It’s not too late to check out the 2018 model year vehicles!
The 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (EC) is a compact crossover that slots between its cousins, the Outlander Sport and three-row Outlander in length. Its haters are the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and the Toyota RAV4 and even though the Johnny-come-lately vehicle has not been met with the best reviews, I say…”judge for yourself!” There are five important things to like about the little Mitsu that should make you want to give it a look-see.
- The little Mitsu is attractive. The vehicle has a beefy sporty design that is far from polarizing. It seems the Japanese manufacturer snatched a couple of styling cues from Lexus and Pontiac which is not a bad thing in this case. The gaping grille on the EC is reminiscent of the Lexus RX, and its rear brings back memories of the Pontiac Aztek with its split liftgate bisected by taillights. There are crisp/aggressive body lines, a swooping roofline, beefy fenders, and long wheelbase. The EC’s overall design is a combination of athleticism, a touch of charisma and all without being overly edgy; it will make you wanna look.
- Stepping inside. Moving from the outside in, the EC’s cabin seats five but two adults would fit more comfortably in the rear and won’t complain about feeling pinched. The driver and front passenger, however, have loads of room. Scanning the vehicle’s contemporrary looking innards, the materials don’t look chintzy, and everything appears well put together. The Japanese manufacturer did throw in a few hard plastics into the EC cabin’s mix, but the result is not offensive to the eye. Love the slide-and-recline seating in the rear of the crossover that helps to increase the spacing factor. The driver-focused cockpit features a 7-inch infotainment system that is touchscreen sensitive or trackpad selector-operated. The EC supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is an available head-up display that projects vehicle driving and safety info, and there’s good visibility all around. As far as cargo room, there is a respectable amount of space, 22.6 cubic feet and 48.9, if you drop the rear seats. The EC’s overall interior comfort is on-the-money.
- The drive. The EC is not a performance vehicle, but under the hood, it certainly does its job sufficiently. All EC trims get a 1.5-liter turbo-4 and a CVT that produces 152 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The EC’s power (the test vehicle was the SEL) is delivered smoothly, and the CVT manages it well in most driving situations. Acceleration in the EC is pretty gutsy. If you need a smidge of sporty, there are manual mode, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The steering wheel is well-weighted and nimble. Maneuvering the little Mitsu is super easy which is great especially when trying to park in those tight urban spaces. The EC boasts a ride that is taut yet comfortable with stable braking to boot. As far as the EC’s thirst at the pumps, she sips at 26 city/29 highway.
- Safety. The EC has an available portfolio of safety technology that inspires confidence behind the wheel such as blind spot warning, seven airbags, lane change assist, forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, multi-view camera, adaptive cruise control and standard all-wheel drive is available on all trims except for the base.
- Other good stuff! Mitsubishi offers a warranty that can stand wheel-to-wheel with the other braggarts Kia and Hyundai and it even offers a better corrosion protection, and more generous roadside assistance–limited warranty covers 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty; 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty; 7-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty; and 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program
Prices start at $23,295. Need more info? www.MitsubishiCars.com
