the black treatment comes in a range of exterior colours, including “prestige” White Diamond and Red Diamond, which are both $200 extra, Titanium and, err, Black.
![Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Black Edition](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-14093426/4ed269d19b2d3f6dc7feedff34ac079ae10be8d2-16x9-x0y275w4000h2250.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
As the name suggests, you get black 18-inch alloy wheels, door mirrors and front and rear bumper skid plates, minus roof rails, which have been deleted.
The black treatment continues inside to the steering wheel, headlining, pillar and door trim, gear selector plate and faux suede/synthetic leather upholstery — except for grey stitching.
Otherwise, the spec is close to the LS grade on which it is based.
Is it safe?
The Eclipse Cross with a build date from January 2024 onwards is currently unrated.
All variants with a build date from December 2017-December 2023 had a five-star ANCAP rating, which has expired.
Mitsubishi Australia says “at this stage of the model’s lifecycle, we have no plans to retest.”
ANCAP ratings are valid for six years only, during which time testing invariably become stricter, so an expired five-star rating is not directly comparable to one using the latest protocols, which were updated in 2023.
Driver assistance and safety tech
The Eclipse Cross Black Edition has seven airbags (including dual front, front seat side, curtain and driver’s knee) two rear ISO-Fix child seat mounts and three top-tether anchorages.
Driver assistance and safety tech includes a range of features but misses out on a few key things (more on this later) that I’d want to have. It includes:
+ Forward collision mitigation system (otherwise, AEB) with pedestrian detection
+ Blind spot warning
+ Lane change assist and lane departure warning
+ Rear cross traffic alert
+ Automatic high beam
+ Active stability control and active traction control
+ Cruise control
+ Adjustable speed limiter
+ Automatic dusk-sensing headlights
+ Automatic rain-sensing wipers
What’s it like to drive?
All ICE variants have a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired to an eight-speed CVT. Quoted outputs are 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
It’s decent enough for everyday and offers quite a punchy ride — until I put in into Eco mode, which is sluggish and subdued.
Front seats are heated with power adjustment for the driver (manual on the passenger side) and visibility is good all round.
The eight-inch touchscreen is easy to navigate, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
No problems here.
There are physical buttons for all sorts of things scattered around the dash, including climate control (single-zone only), dual cupholders and two bottle holders at the front (there’s two more of each at the rear), plus two USB inputs in both rows.
![Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Black Edition](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-14093426/779e6b76c780ebb7e077634f008a978e12c583ab-16x9-x133y0w3733h2100.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
The Black Edition doesn’t have satellite navigation (you’ll need to upgrade to the Exceed if you want this), which is probably not a deal breaker given most people use maps on their phone, but I miss that there is no front camera, no front parking sensors, no adaptive cruise control and no traffic sign recognition — though you do get an adjustable speed limiter, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.
Upgrading to the Aspire gets you a multi around-view monitor, front parking sensors and adaptive cruise control.
Rear camera resolution is fuzzy in my car, though you get good rear cross-traffic alert, which comes up with a timely warning.
You get a space-saver spare wheel and there should be no complaints from passengers in back seats, which have generous knee room.
Cargo capacity is 405/1149 litres with the second row up/down — so a petrol model like this is the way to go if you want to haul around stuff (PHEVS have 359/626L).
Opening the tailgate is easy enough but closing it requires a bit of muscle and is awkward if you’re juggling shopping; it’s stiff and easier to manoeuvre down if you grip it in the middle rather than use the grab handle at the side.
I find it a chore.
Warranty and servicing
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross range is covered by Mitsubishi’s 10/10 Diamond Advantage warranty and capped price servicing program. This includes a 10-year/200,000-kilometre manufacturer’s warranty, with 10-year capped price servicing every 12 months/15,000km, whichever comes first. For ICE variants the cost is $349/$399/$399/$399/$399 ($1945 total) for the first five years and $749/$449/$549/$549/$699 ($2995) for the second five years.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross pricing:
2WD models
+ Eclipse Cross ES — $31,990
+ Eclipse Cross LS — $34,740
+ Eclipse Cross Black Edition— $35,990
+ Eclipse Cross Aspire — $36,990
+ Eclipse Cross Exceed — $40,990
AWD models
+ Eclipse Cross LS — $37,240
+ Eclipse Cross Exceed — $43,490
+ Eclipse Cross PHEV ES — $47,790
+ Eclipse Cross PHEV Aspire — $51,740
+ Eclipse Cross PHEV Exceed — $56,490
*Prices exclude on-road costs