Since being introduced for the 2018 model year, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has taken up a leading position in the sales figures of Mitsubishi Canada. It may be a big fish in a smaller pond when you look at the overall sales of Mitsubishi compared to other Japanese offerings, but it’s a model that should be given fair consideration when looking in this segment.
All-New Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Compact SUV. Photo Mitsubishi Canada
I’m not exactly sure why the decision was made to bring back the Eclipse name and badge it as an SUV, as if adding the word “cross” to the mix won’t get confused with the fun small sporty number which was offered from the late ’80’s until 2011. There isn’t much about the 2 that seem familiar to each other, and personally I would have love to have seen this new SUV take on a branding of it’s own.
But questionable naming aside, the Eclipse Cross does have a style and personality of its own that allows it to stand as a legitimate contender in a very deep field of crossovers all targeting urban families with a need for functionality in a more modest sized offering.
I first drove and reviewed the Eclipse Cross when it came out and the original review is available on my You Tube channel or by clicking on the thumbnail below.
For the 2019 model year some minor changes to the package line up have been made:
- ES S-AWC and SE S-AWC pricelines now have the roof rail anchor attachment points. This means that the ES S-AWC and SE S-AWC base vehicles are now capable of adding the accessory roof rails and cross beams.
- Red Diamond premium paint will be offered on all pricelines with an MSRP of $450. As a result, Rally Red will no longer be offered on Eclipse Cross.
- The lustrous Red Diamond paint is created by a multi-coat process that includes the layering of a semi-transparent red and clear coating for a high-colour saturation and intensity that produces a highly-refined, deeper finish. Red Diamond is the most premium exterior finish ever offered by Mitsubishi Motors. For 2018MY, Red Diamond paint had limited availability.
- A new colour Bronze Metallic is also added to all pricelines, for a total of 7 colours available.
Over the years many have wondered if Mitsubishi in Canada would take the same exit strategy as Suzuki by leaving the Canadian marketplace. The relative success of the Eclipse Cross, combined with the launch of a new RVR which I will drive and review soon, seem to counter that argument. Add to that the fact that the Outlander PHEV is the top selling Plug-in hybrid both in Canada and globally, and my guess is that Mitsubishi is still firmly planted on Canadian terra firma with no plans to leave soon.
The Eclipse Cross from Mitsubishi may be improperly named, but it’s still a deserving candidate for consideration in a category full of both well-known and lesser known options.
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