The fastest growing market sector in the UK has to be the compact crossover segment – with almost every mainstream manufacturer building one. Kickstarted by the Nissan Qashqai, it’s now a vast market that includes offerings from Seat, Skoda, Kia, Mazda, Ford, Honda and Renault to name but a few.
Now, it’s Mitsubishi’s turn to enter the fray, and it’s doing so with this – the Eclipse Cross. It’s a distinctively-styled SUV which mixes a healthy dose of practicality with a serious dollop of value.
Here’s what you need to know…
It’s all-new
Though the Eclipse Cross technically sits on the same platform as the larger Outlander, it’s been so thoroughly changed that it’s almost an all-new car. That extends to the engine and gearboxes, which are exclusive to the Eclipse Cross for the moment and tuned specially for the car.
The design is fresh, the interior a serious upgrade over previous Mitsubishi SUVs, and overall you won’t suffer too many feelings of nostalgia when looking at an Eclipse Cross.
It’s petrol only (for now)
The sole engine choice is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol – with Mitsubishi finally joining the fray and fitting a downsized turbo unit. This brings it in line with petrol versions of its rivals, such as the SEAT Ateca’s 1.5-litre or the Nissan Qashqai’s 1.2-litre units.
Unlike rivals, though, Mitsubishi only offers a single power output – a generous 161bhp, making the ‘base-spec’ Eclipse Cross far more powerful than other entry-level petrol competitors.
It’s certainly, um, distinctive…
There’s no denying that the Eclipse Cross’ two-tier rear end is divisive in more ways than one. The division of the window does impact rear visibility, but Mitsubishi claims it allows for a coupe-like roofline without compromising boot room or luggage space.
The rest of the car is less likely to elicit a love/hate relationship. The front debuts the firm’s latest design language, while the chiselled sides are interesting without being impractical.
It’s Mitsubishi’s ‘best interior yet’
The Eclipse Cross’ interior is split across the middle – with everything above the styling line dedicated to ‘information’ and everything below ‘operation’. In laymans terms, that means everything you need to see is high up and in your line of sight, while the buttons are concealed lower down.
And there’s plenty of information, with a large central infotainment screen and a heads-up display in addition to the standard dials and gauges. It’s also pretty high quality, with soft-touch materials and piano black trim.
It still has proper 4WD
Though you can have your Eclipse Cross with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, Mitsubishi expects more customers will be drawn to the CVT automatic paired with the brand’s Super-All Wheel Control all-wheel drive system.
It won’t tackle demanding off-road conditions with the same aplomb as the Shogun, but rest assured the Eclipse Cross will be far more adept than its 2WD rivals on a muddy field or slippery hill.