The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Affordable base price
- Competitive warranty
- Polarizing headlights
- Standard all-wheel drive
Dislikes
- Sparse standard tech
- Lackluster acceleration
- Budget cabin
- Short on safety features
- Below-average fuel economy
Buying tip
features & specs
Standard all-wheel drive is a nice touch, but it doesn’t make up for other key features omitted on the base Eclipse Cross.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross? What does it compare to?
Spacious yet otherwise simply average, the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross competes with affordable subcompact crossovers like the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.
Is the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross a good SUV?
It’s OK. The 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is average in just about every way, including pricing and features. The Eclipse Cross scores a TCC Rating of 4.8 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
Mitsubishi adds two years of limited maintenance to the warranty coverage across the lineup for 2024. In SE trims and up, a hands-free power tailgate, adaptive cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a rear-row USB port now come standard. Later this year, Mitsubishi will announce a special edition with off-road styling.
The 2024 Eclipse Cross is styled after the star of Mitsubishi’s lineup, the Outlander, which encompasses a bold if overdone front end, with chrome trim bordering the grille, LED headlights, and daytime running lights. The scattering of the lighting is unusual and not necessarily good, but it does stand out.
The cabin is a mishmash of black plastic accented with silver plastic, which highlights the cost-cutting measures rather than disguising them. That said, it’s more spacious inside than most competitors, with above-average cargo space and rear legroom.
The Eclipse Cross has just one powertrain, and it’s nothing to brag about. Though all-wheel drive comes standard, the Eclipse Cross makes just 152 hp from its 1.5-liter turbo-4 and the continuously variable automatic transmission protests whenever it’s woken from its nap. It doesn’t pay off at the pump, either, with just 26 mpg combined in its most efficient iteration.
The NHTSA offers up a five-star rating but the updated IIHS tests result in a couple “Poor” scores. Standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warnings, and pedestrian detection, while adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, a surround view camera system, and a head-up display are available on higher trims.
How much does the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross cost?
The Eclipse Cross starts at $27,790 for the base ES trim, including a $1,445 destination charge. That gets all-wheel drive, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, keyless entry, LED headlights, and 16-inch alloy wheels. This year, Mitsubishi augments the 5-year/60,000-mile warranty with two years of limited maintenance.
Look at the $29,440 LE for an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels. At $33,740 for the top SEL Touring, you should also seriously be comparison-shopping elsewhere.
Where is the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross made?
It’s made in Japan.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Styling
If standing out is a good thing, then the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross succeeds.
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross a good-looking SUV?
Maybe? The profile is conventional overall, but the front end has a lot going on in a small space. No points are awarded or subtracted here. It’s a 5.
Mitsubishi sticks the Outlander into the Wonkavision machine to extract the Eclipse Cross, a shrunken-down assembly of lines and creases. The front lighting is strangely arranged, with slender daytime running lights above the LED headlights, flanked by chrome wing-shaped trim pieces that wrap around the sides to a more traditional profile. From the side it’s fine except that the base 16-inch alloy wheels look a little goofy in too-big wheel wells. The available 18-inch wheels are a much better fit, but also don’t make that much of a difference overall.
The cabin is a vision in black plastic, dated and flimsy. On the upside, the controls, both touchscreen and physical, are clear and easy.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Performance
Sluggish acceleration shows the true colors of the Eclipse Cross.
The appeal of the Eclipse Cross increases somewhat thanks to standard all-wheel drive, but an otherwise dull powertrain feels ready to give up. It’s a 4, due largely to the crude CVT.
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 4WD?
Yes. All-wheel drive is standard across the lineup.
How fast is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
It’s powered by an anemic 1.5-liter turbo-4, rated for just 152 hp and paired with a reluctant CVT. The engine and transmission don’t play nice at all, with a sluggish start off the line and lack of power for passing. Plan your moves well in advance, especially at highway speeds.
Handling is OK, with decent control but a buzzy ride that turns harsh at times. The lightweight, numb steering tuning brings no joy but is fine for mundane tasks like parking.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Comfort & Quality
Bigger than it looks, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross surprises in terms of interior space.
The 2024 Eclipse Cross has a 23.4-cubic-foot cargo hold, good for a point. That’s a 6.
Though the cabin is loud and trimmed in an abundance of plastic, seating space and comfort is about average in both rows. The Eclipse Cross is a little bigger than most subcompact crossovers but a little smaller than most compacts, which works to its advantage here.
The rear seats fold down to open up a maximum of 50.1 cubic feet of cargo space, though the available panoramic roof sacrifices about half a cube.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Safety
Mixed crash-test ratings sour the Eclipse Cross’ safety record.
How safe is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
With a five-star rating from the NHTSA but a couple of “Poor” ratings in the updated IIHS tests, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross could definitely be safer. However, it does come standard with automatic emergency braking. It’s a 6. Crash-test scores offset each other, but the Eclipse Cross has some interesting safety options on the table.
Lane-departure warnings also come standard across the lineup, and SE and SEL versions add adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and blind-spot monitors. High-speed automatic emergency braking and a surround-view camera system are available on the top-tier SEL model.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Features
The base Eclipse Cross ES comes up short on tech and amenities.
The 2024 Eclipse Cross earns a point for its competitive 5-year/60,000-mile warranty that now includes two years of limited maintenance. However, the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto subtracts a point. That’s a 5.
The base Eclipse Cross ES, starting at $27,790 including a $1,445 destination fee, gets cloth upholstery, a 7.0-inch touchscreen without smartphone integration, a single USB port, and boring 16-inch wheels.
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross should I buy?
If you’re compelled to buy an Eclipse Cross, spend $1,650 more to get the LE, which upgrades to an 8.0 touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, two USB ports, and better-looking 18-inch alloy wheels. If you have another $1,000, the SE adds a hands-free power tailgate, a rear USB port, and adaptive cruise control, all newly standard on this trim for 2024.
How much is a fully loaded Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
For a whopping $33,740, the SEL Touring adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and an upgraded stereo system. However, at this price point you’re firmly in the territory of better-equipped, more well-rounded rivals, even if you’re comparing those rivals’ base models to what Mitsubishi considers fully loaded.
2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Fuel Economy
With average fuel economy ratings, the Eclipse Cross keeps the status quo.
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross good on gas?
Like just about everything else we’ve looked at, it’s OK. The Eclipse Cross, with standard all-wheel drive, returns 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined in base ES trim, good for a 3 here.
Other trims drop to 25/26/25 mpg. They all fall short of rival crossovers available with hybrid powertrains.
