Though it evokes a famous old Mitsubishi name, the Eclipse Cross bears no relationship to the 1989 to 2011 Eclipse coupe other than a vague aura of sportiness, but then, these days SUVs are hot and coupes are not. Size- and price-wise, this compact crossover slots between the smaller Outlander Sport and the larger Outlander. Similarly, it straddles the line between larger competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V and smaller ones like the Nissan Rogue Sport and Subaru Crosstrek.

Introduced in 2018, the Eclipse Cross didn’t seem to resonate with buyers, so the model took a hiatus in 2021 in anticipation of the heavily refreshed 2022 model reviewed here. 5.6 inches longer overall, the updated Eclipse Cross features new styling and longer overhangs front and rear. A much-improved rear has a flatter liftgate in place of the odd twin-bulge setup of the 2020 model, and a single rear window provides better visibility than the previous two-pane design.

The redesign includes new lights and better use of chrome trim.  Mitsubishi

The cabin is enhanced rather than overhauled, with new trim materials and, in the upper trim levels, an 8-inch touchscreen and faux suede or leather upholstery.

There are four trims, starting with the ES at $24,590, including a $1,195 destination charge. Above that are the LE at $25,940, SE at $27,340,and SEL at $28,590, all with front-wheel drive. It’s $1,600 on each trim to add all-wheel drive (AWD), which also gives you heated mirrors on the base ES.

The SE can be optioned with a panoramic sunroof for $1,000. On the SEL, that glass top is part of the Touring Package, which for $2,100 also includes a head-up display, premium sound system, auto-dimming mirror, adaptive cruise control, emergency front braking, and heated rear seats. On all trims, White Diamond or Red Diamond paint adds $595.

The new one-piece rear window vastly improves visibility over the 2020 version. Mitsubishi

All trims use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 152 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, unchanged from 2020, and mated to an continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). That unit is programmed with eight simulated “gears” for a more conventional feel, and the SEL includes paddle shifters.

The Eclipse Cross has more torque than most competitors but less horsepower, and it doesn’t feel quick. It accelerates smoothly and it’ll be fine for commuters unconcerned with sporty dynamics or performance, but with 3,611 pounds of weight to motivate, it runs low on steam and gets noisy when pushed for extra power.

The suspension was overhauled for 2022 with retuned springs, larger rear shocks, and cross member reinforced for extra rigidity. In addition to imparting a more solid feel, the upgrades firm up the previous too-soft ride, improve handling and add some confidence in negotiating curves.

Mitsubishi calls the optional all-wheel-drive S-AWC for Super All-Wheel Control. It’s a fairly sophisticated system, monitoring such factors as speed, steering angle, braking, and yaw rate to determine when to send power to the rear wheels and left or right based on the situation at hand. Drive modes optimize it for gravel or snow, and for those in slippery-weather states, the $1,600 for it will be money well-spent.

Front and rear overhangs are longer and the 2022 Eclipse Cross looks more substantial than before, but passenger and cargo space still trail competitors.  Mitsubishi

However, you’ll also have to spend more on fuel compared to its competitors. Front-wheel drive Eclipse Crosses have an estimated EPA rating of 26 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined; AWD models cars come in at 25/28/26. The 2021 Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 are all rated at a combined 30 mpg in front-drive form, and 28 to 29 mpg combined with AWD.

The Eclipse Cross’ cabin continues some exterior styling cues, with angular metallic-look accents on the center stack and console. The door handles would be better-placed if moved back a bit, or a rear hand-hold added, for more leverage when closing the door. 

The ES trim has manually adjustable fabric seats, a 7-inch audio display, automatic climate control, cruise control, and keyless entry. You must move up to the LE to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats and an 8-inch center screen. The SE and SEL add navigation, dual-zone climate control, a rear-seat armrest, and a power driver’s seat.

The cabin gets a mild refresh, most notably with a new 8-inch infotainment screen.  Mitsubishi

The controls are simple and easy to use, although the big round toggle switches for cabin temperature would be quicker to adjust if they were dials, which could be spun instead of tapped. The infotainment touchscreen is easy to navigate, with large and intuitive icons.

New for 2022, all trim levels include forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning, while the LE and up add automatic high-beam headlamps. Blind-spot monitoring is only on the SE and SEL, and adaptive cruise control with high-speed emergency braking comes only on the SEL as part of the Touring Package.

The 2022 Eclipse Cross received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), scoring five stars side impacts and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave its top “Good” rating to the 2020 model. However, internal changes to the way IIHS rated headlamps meant it lost the Top Safety Pick designation it earned for 2019 under the Institute’s old rating system.

The seats are comfortable and supportive, both front and back, but thanks to its swoopy-looking styling, in the vein of what’s now called a “crossover coupe,” the Eclipse Cross isn’t as roomy as most competitors. With 40.9 inches of front legroom and 35.3 inches in the rear, it trails similarly sized competitors such as the CR-V and Mazda CX-5 and even the smaller Subaru Crosstrek. The Eclipse Cross’ 37.3 inches of rear headroom is the tightest among these peers.

The additional overall rear length increased the cargo volume slightly, but it’s still well below competitors. The Eclipse Cross has 23.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up, but the RAV4 is 37.5, and the CR-V is 39.2. Put the Mitsubishi’s back seats down and you get 50.1 cubic feet, and that’s still less than competitors that can go as high as 75.8 cubic feet, in the case of the CR-V. As with many in the segment, the Eclipse Cross can tow up to 1,500 lbs.

In its favor, the Eclipse Cross offers value pricing, a long warranty, and much-improved styling. It isn’t the best in the segment but has enough to consider it on the cross-shop list.