When Mitsubishi announced it would revive the Eclipse nameplate, there was some excitement. But that was quickly extinguished when Mitsu clarified that it would be slapped on a ho-hum crossover. In 2018, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was born, and it’s remained mostly the same since. With a redesign confirmed for 2022, we expect nothing new from the 2021 Eclipse Cross.
As a carryover model, we expect the 2021 Eclipse Cross to roll in with the same looks it’s had since its arrival in 2018. This is one area where the Eclipse Cross excels, as its design is relatively unique, sharp, and sporty with its forward-leaning rear hatch, bold nose, wraparound headlights, and distinct character lines. Up close, though, the chrome trim looks cheap and the rear-window crossbar makes the backside look odd.
Inside, the Eclipse Cross boasts a more modern look than its Mitsu siblings, but it’s still dated with its dark colors, excessive use of painted silver, gloss-black accents, and dated dash shape. The dash-top infotainment screen is a significant upgrade from its fellow Mitsubishi crossovers. We expect this design to remain the same in the 2021 Eclipse Cross.
We also expect the 2021 Eclipse Cross to hit showrooms with the same standard features as the current model. This would include amenities like a 7-inch touchscreen, a USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. Buyers who want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto must upgrade to the second-tier LE trim, which also adds heated seats, voice recognition, and multiple USB ports.
As a carryover model, we expect the 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross to arrive with the same powertrain options as the current model. This includes a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower mated to a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive will remain an optional.
The current Eclipse Cross did well in IIHS crash tests, as it scored “Good” in them all, but its headlights were “Marginal” in the SE trim and “Poor” in the ES and LE trims. This knocked it out of the IIHS Top Safety Pick category. It does offer standard optional automatic emergency braking on SE and SEL trims, which received a “Superior” rating from the IIHS. We expect these safety ratings and features to remain the same in the 2021 Eclipse Cross.
