Plenty of equipment at a reasonable price, plus a handsome exterior - the Eclipse Cross scores well in the test, but also shows small weaknesses.
In order to stand out from the crowd of compact SUVs, you have to pull out a few design registers. In the case of the Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi has achieved this with plenty of chrome jewelry on the face, character lines in the flanks and a strikingly sloping rear. In addition to the equally eye-catching and pleasing look, it also offers other pleasing talents, but some are lacking a certain fine-tuning.
Given the coupé-like appearance, a narrow interior is expected in places, but there is plenty of room for legs and heads between the 2,67 meters apart axes. Only the trunk is a bit more modest given the 4,40 meter long body with 359 to 466 liters. The from-to value is due to the longitudinally adjustable rear seats, which can also be completely folded, which ensures a maximum of 1.140 liters of storage volume.
In the front you have a modern cockpit, which also has a certain chic. There are soft and high-gloss surfaces, leather seats and applications in metal look or a large touchscreen for the multimedia system. In the latter case, one would actually expect navigation, which, however, is not provided by the on-board technology, but in our test specimen by a smartphone connected via Android Auto or Apple Carplay. That works well, but alternatively you can still get classic navigation hardware installed in the vehicle, as long as you invest 400 euros extra. With the top equipment tested by us, an acoustically impressive premium sound system from Rockford Fosgate is always on board. Despite some highlights, the infotainment system with its intuitive control logic, which is not intuitive in all aspects, can be annoying, as can the distance cruise control, which relieves the driver enormously on long journeys, but occasionally regulates it somewhat insensitively. In some traffic situations, braking is unexpected and unnecessary, even though the driver wants to keep up the pace.
As an alternative to a diesel that was once mandatory in the SUV segment, Mitsubishi offers a 1,5-liter turbo gasoline engine for the Ellipse Cross. The latter supplied our test specimen with 120 kW / 163 hp, which are distributed to all four wheels via continuously variable CVT automatic. In addition to optimum traction, the drive also delights with an automatic system that simulates eight fixed gear ratios quite convincingly and only occasionally feels the somewhat annoying rubber band effect. If desired, the 1,7-tonne vehicle can be dynamically stretched to 10 km / h in just over 100 seconds, and a maximum of 200 km / h is possible. The quiet and sophisticated four-cylinder engine can drive around eight liters per 100 kilometers in practice, but those who draw more frequently will have to accept an express surcharge of one to two liters.
The pace is somewhat disrupted by the parallel rising level of wind noise, which noticeably swells at least beyond 130 km / h. Also detrimental to comfort are the chassis, which is rather rumbling in the event of rough bumps, but in return it may not convince with particularly dynamic talents. At least in some situations, also due to a synthetic steering, the Cross maneuvers a bit clumsily through bends. But the bottom line is that he always remains good-natured and safe, especially since, in addition to the mandatory control systems, collision avoidance, lane keeping, blind spot or parking assist are also on board.
Anyway, the equipment: As usual with Mitsubishi, it is very extensive at the highest level. The customer can only order two metallic paints, a panoramic glass sunroof and the above-mentioned navigation system, but otherwise nothing is left to be desired. Here are just a few highlights: leather seat covers, electric parking brake, rear view camera, 18-inch wheels, bi-LED headlights, heated steering wheel and windscreen, keyless entry and start system, two-zone automatic climate control or a head-up display are standard on board. The price of 35.090 euros seems seductively small in view of the offered.
