2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

Name: 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review
Brand: Mitsubishi
Price: 15000 USD

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+255

The Eclipse Cross is a bold step in the right direction for Mitsubishi. The spacious cabin and peppy engine are obvious advantages. Class-leading warranties and excellent roadside assistance make the Eclipse Cross even more tempting. If it weren't for the terrible suspension tuning, this Mitsu would be a real contender.

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2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Provides lots of standard features
Peppy performance from turbocharged engine
Easy-to-use infotainment system

Cons

Ride quality is overly soft and bouncy
Subpar handling abilities
Disappointing fuel economy

What's new

All-wheel drive no longer standard for most trim levels
SE trim includes additional advanced safety features
Part of the first Eclipse Cross generation introduced for 2018

Overview

You could be forgiven if the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross didn't immediately come to your mind when shopping for a small SUV. Mitsubishi doesn't have a big presence in the United States, and the Eclipse Cross is a relatively new vehicle. As such, a little extra research might be required.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV (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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$160/mo

$184/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

In some ways, the Eclipse Cross is a pleasant surprise. It has a peppy engine, an easy-to-use infotainment system and strong warranties. But a variety of issues hold it back from being truly competitive. The Eclipse Cross' ride quality is the big one. Because of overly soft suspension tuning, this SUV doesn't feel planted or connected to the road. Handling suffers, too.

Under the right circumstances, the Eclipse Cross can make a good case for itself through the impressive number of features it has available in lower trim levels. Overall, though, we think you'll be happier with rivals such as the well-rounded Honda HR-V, the sporty Hyundai Kona or the adventure-oriented Subaru Crosstrek.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Below Average

7.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Eclipse Cross drive? The Eclipse Cross is a mixed bag in terms of performance. The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine feels peppy around town, and the brakes are easy to modulate. Unfortunately, the handling is way too soft. If you live on a mountain road with a lot of switchbacks, or even find yourself frequenting them, this SUV is not the one for you.

Also, the steering effort is very light and doesn't increase as you turn the wheel from center. The steering response feels natural at low speeds around town, but it is far too quick at highway speeds.

Comfort

6.0/10

How comfortable is the Eclipse Cross? The goodwill earned by the supportive, nicely shaped front and rear seats is undone by the subpar ride quality. The overly floaty suspension tuning causes problems for around-town driving, too. At low speeds, any dips will cause the Eclipse to heave mightily, while bumps will rock occupants slightly. Hit a transverse dip in the road, and you might leave your seat after the suspension rebounds.

Outside noise, whether it's from the wind at highway speeds or the all-too-audible engine, is a constant inside the cabin. The Eclipse Cross' dual-zone climate control system gets good marks on warm days, but not so good ones on cold days. We blame the lukewarm (at best) seat and steering wheel heaters and inconsistent amounts of hot air from the heater.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The Eclipse's interior is nicer than we've seen from Mitsubishi in a long time. The quality of materials is above average, the infotainment system is easy to use, and there's plenty of room for both front- and rear-seat passengers. Taller drivers won't like the low-mounted steering wheel and raised seats, which can compromise entry and exit. But shorter drivers will appreciate the higher seating position and good forward visibility from the Eclipse Cross' lower hood.

Visibility to the rear is compromised by the sloping roofline and thick side pillars. Those don't make getting into the back of the Eclipse Cross easy either, and most adults will have to duck to avoid hitting their heads on the roof.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? The Eclipse Cross comes with a long list of driver aids, but most are only available on the top trim level. Even so, the 360-degree parking camera is a rarity in this class and still very useful, even on a car this size. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, which makes not having a native navigation much less of an issue, but we expect more USB ports for a crossover that can comfortably seat four.

If you tend to like your music with a heaping helping of bass then opting for the SEL Touring package might be the best move. That comes with a fairly powerful Rockford Fosgate audio system that includes a subwoofer. It can shake the mirrors at higher volumes.

Storage

7.0/10

How’s the storage? The cargo hold is wide and tall, and the load height is at mid-thigh, so most people won't have to bend over to load large items. But its sloping roofline does take away the ability to hold larger, boxy items that might fit if the rear hatch was more upright.

Front passengers have plenty of space for small items. Installing child safety seats is pretty easy, too. There's a suitable amount of space and the car seat anchors are generally easy to access. Regardless of trim or drive configuration, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is rated to tow 1,500 pounds.

Fuel Economy

5.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The front-wheel-drive Eclipse Cross is EPA-rated at around 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is a few mpg less than most rival models. What's worse, the Eclipse underperformed that low rating with a paltry 22.8 mpg on our highway-heavy 115-mile test loop. We've tested competitors that are both quicker to accelerate and more efficient.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Eclipse Cross a good value? Mitsubishi is trying to shed its bargain-basement reputation, and it clearly shows with the Eclipse Cross. High-quality materials, solid build quality and an exceptional warranty should persuade buyers to take a look. The roadside assistance plan is just as impressive, and it should appeal to buyers looking to own the Eclipse Cross for more than five years. Just watch out for the high pricing on the SEL trim level.

Wildcard

7.0/10

This SUV is quite possibly, and sadly, the only vehicle in Mitsubishi's current lineup where you won't have to justify your purchase to friends and family. It looks great, has a roomy interior and is pretty quick around town. It could have been a true contender if Mitsubishi had put a little more R&D into optimizing the suspension tuning.

Which Eclipse Cross does Edmunds recommend?

We'd recommend the midrange SE version for the Eclipse Cross. This trim comes standard with most of the features you're likely going to want. Notably, it also comes standard this year with a suite of advanced driver safety aids that includes forward collision mitigation and blind-spot monitoring.

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross models

The 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross comes in four trim levels: ES, LE, SE and SEL. Each trim level is available with either two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the latter of which Mitsubishi calls S-AWC. 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.

Standard equipment on the ES trim includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, foglights, and heated side mirrors. Inside, you'll find a height-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats that slide and recline, a rearview camera, cruise control, automatic climate control, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker sound system.

The LE dresses things up a little with black exterior trim pieces and black 18-inch alloy wheels. You also get heated front seats, a remote touchpad controller for the infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice controls, satellite radio and a second USB port.

The SE gets a bunch of convenience and luxury upgrades such as proximity entry with push-button start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a six-speaker stereo system, dual-zone climate control, and a rear-seat center armrest. For 2020, the SE also gets forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams.

The range-topping SEL adds LED headlights, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a head-up display, and a surround-view parking camera system. The Touring package, available only on the SEL trim, includes a panoramic sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a premium Rockford Fosgate stereo system, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, high-speed emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

5 (44%)

4 (25%)

3 (16%)

2 (12%)

1 (3%)

3.9

32 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Good all around cuv

EC in PA, 12/21/2019

2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

First of all, this review is for the ES model. It has some very important differences from all the other models. It's the basic model with a manual hand brake and 16" wheels. All other models have the electric emergency brake and 18" wheels. This is important to remember because all of the "expert" reviews I have watched or read always test the more expensive models. Having 18" rims with … tires that equal rubber bands negatively effects ride quality and all off-road capability. If you're going to use this little crossover for anything other than maintained gravel roads or just getting to work in deep snow, you should most likely get the ES. My Eclipse Cross with 215/75/16 Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires have enough sidewall to actually conform to rough terrain and soften out the bumps. Being a devoted Subaru fanboy, I really had my doubts about the AWD in this Mitsubishi. But I am truly impressed with it's capability. My wife and I have taken this thing where, in all honesty, we should have had a true 4WD with a rear locker. Even up on 3 wheels it still keeps going. Remember, I have all terrain tires that I can air down for more traction. An Eclipse Cross with 18" wheels and all weather radials would never dream of following us. You CANNOT get an Eclipse Cross with the electric E-brake and put anything smaller than 17" wheels on it! Smaller diameter wheels won't clear the E-brake mechanism. Fuel mileage: Highway mileage is not all that impressive. In Eco mode, barely touching the accelerator, I can squeeze 29.8 mpg out of it. What's nice though is back rough roads and trails where were always in a low gear ratio I still get over 26. I find the motor to be zippy and the power more than enough. It's very comparable to our 07 2.5 Automatic Impreza. You won't blow anybody's mind with speed, but it will pass the people in the slow lane safely, even up hill So, why only 4 stars? It's because of the cvt transmission. It's the same brand used in Nissan and other cars. They're definitely not known for longevity. That being said, for some reason Mitsubishi hasn't had the problems with them others have. There are many Outlanders out there approaching 200k on an original cvt which is the same one used in the Eclipse Cross. Fingers crossed! Hopefully this transmission won't turn out to be a pile of crap. I would definitely recommend this car to someone who understands what is is. It's NOT a sports car, a rock crawler, or something you want to tow with. If you want something with unique styling, more power than other compact cuvs that you can take camping and have some fun doing some mild off-roading (better known as soft roading) then get one. Just keep in mind what I mentioned about what makes the ES model unique.

Mitsubishi is back!

Brian, 09/01/2018

2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross LE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

I just bought this SUV in the beginning of July so I had it for about 2 months now. The first thing your gonna notice is how sexy this thing looks depending on the color you get. I have the metallic gray and is shines just like the diamond red. The vehicle has nice black accents and black 18” alloy wheels. It also has tinted privacy glass on the back passenger windows. The performance is …

Great little SUV for the money

Brandon, 12/25/2020

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 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.

first time mitsubishi

William Scardanello, 03/19/2019

2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

Just took delivery of our Mitsu Eclipse Cross last evening & literally drove the balls off this car today . Overall looks are great ...ride comfort more than adequate . No issue with interior room or layout... just some of the touch sensitive display & pad bit of a learning curve as i am " old school ". Performance seemed more than adequate , seeing we took this unit on a …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, so we've included reviews for other years of the Eclipse Cross since its last redesign.

See all 32 reviews of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

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2020 Eclipse Cross Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$22,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$160/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Eclipse Cross models:

Forward Collision Mitigation: Alerts the driver about an imminent collision and applies the brakes if necessary.
Lane Departure Warning: Monitors the car's position in a lane and warns the driver in the event of an unsignaled departure.
Blind Spot Warning: Warns the driver of approaching vehicles in adjacent lanes.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover18.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Poor
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV (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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Eclipse Cross does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Good all around cuv

Mitsubishi is back!

Great little SUV for the money

first time mitsubishi

2020 Eclipse Cross Highlights

Safety

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2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV (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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Eclipse Cross does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Good all around cuv

Mitsubishi is back!

Great little SUV for the money

first time mitsubishi

2020 Eclipse Cross Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Mitsubishi

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV (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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}