Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross arrives from $30,500 BOCs

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) believes that its new Eclipse Cross will attract a different type of buyer to the ASX or its larger Outlander sibling, despite sharing a market segment with the ASX crossover.

Speaking to GoAuto at the media launch of the Eclipse Cross, MMAL product planning manager James Tol said there were a number of factors that would encourage interest in its latest SUV.

“If you’re looking for a smaller SUV within a certain price banding you might buy an ASX, if you’re looking for something that has a lot more technology, a lot more premium feeling inside and so on an Eclipse Cross might be what you’re after,” he said.

“Eclipse Cross is really a vehicle that will attract people that want to have a vehicle that is quite distinctive, that want to stand out, that want all the latest technology and gadgets in their car, and they still want a reasonable amount of versatility.”

MMAL says that it has received 15,000 expressions of interest for the vehicle ahead of its local release in December.

Mr Tol added that it was important for the coupe-style SUV to be as practical as its more traditionally designed stablemates.

“It’s OK to say you want a vehicle to look sporty or coupe-like and all the rest of it, which is what the Eclipse Cross is.... but they need to be practical, they need to have all those usability items in there, which we have.”

Based on an evolution of Mitsubishi’s GS platform that also underpins the Lancer, ASX and Outlander, the Eclipse Cross is just 50mm longer than the ASX while sharing an identical width and wheelbase, but Mr Tol said the difference would be noticeable.

“It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a lot. It does make a difference.” At launch, the Eclipse Cross will be offered in two levels of specification – the LS, which will be offered in front-wheel-drive guise only, and the range-topping Exceed, which will be available with two- or all-wheel-drive configuration.

Pricing starts at $30,500 plus on-roads for the LS 2WD, while stepping up to the front-drive Exceed adds a $5500 premium at $36,000.

The all-paw Exceed is the most expensive variant in the range at $38,500.

The line-up is expected to be bolstered by an entry-level ES variant, which will most likely arrive in 2018 and come in at under $30,000.

According to Mitsubishi, the staggered launch is due to the vehicle launching at the same time as other markets around the world, as Australia is seen as a key global market by its Japanese parent company.

No diesel powertrain will be offered, but given Mitsubishi’s plan to electrify its range by 2022, a hybrid or full-EV variant is also likely in the future.

All variants will be powered by an all-new 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine developing 110kW at 5500rpm and 250Nm at 1800rpm, mated to a continuously-variable transmission with Sport mode, manual override and paddle shifters.

Fuel consumption is rated at a combined 7.3 litres per 100km for two-wheel-drive variants, up to 7.7L/100km for the Exceed AWD.

CO2 emissions stand at 165 and 174 grams of CO2 per km, respectively.

The Exceed AWD will incorporate what Mitsubishi has dubbed its Super All-wheel Control system, which offers three different drive modes – Auto, Snow and Gravel.

Standard specification includes leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, electric park brake, chrome-accentuated instrument cluster, a 7.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports and a touchpad controller.

Equipment exclusive to the Exceed includes dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, colour head-up display and leather seats with power adjustment and front heating function.

With the 60:40 split-fold rear seats upright, rear cargo space can vary from 341 litres to 448L, with the rear seats capable of sliding forwards or backwards by 200mm.

Mitsubishi has added a number of standard safety features on the Eclipse Cross, including forward collision mitigation (autonomous emergency braking), lane departure warning, automatic high beam, adaptive cruise control and hill start assist.

The Exceed takes it further with the addition of blind spot warning, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, surround-view monitor and the ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation system, which prevents accidental excessive throttle inputs while stationary or at low speeds.

The Eclipse Cross has been awarded a five-star crash safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), recording a 97 per cent score in adult occupant protection.

Child occupant protection was rated at 78 per cent, while the vehicle’s active safety features helped the Eclipse Cross to a 71 per cent score in the safety assist category.

Stylistically, the Eclipse Cross draws inspiration from the XR PHEV II concept car from the 2015 Geneva motor show, with Mitsubishi’s signature Dynamic Shield grille, chrome accents and a headlight cluster that integrates into the grille in a similar manner to the Outlander.

LED headlights (Exceed only) and LED daytime running lights are set in the main headlight cluster, while the foglights and indicators are set lower in the front fascia.

At the rear-the coupe-style SUV features dual windscreens segmented by a long LED tail-light strip that connects the two main tail-lights and gives a tubular effect.

A rear lip spoiler, sloped tailgate and 18-inch alloy wheels add a sporty touch to the Eclipse Cross’ look.

Built at Mitsubishi’s Okazaki plant in Japan, the Eclipse Cross shares the same manufacturing facility as its Outlander sibling.

The Eclipse Cross will officially go on sale in Mitsubishi dealerships on December 22.

2017 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross pricing*

LS FWD (a)	$30,500
Exceed FWD (a)	$36,000
Exceed AWD (a)	$38,500

*Excludes on-road costs