A Week With: 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL

Years ago, Mitsubishi had a reputation for building fast, nimble and sporty cars. But the Japanese automaker fell on some difficult times, which sparked talk it was about to abandon the U.S. market, discouraging its dealers and undermined its product line. 

If you climbed into a Mitsubishi vehicle built during the dark era following the near collapse of the Mitsubishi’s business in the United States, you might have thought you had climbed into a museum of car bits from the earlier 1990s. 

Overview

But Mitsubishi is making a serious effort to rebuild its reputation, which is where the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross comes into the picture. The Eclipse Cross is an up-to-date vehicle with modern technology such as a touch screen, which also uses knobs. It also builds on the company’s historic strengths with a powerful, lightweight engine, accurate steering and a nicely tuned suspension capable of handling multiple challenges, which makes the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL fun to drive. 

Exterior

The 2022 Eclipse Cross faces competition in the small or subcompact crossover utility segment from vehicles such as the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-30. Mitsubishi’s designers worked over the basic utility vehicle shape by putting definition into the sheet metal on doors. The front windshield gives a sporty angle to it while the roofline ends with a spoiler that juts out over the rear liftgate, which has been angled inward to emphasize the vehicle’s sporty heritage. 

The rear liftgate also is neatly designed and the front fascia with the unique Mitsubishi badge as well as the body-colored front and rear bumpers that are part of the SEL package as are 18-inch wheels. The best part of the design of the 2022 Eclipse Cross is that the different elements fit nicely together into a complete package, helping the vehicles standout a bit in very crowded market segment. 

Interior

With the interior of the 2022 Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi stepped into the modern era. The design of the cabin sports a contemporary flair, utilizing a nice mix of textures and a simple layout with metal accents to develop an appealing, straightforward space, which can survive comparisons with other vehicles in its class. 

The seats are quite comfortable even on longer drives and the visibility from the driver’s seat is very good. The version of the Eclipse Cross I drove was equipped with a sunroof that seemed well sealed since the cabin was surprisingly quiet for a relatively small vehicle, helping ease the stress of driving either for a long time or long distances. The Eclipse Cross is also quite versatile, having room for both passengers and their luggage or gear in relative comfort. 

Powertrain

Mitsubishi has always deployed lightweight engines to their best advantage and the 2022 Eclipse Cross carries on the tradition. The Eclipse Cross is equipped with a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine equipped with direct injection and turbocharging. Since Mitsubishi is now part of the Nissan family, the engine is matched up with a a continuously variable transmission with an 8-speed sport mode. 

The crossover also is equipped with paddle shifters, which have traditionally been one of the brand’s signature elements. Mitsubishi also equipped the Eclipse Cross SEL with All Wheel Control, which modulates the brakes control of the front wheel to emphasize use of all four wheels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the 2022 Eclipse Cross a combined rating of 25 mpg, including 25 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. 

Safety and Technology

The 2022 Eclipse Cross SEL is equipped with multiple two-stage airbags for protection against front- and side-impact crashes. Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning with lane-change assist, rear-cross traffic alert, automatic high beams, hill start assistance and anti-lock braking with brake-force distribution comes with the vehicle. 

It also features steering wheel controls for the entertainment system and the cruise control, voice recognition, satellite radio connection, an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Mitsubishi Connect with Bluetooth. It is also equipped with a heated steering wheel and heated front seats and push-button start. 

Driving Impressions

The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is fun to drive thanks to the combination of electric power steering and a nicely tuned suspension, which includes a multi-link rear suspension and stabilizer bars, delivers a steady ride. The electric power steering on the Eclipse Cross is very effective and accurate. The Eclipse Cross also is very maneuverable with a tight turning radius, making the vehicle easy to handle. 

The 1.5-liter engine also puts out ample power, making it easier to get up to speed or pass other vehicles on the freeway and get away from a standing start. Overall, the driving dynamics of the Eclipse Cross are impressive, and the brakes are solid and even the CVT doesn’t seem to get in the way of the vehicle’s performance. 

2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL ­specifications:

Wrap Up

The subcompact crossover segment is very competitive but the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross more than holds its own against well-established brands such as Honda and Toyota thanks to its strong driving dynamic. The Eclipse Cross also is nicely styled both inside and out and comes with a full suite of the latest driving assistance and connectivity features as well as the interface motorists have come to expect from modern vehicles in recent years. The price tag, at $34,000 is steeper than many potential buyers might expect from Mitsubishi, but it is well within the range for a well-equipped vehicle in this segment. This is definitely a vehicle motorist shopping the segment should consider. 

2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL — Frequently Asked Questions