Mitsubishi's plan to become a household name again involves in a SUV-heavy lineup. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a part of the brand's SUV-forward move and resurrects the Eclipse moniker in a compact and sporty offering with a unique design. With a strong list of standard features, the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is also a great value proposition.
Not a lot has changed for the 2019 model year. The Eclipse Cross gets roof rails as an option and new gloss black window switch panels as standard for the LE trim. Other than that, the SUV remains the same as the all-new model that came out last year.
The Eclipse Cross is a style-forward SUV that also puts an emphasis on driving pleasure. To that end, every Eclipse Cross comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Power for the motor is rated at 152 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard.
Front-wheel drive is standard on the base trim, while higher models are fitted with Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control, which is a fancy way of saying all-wheel drive. Fuel economy for the SUV is rated 26 miles per gallon city, 29 mpg highway, and 27 combine with front-wheel drive.
While the Eclipse Cross has one of the more radical designs in the segment, the blueprint limits the amount of cargo the SUV can hold. Cargo capacity is rated at 22.6 cubic feet behind the second row. Folding the rear seats down increases cargo capacity to 48.9 cubic feet.
Mitsubishi has made its vehicles good value propositions recently, and it's the same case with the Eclipse Cross. The higher up the ladder you go, the better the value proposition gets. The Eclipse Cross is available in four trims:
The base Eclipse Cross is the ES trim that costs $24,590 (all prices include the $995 destination fee). Adding all-wheel drive to the ES trim costs $600. Standard exterior features for the ES trim include halogen headlights, fog lights, LED daytime running lights, remote keyless entry, LED taillights, heated exterior mirrors, a rear spoiler, and 16-inch wheels. On the inside, the ES trim comes with a LCD color multi-information display, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, fabric-trimmed seats, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, a seven-inch touchscreen display, a four-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, and two 12-volt power outlets.
The ES trim, and a lot of other models in the Eclipse Cross lineup, have roughly 20 available options to explore. Notable available features include rear parking sensors ($510), roof rails and crossbars ($595), a hood protector ($115), a tonneau cover ($190), front and rear mudguards ($155), the LED interior enhancement package ($290, LED cargo, room, and map lights), the LED illumination package ($375, LED tailgate light, illuminated door sills, blue floor lights), and the Towing Package ($495, tow hitch, a trailer tow wire harness).
Stepping up to the LE trim costs $26,190 and adds all-wheel drive, black exterior mirrors with turn indicators, 18-inch black alloy wheels, gloss black window switch panels, a touchpad controller for the seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and an S-AWC drive mode selector. The LE trim has the same available features as the base ES trim.
Pricing for the SE trim starts at $27,690. Standard features over the LE trim include auto on- and off-headlights, power-folding exterior mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, two-tone 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, high-grade fabric seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, Mitsubishi Connection Telematics System, a six-speaker sound system, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The LE trim is also the first model in the Eclipse Cross lineup to get blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. Available features mimic the same ones found on lower trims.
At the top of the Eclipse Cross lineup sits the SEL trim, which carries a starting price tag of $29,190. Standard features for the SEL trim over lower models include LED headlights, an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, leather-trimmed seats, a multi-view rear camera, and a head-up display.
The SEL trim is the only Eclipse Cross to offer a major package. The Touring Package ($2,500) includes a power panoramic sunroof, a nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, and roof rails.
Mitsubishi shines at making affordable and well-equipped vehicles, which has us recommending the base ES trim. At $24,590, the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES is comfortable, reliable, and has a decent list of standard features. It's a lot of car for not a lot of money. If you're looking for more features, the SE is a happy medium between having features and still being affordable.
