Chase Bierenkoven has been writing about cars in his head since he was a child. Now, he does it for real, covering automotive news and producing reviews for outlets like Edmunds, Forbes Wheels and CarBuzz. Chase's career as an automotive journalist began in 2020, and he has already written scores of road tests. Some favorites of Chase's include the Dodge Challenger 392, Mazda Miata, Kia EV6 and Bentley Bentayga. Outside his work with cars, Chase is often found justifying his latest broken German sports car to anyone that will listen or enjoying the outdoor spaces of his native Colorado.
Pros
Long list of standard features
Nimble city driving performance
Standard all-wheel drive
Cons
Subpar handling abilities
Disappointing fuel economy
What's new
SE trim gets more standard features
Part of the first Eclipse Cross generation introduced for 2018
Overview
The 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is one of three crossover SUVs Mitsubishi sells. It's smaller than the three-row Outlander but larger and more expensive than the entry-level Outlander Sport. It might appeal if you're looking for a low-priced alternative to well-known options like the Honda CR-V or for a roomier pick than extra-small SUVs like the Outlander Sport.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Edmunds spotlight: A small SUV that attempts to be big on value
Mitsubishi capitalizes on one of the Eclipse Cross' greatest strengths in 2024: a lengthy list of standard features. The midlevel SE trim is now a more appealing option thanks to new comfort features. These include a USB port for rear seat occupants, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power hands-free liftgate and adaptive cruise control. The second-lowest Eclipse trim, the LE, also gets keyless entry and push-button start included. But there are still some notable drawbacks to the Eclipse Cross. This current generation model has been out since 2018 and it's becoming increasingly outclassed by newer models that are more enjoyable to drive and have fresher-looking designs.
Competitors to consider
If there's one thing the Eclipse Cross doesn't want for, it's competition. One of our top recommended small SUVs is the Mazda CX-50. It's more expensive but is undoubtedly a more premium SUV with more space and nicer materials. On the other hand, you might check out the Subaru Crosstrek. It's less expensive than the Eclipse Cross, comes with standard all-wheel drive, and has superior off-road capabilities.
Which Eclipse Cross does Edmunds recommend?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is best experienced in its SE trim level. The SE was already our pick thanks to its mix of pricing and included features, like navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning. And the SE comes with even more features for 2024.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross models
The 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is offered in four trim levels: ES, LE, SE and SEL. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) that's connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). All trim levels come equipped with all-wheel drive. Keep reading for our breakdown of the Eclipse Cross' most significant standard features and options.
ES
Starts out the lineup with:
16-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
Heated side mirrors
Height-adjustable driver's seat
Cruise control
Automatic climate control
7-inch infotainment touchscreen
Four-speaker audio system
Low-speed automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
LE
Has a more stylish look and also comes with:
18-inch black-painted wheels
Keyless entry and push-button start
Black exterior trim
Automatic high beams
Heated front seats
8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Automatic high-beam assist
SE
Gets more convenience upgrades, such as:
18-inch silver painted wheels
Power-folding side mirrors
Hands-free power liftgate
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Synthetic suede upholstery
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Integrated navigation system
Six-speaker audio system
Dual-zone climate control
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Rear seat center armrest
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
High-speed automatic emergency braking
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Mitsubishi and the car in front)
The Panoramic package is only available on the SE trim. It adds:
Black roof rails
Panoramic sunroof
SEL
Stepping up to the top-spec SEL trim adds:
Black headliner
Power-adjustable passenger seat
Leather upholstery
Heated steering wheel
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Eclipse Cross and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
The Touring package, available only on the SEL trim, includes:
Black roof rails
Panoramic sunroof
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
I purchased a 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL FWD with the touring package and absolutely love this vehicle! Mitsubishi has modified their target audience and now seems to focus on making smoother, more comfortable vehicles, with fantastic visibility and maneuverability. This vehicle has adaptive cruise control, multi-view camera system, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, … front collision mitigation, heated side mirrors, auto-dimming rear view mirror, very comfortable and good-looking heated leather seats, great visibility, great maneuverability, great turning radius, is fun to drive, has decent cargo space, good legroom and headroom, 2 skylights (1 opens, 1 stationary), satellite radio, hd radio, bluetooth connectivity for phones and music players, apple car play & android auto, tastefully tinted back seat windows, rear windows and skylights, and a smooth, comfortable, quiet ride.
The Eclipse Cross looks fantastic on the outside and is nice and clean on the inside. The LED headlights are VERY good. The eclipse also has LED fog lights, a feature that several competing manufacturers no longer offer. Acceleration is much better than the critics lead one to believe. While definitely not a racing vehicle, and definitely not as quick as a long gone 4th generation eclipse coupe that went from 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, neither are most normal vehicles out on the road. I have a 4th generation eclipse coupe with a 3.8 liter v6 engine so I do have that frame of reference. That said, the eclipse cross does does have some decent torque for merging onto the highway. The eclipse cross is a much nicer vehicle than critics would lead one to believe. I have not had the vehicle long enough to comment on gas mileage, but the car's computer displayed a 31 mpg estimate for a recent highway drive.
5/5 stars, Great little SUV for the money
Brandon,
LE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
A YEAR AFTER OWNERSHIP UPDATE: I still love my Eclipse Cross LE so very much. I'm still finding new, exciting things out about this vehicle. Lately, I've been really seeing what it's AWD system can do in gravel setting, and testing out the ECO mode to see how good of gas mileage I can get...while the MPG on sticker is 25/26, just today, while in Gravel, ECO mode I got 34 mpg! Not bad at … all! I'm still having a blast with my Eclipse Cross and still think the value holds up.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
The single most important thing I have to say: ignore the "pro" reviews, read the owner reviews and GO DRIVE ONE.
I bought my 2020 Eclipse Cross LE AWD this July, but I had been researching my next car purchase for about two years. I had a budget in mind, and coming off several New England winters in a Nissan Versa, all wheel drive/four wheel drive was a must. I began looking into the crossover market and came up with a top three to go drive, look into and make a decision based on.
Let the record show: if I had just based my decision with the pro reviews, I would have never purchased this great little ride. I couldn't be happier with my decision to go against the grain, and purchase my first brand new vehicle with Mitsubishi.
There really isn't much I don't love about my EC. I agree with the previous reviewer in that this is a great entry level step into the crossover/SUV market, coming off a smaller car and into something larger. Everything about the driving experience is easy to navigate, handling both winding stretches of highway and tight city streets with ease. It was a very easy transition for me to move from the cramped Versa and into the Eclipse Cross, but it certainly feels like a tremendous step up, in terms of speed, looks and size.
I find it comfortable for me and my family, and it really does stand up to any task I put it to, whether it's commuting to work or family trips or carting around the groceries. I also plan to have the tow package installed to carry my band gear from gig to gig. While the tow capacity is only 1500 lbs, that will be perfect to get me and my band from one show to the next with all of our gear.
Last, my favorite thing about this ride: the quality to cost ratio. It is my belief that the bad reputation of the manufacturer that translates into great savings to the buyer. A frequent complaint in reviews I read is that the sticker price is too high in comparison to bigger, more well known brands. Maybe so, but this is a brand that is motivated to sell some vehicles and as such, they offer great discounts. I paid 5k off sticker for an exceptionally equipped SUV! With a decent down payment and good credit, I am paying less than 300 dollars a month for a GORGEOUS ride with tons of bells and whistles! Oh. And the best warranty in the business (tied with Hyundai and Kia, but they just recalled 600k vehicles for engine fires, so no thanks) at 5 years/60k bumper-to-bumper and 10 years/100k powertrain warranty to back it all up.
I fully recommend given the EC a shot. It is unfair to compare it to a sports car from twenty years ago, which I guess was Mitsubishi's biggest mistake in the marketing of this vehicle. It's not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a good looking, affordable, versatile and dependable SUV. I've driven it through a foot of snow, I've driven it through bumper to bumper traffic. Either way, it does a good job every time.
Don't let the bad rep dissuade you if you're in the market for a crossover. There is a reason I choose this over Honda and Subaru. I implore you to go find out.
5/5 stars, Love this car - Saved my wife's life
Andy in San Antonio,
LE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
I bought the LE model in March and absolutely loved it. It was responsive, comfortable, and was constantly getting comments about how much people admired its appearance. As fate would have it, the one-time my wife was driving it, she was hit head on in a collision that ended up totaling my Eclipse Cross. While the impact was at about 45 mph, the seating compartment remained intact … while the front end was totally destroyed. My wife walked away without a scratch. Because it protected the most valuable person in my life, I am purchasing another Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross LE. This will make 4 Mitsubishi's for me.
5/5 stars, Excellent choice of vehicle- 34 MPG HWY!
Mitsufan,
LE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Can't say enough about this vehicle. I'm 6'2 and with the front seat comfortably adjusted for me, I can still fit the back, pus the rear seats recline a bit for a more comfortable sitting position. The 2000 lb towing capacity is nice, I've hauled an open trailer filled with mulch (maybe 800 lb?) and it performed flawless, felt pretty stable throughout the trip- the owners manual does … recommend using premium fuel when towing. I did so, and the throttle response seemed better, as well as more power from the engine when accelerating and cruising. The engine is punchy and responsive on regular 87 when not towing and the S-AWC system works tremendously well on dirt and snow covered roads. My fuel mileage has far exceeded what the EPA says I should be getting. Most recent long highway trip netted me 34 mpg from pump-to-pump, hand calculated. The dash indicator showed me getting 34.5, so a little optimistic but not by much. If I had any complaints they'd be these-
1) Factory tires are pretty mediocre, new Continentals made a world of a difference
2) The gloss black plastic inside the cabin scratches if you look at it wrong. Had the exact same thing happen in Lincoln MKZ and Honda Accord, so not unexpected, just annoying.
3) The factory MPG ratings almost turned me away from test driving this vehicle. I don't know what the EPA was thinking when they rated it. Expect 25-27 city, low-to-mid 30's highway.
Highly suggest at least test driving it, I really wasn't expecting much and really got blown away with how it performed. So far, I continue to be impressed. Definitely a contender against the RAV4 and the CR-V, which we cross shopped.
UPDATE: 15/03/2023
Still performing flawlessly. We've found it does run out of breath a bit on the top end at high highway speeds but for us that's only on long trips and using premium seems to both alleviate it a bit and net better mpg. Otherwise regular 87 is fine for around town. We had the opportunity to tow a friend's powerboat out of a lake on a gravel boat launch last fall and despite weighing near the 2000 lb towing limit of the vehicle, it performed the duty with ease-we did have the 4WD system in gravel mode and it did help compared to leaving it in normal. I'm much more confident now in the event we get our own boat in the future. Our average mpg at the moment is 27.8, which after this past winter with all the snow and cold seems fine. Was still able to get 30 mpg on the highway, but am looking forward to getting up to near mid 30's as weather warms and improves.
Still can't recommend this vehicle enough and look forward to it lasting us into the future.
The Eclipse Cross is the Mitsubishi's smallest SUV, and it's meant to compete with the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. It isn't quite as big as either, but its in-between size makes it nimble and easy to pilot around city streets. We also like its no-nonsense interior space, and a refresh in 2022 made its exterior easier on the eyes as well. It's by no means perfect, and it lacks in performance, interior quality and tech features when compared to the competition.
But, unfortunately, Mitsubishi isn't in a position to dump time, money and vast resources into chasing class leaders. Its market share in the U.S. has historically been less than 1%, and right now the company is doing its best with limited resources. So even though the Eclipse Cross isn't exactly standout, it gets the job done with no frills and no drama either. When you factor in its relatively inexpensive cost and excellent warranty, the Mitsubishi claws back a little ground against its competitors.
For 2024, we expect the song to remain much the same for the Eclipse Cross. The aforementioned 2022 face-lift means that Mitsubishi will likely try to extend its compact crossover's life until 2025 when maybe, just maybe, we'll get a new model. Either way, expect very little in the way of change for the new model year.
Edmunds says
If A to B is all you really need, this Mitsubishi is both a relevant and inexpensive option to consider.
FAQ
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 Eclipse Cross both on the road and at the track. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2024 Eclipse Cross gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 31 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Eclipse Cross has 23.4 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:
SE trim gets more standard features
Part of the first Eclipse Cross generation introduced for 2018
To determine whether the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Eclipse Cross. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Eclipse Cross's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a good car. Our consumer reviews show that the 2024 Eclipse Cross gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 31 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 Eclipse Cross is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
The least-expensive 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $26,345.
Other versions include:
ES 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $26,345
LE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $27,995
SE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $29,045
SEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $30,445
What are the different models of Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
If you're interested in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, the next question is, which Eclipse Cross model is right for you? Eclipse Cross variants include ES 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT), LE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT), SE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT), and SEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT). For a full list of Eclipse Cross models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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