Summarize

Tintin fans will relate to an eclipse very well. In the comic ‘Prisoners of the Sun’, the intrepid young lad, Captain Haddock, the Prof and Snowy were sentenced to death by fire by the Incas on a Sudam sojourn but luckily for them, Tintin knew of an impending full eclipse of the sun due an hour or two before their execution.

He played it to a tee, warning his captors of the impending end of the world and that ‘the sun would go out’ if they did not stay the sentence. So, when the sun did indeed start to go out as predicted, all pandemonium broke loose and our friends were duly freed from those shackles and escaped...

And that’s exactly what Mitsubishi plans to do with its brand new Eclipse Cross – to fully disrupt the small-to-mid SUV market and after a day in the saddle of this SUV packed with cutting-edge technology in a stimulating design for confidence-inspiring driving and top-end human connectivity, we think that they certainly have a point…

Mitsubishi reckons the all-new Super All-Wheel Control fettled Eclipse Cross brings a defiant new-genre coupé angle, fusing stylish design and functionality as it adds a sixth distinctive SUV to the range alongside the newly tweaked ASX, the Outlander, good old Pajero, Pajero Sport, and the brilliant Triton bakkie.

And with  80 000 units sold since its international launch a year ago, it is clear that this modern, distinctive and dynamic coupé-like exterior brings a and sporty advantage to the Mitsubishi set to take it to the likes of RAV 4, Tucson, Sportage and a few others. A big ask, but I can promise you, it’s up to the challenge…

Eclipse Cross is launched in two 110kW 198Nm 2-litre MIVEC petrol-powered front and all-wheel drive models, both equipped with a much improved CVT gearbox complete with a 6-speed sports mode, an improved torque converter, damper, final drive ratios and software. It’s economical too, at a claimed 7.9l/100km combined cycle for the 4x2 and 8.1l/100km for the AWD. Both boast a 5.3m turning circle and 180mm ground clearance. 

Add Mitsubishi’s unique electronically active yaw-controlled Super All-Wheel Control with Auto, Gravel and Snow modes to split torque fore, aft, left and right to suit Eclipse Cross’ immediate driving situation and ensure outstanding stability whatever the driving conditions. S-AWC detects the vehicle’s position, decides the necessary torque distribution and uses power and brake control to ensure sure-footed control.

But it’s more than just dynamics that count in Eclipse Cross’ favour – its vibrant style makes a bold statement on the road, ‘like the ring of sunlight from behind the moon in a full eclipse,’ they say it appears as if the body was carved from a single block of metal in a fine balance between the wedged coupé style and practicality of space and comfort. They have a point, particularly in that new 9-step Red Diamond hue.

Eclipse Cross is generously equipped – starting with dusk sensing self-levelling projector halogen daylight running headlights with washers, front fog lamps, rain sensing wipers, fold-away power wing mirrors with indicator repeaters and front and rear park distance control. Add smart 18" alloys, a silver skid plate up front, roof rails, chrome tailgate garnish, a rear spoiler with a high-mounted stop lamp and a full-size spare wheel.

Step inside and that stylish and sporty Eclipse Cross feel continues to an advanced human-centric cockpit for intuitive vehicle command on or off the road. The finely specced cabin boasts metallic, piano black, carbonfibre and leather finishes, bolstered seats hewn into a splendid driving cocoon.

You will find a full-colour Head Up Display, a standard touch-screen radio in there and Mitsubishi also offers an optional voice controlled 7” GPS touchscreen infotainment system with USB, Bluetooth, Apple Car Play and Android compatibility, complete with a centre console smartphone storage tray and connectors.

There are also leather-clad tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, heated leather front pews with power adjustment for the driver and a 60/40 split Slide and tilt-adjustable rear bench, power windows front and rear with auto up/down for the driver and climate control.

Safety and security are top notch too – Eclipse has a brand new Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution body with side-impact protection bars wrapped around 7 airbags, ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors. Dynamic enhancements include active yaw, stability and traction control, ABS anti-lock braking with electronic force distribution and an electric parking brake; hill start assist and an electronic power steering, keyless central locking with motion lock, anti-theft protection and a rear view camera.

All brilliant stuff, but the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross brings another huge advantage in a class-smashing value-for-money package with the 4x2 breaking the R400K barrier at R399K and the AWD going for R449K, all covered by a 3 years or 100 000km warranty, a 5-year/90 000 km Service Plan at 15 000km intervals and 5 years unlimited roadside assistance. 

Knowing all of that, we set off for a quick drive to visit tannie Evita in Darling with high expectations. I found Eclipse Cross to be solidly built and impressive on the road. once you are used to a CVT that is – those boxes take a bit of getting used to, whatever the car and they are improving in leaps and bounds as Eclipse Cross well proves. It cruises well and reports fair consumption on the readout.

Steered over some pretty rough Cape gravel roads, you can feel that WRC and Dakar experience lurking behind all those cool new systems – Eclipse Cross takes it all in its stride with great aplomb. To be honest, it exceeded those lofty expectations…

So yes, as Tintin did to those Incas, we fully expect to run destruction in its class – it’s as good as anything else there and then some and it’s priced to sell. Better take a look before you make that call then!