The 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a subcompact-plus crossover and competes with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage. Even though it was a brand-new model last year, it gets some noteworthy updates for 2020.
ES, LE, SE, and SEL trims make up the Eclipse Cross’s model range. The ES bundles new 16-inch alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch infotainment system, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, and LED daytime running lights. Mitsubishi also went ahead and gave the Eclipse Cross over-the-air update capability, if you subscribe to its telematics service.
Besides that, there’s a new Special Edition (SP) trim that slots between the LE and SE grades. That one comes with a carbon-fiber-style grille, a black hood badge, carbon-fiber-style side mirrors, a larger spoiler, a body kit, and Special Edition badging. Heated seats are newly standard on the LE trim, and the SE trim is available with a new package that includes a power panoramic sunroof and roof rails.
Whichever Eclipse Cross you get, you’ll find a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine under the hood, developing 152 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with 8 simulated gears and either standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Fuel economy is as high as 26 mpg city, 29 highway, and 27 combined with FWD, or 25, 28, and 26 with AWD.
Unlike most of its competitors, the Eclipse Cross makes you pay for all of its advanced safety equipment. Thus, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams are standard on SE and above trims. High-speed forward-collision warning, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control are optional on the SEL grade. The Eclipse Cross achieved Good crash scores the last time it was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
