Used 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

In an honest bid to take on class leaders such as the Honda CR-V, Subaru Crosstrek, and Kia Sportage, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross offers buyers standout styling and a great warranty at a fair price. However, given its somewhat compact size, the Eclipse Cross competes with a host of new, larger compact crossovers, including the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, and Chevrolet Trailblazer.

So you may be asking, “is there a 2021 Eclipse Cross?” The short answer is no. Mitsubishi bypassed 2021 and jumped right into the future, offering a new Eclipse Cross with bold styling, better ergonomics, and an improved infotainment setup.

Is the new Eclipse Cross, which has grown in length by 5.5 inches, as good a value as a Honda CR-V or Subaru Crosstrek? That depends on what you’re looking for in a compact crossover. The competition offers better performance, fuel economy, and resale, but the Eclipse Cross has an excellent optional all-wheel-drive system (S-AWD) and a warranty that puts all but Hyundai and Kia to shame.

Don’t be fooled by the name — the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross shares nothing with the former Eclipse sports coupe. However, considering this is a tall, high-riding SUV, the Eclipse Cross feels sportier than most of the vehicles in this segment. Slight revisions in the suspension this year aim to improve cornering without giving up the Eclipse Cross’s smooth ride. Although not quite up to the standard set by the Mazda CX-5, the Eclipse Cross is certainly more entertaining than a Nissan Rogue or Honda CR-V.

Under its hood, the Eclipse Cross hides a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Before you go getting all excited by the word “turbocharged,” consider that the engine only produces 152 horsepower, making it among the weakest in its class. On a positive note, large metal shift paddles behind the steering wheel of the SEL model we drove let the driver “shift” the continuously variable transmission (CVT) as if it were a conventional automatic.

So what kind of gas mileage does the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross get? You’d think with that little engine and low output, it would be pretty darn great, but again, its fuel economy is just so-so. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) Eclipse Cross is rated by the EPA at 25 mpg city/28 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. With all-wheel-drive (AWD), the Eclipse Cross is rated at 25 mpg city/26 mpg highway/25 mpg combined.

From behind the driver’s seat, the 2022 Eclipse Cross offers a commanding view of the road ahead, plus quick steering and suspension tuning that is a good blend of sport and comfort. The touchpad has been removed from the center console of top models, and the large new infotainment touchscreen is a much easier reach than the previous smaller screen. And, much to our delight, it also has volume and station knobs.

The 2022 Eclipse Cross gets some minor interior revisions to improve both functionality and visual appeal. It starts up front where a revised console gets more storage space, and a new 8-inch display screen is added to the dash top. The screen has been moved forward, making it less of a stretch for both the passenger and driver.

A new gray leather seating option is offered on the top line SEL trim, and all models get more brightwork inside the cabin. The Eclipse Cross front seats are comfortable and supportive, but lack any type of lumbar adjustment.

In back, legroom is in short supply, although the rear seat does slide forward and aft, helping create more space for passengers when the cargo area is not in use. The cargo hold is of decent proportions, and we had no issues fitting in a weekend’s worth of gear and luggage.

The new exterior highlights the most noticeable changes to the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The front end gets a redo, with a new hood and a more pronounced grille and headlight treatment that exaggerates the company’s Dynamic Shield design concept.

Move to the back, and the previous split rear window design has been replaced with a single piece that improves both looks and rear visibility. The sloping roofline and sharply raked hatchback give the Eclipse Cross a menacing appearance, but both cut into interior cargo space.

The new Eclipse Cross has grown by 5.5 inches (1.5 inches in front, 4 in the rear). With an overall length of 173.4 inches, this compact Mitsubishi SUV trends to the smaller side of the segment. For comparison, a Honda CR-V is 182.1 inches long, a Ford Escape is 180.5, and a Nissan Rogue is 183.

8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN
New for 2022, the Eclipse Cross SUV’s 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a vast improvement over the previous system. The annoying console controller has been removed, and a proper volume and tuning knob added. The new screen menus are easier to figure out, and the screen itself has been moved closer to the driver for easier access.

LONG WARRANTY
One of the Eclipse Cross’s most reassuring features is its impressive warranty. The coverage runs 10 years or 100,000 miles for the powertrain, while the basic limited warranty runs 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Standard on the entry-level ES trim are forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning, power windows and door locks, automatic climate control, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment setup, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The LE trim brings 18-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, automatic high beams, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration.

The SE trim hits the sweet spot between price and content, bringing an 8-way power driver’s seat, power-folding side mirrors, blind-spot warning with lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, navigation, and Fast Key entry with push-button start. The SEL moves the Eclipse Cross into near-luxury territory, with leather seating, an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, heated steering wheel, and a multi-angle rear camera.

Options are limited by trim, although all-wheel drive is offered on all models, which brings heated side mirrors when not already standard. There’s a Welcome package that adds carpeted floor mats, cargo mat, and a paint pen. The SE offers a Panoramic Sunroof package, which is self-explanatory.

The biggest option bundle is the SEL’s Touring Package that brings upgraded audio, power panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision mitigation with high-speed braking, roof rails, and a head-up display.

If you’re the type who finds making hard decisions leads to bouts of nail-biting and stomach ulcers, relax. The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has only one engine choice. It’s a 1.5-liter direct-injected turbocharged gasoline engine pumping out 152 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. There’s also only one transmission choice, a CVT automatic. However, you will have to choose between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, so maybe those nails aren’t so safe, after all.

1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
152 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
184 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/29 mpg (ES FWD), 25/28 (ES AWD), 25/28 (LE, SE, SEL FWD), 25/26 mpg (LE, SE, SEL AWD)