Summarize

I find the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross quite refreshing. The company says it plans to disrupt the small-to-mid SUV market and as far as I can tell after a week of it, it’s a cutting-edge bargain you really should not ignore …

Intended as a sharp and defiant new-age SUV coupé set to tackle the likes of the all-new RAV 4, Tucson, Sportage, this is the real bargain front-wheel drive version of the 110kW 198Nm 2-litre MIVEC petrol-powered CVT equipped Eclipse. 

I know you may wince at the CVT bit and I still prefer a slush box auto too, but this one has a 6-step sports mode if you’re so inclined. Packing an improved torque converter, damper, final drive ratios and software, you hardly notice that awkward constantly variable drone and it does save fuel. Mitsubishi claims 7.9l/100km. A diesel would sip less though.

On the road, I found Eclipse Cross solid and impressive to drive, it cruises well and reports fair consumption on the readout. Comfortable on the road, it handles car-like and still offers a fair level of off-road ability even in this 4x2 get-up.

It loves gravel roads, is steady, firm and predictable with poise you know comes off a solid WRC and Dakar winning pedigree backed by effective modern systems – if anything, Eclipse Cross exceeds expectation on and off the road…

But there’s more this sharp, new Mitsubishi than just dynamics – its edgy design and healthy equipment spec is most impressive, from sharp styling accentuated by uber-cool daylight running halogen headlights to an ‘advanced human-centric’ cockpit with a cool upmarket head up display behind the adjustable leather paddle shifter multifunction steering wheel.

There’s a touch-screen radio on the dash and ours had an optional voice controlled 7” GPS touchscreen infotainment system with USB, Bluetooth, Apple Car Play and Android compatibility. It’s all neatly presented too, in neat metallic, black, carbonfibre and leather including power adjustable front seats and a 60/40 split slide and tilt rear bench, with power windows and climate control too.

The really appealing part of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is however its class-smashing value-for-money – what do you think this stylish little coupe SUV like this should set you back? I bet you’d expect well over half a million? Well, this 4x2 version comes in at under four hundred grand – R399K, to be precise and at that rate, it becomes impossible to ignore.

See, it’s as good as anything else there and then some and it’s priced to sell – don’t tell us we did not warn you!

QUICK TEST: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 4x2 CVT

Engine:          110kW 200Nm 1998cc petrol I4

Drive: CVT FWD

TESTED: 

0-60km/h 5.05sec

0-100km/h: 10.90 sec   

0-160km/h: 29.87 sec

400m: 17.7 sec @ 130km/h

80-120km/h:          7.51 sec       

120-160km/h: 14.74 sec

CLAIMED:       

VMax: 188km/h 

Fuel: 7.9 l/100km

CO2: 184 g/km

Warranty/Service 3y 100Kkm/5y 90Kkm

LIST PRICE: R399K

RATED:     82%