2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

　　

2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　The Eclipse Cross is the middle child in Mitsubishi's SUV lineup, it's larger than the Outlander Sport and smaller than the three-row Outlander. It's also a middle child in other ways. Its tweener size and somewhat high starting price puts the Eclipse Cross in between the extra-small and small SUV segments, allowing it to compete against both smaller SUVs like the Volkswagen Taos and Kia Seltos and larger ones like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES 4dr SUV AWD (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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$145/mo  for Eclipse Cross ES

　　Eclipse Cross ES

　　ES 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $25,795 MSRPLE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $27,045 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) (Most Popular) - $28,045 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $29,495 MSRPRALLIART 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $29,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Mitsubishi was refreshed for the 2022 model year with new exterior styling, an updated infotainment system and retuned suspension. Therefore, the Eclipse Cross didn't see many changes for 2023. The most notable is the addition of all-wheel drive as standard equipment on all trim levels. LED headlights and foglights also join the list of standard features. Mitsubishi also axed the SE Special Edition and SEL Special Edition trims, their features now fall under the SE and SEL trims, respectively.   

　　Even with last year's updates and the addition of standard all-wheel drive, the Eclipse Cross falls behind most of its rivals, including the smaller, more affordable ones. It doesn't drive well and it's at the bottom of the list when it comes to fuel economy. It also has subpar tech, tight rear seats and cheap interior materials. On the upside, the Mitsubishi is comfortable, offers long warranty coverage and delivers decent around-town power.

　　However, those positives are overshadowed by its starting price, which is higher than for one of its smaller competitors and almost as much as one of its larger rivals. And in most cases, those rivals are far superior SUVs. If you're considering the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, we recommend checking out one of its many higher-performing competitors first.

　　

Which Eclipse Cross does zzdcar recommend?

For not much more than the base ES trim, the SE trim is the one to get if you want the most features for the money. It comes equipped with heated front seats wrapped in synthetic suede, a navigation system, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning is also included.

　　

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross models

The 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is offered in four trim levels: ES, LE, SE and SEL. 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 (CVT). All trim levels come equipped with all-wheel drive. Feature highlights include:

　　ES

　　Standard equipment on the base ES trim includes:

　　16-inch wheels LED headlights and foglights Heated side mirrors Height-adjustable driver's seat 60/40-split rear seats that fold, slide and recline Cruise control Automatic climate control 7-inch infotainment touchscreen One USB port Four-speaker audio systemThese advanced driver aids are standard on all trims:

　　Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)LE

　　The LE trim adds:

　　18-inch black wheels Black exterior trim Automatic high beams Heated front seats Leather-wrapped steering wheel 8-inch infotainment touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Two USB ports Automatic high-beam assistSE

　　The SE trim gets lots of convenience and luxury upgrades, such as:

　　18-inch silver wheels Automatic headlights Power-folding side mirrors Eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat Synthetic suede upholstery Navigation system Keyless entry and ignition Six-speaker audio system Dual-zone climate control Auto-dimming rearview mirror Rear seat center armrest Automatic windshield wipers Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)The Panoramic package is only available on the SE trim. It adds:

　　Black roof rails Panoramic sunroofSEL

　　Stepping up to the top-spec SEL trim adds:

　　Black headliner Eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat Leather upholstery Heated steering wheel Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Eclipse Cross and its surroundings for tight parking situations)The Touring package, available only on the SEL trim, includes:

　　Black roof rails Panoramic sunroof Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Eight-speaker premium audio system Heated rear seats High-speed automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent at higher speeds and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Mitsubishi and the car in front)Rear parking sensors and a tow hitch are available as stand-alone options on all trim levels. The Eclipse Cross can also be equipped with optional silver, black, chrome, or black and red exterior trim packages.

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