The 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a compact SUV that falls behind the competition in most respects. It does stand out for its low base price and decent fuel economy, but it leverages its “Eclipse” forebear name and disappoints in execution.

What’s New for the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

For 2023, the only major addition is newly standard all-wheel drive (AWD), contributing to the value proposition with this small crossover.

Design

The 2023 Eclipse Cross has a sharp design, though its sharply raked rear window area cuts into usable cargo space. Trims for the Eclipse Cross are ES, LE, SE, SE Package, SEL, SEL Touring, and Ralliart. The base ES comes with 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels. Moving up to the LE adds black side mirror covers and 18-inch wheels. The SE Package adds black roof rails. The Ralliart adds unique touches including branded mud flaps, side graphics, and a rear spoiler.

Powertrain

There is only one engine offered in the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross—a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four. It makes 152 horsepower, sent through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a Sport mode that features eight simulated “gears.” Power is sent to AWD, which Mitsubishi calls Super All-Wheel Control, or S-AWC.

The most efficient configuration of the Eclipse Cross is the ES trim. It returns 25 mpg city, 28 highway, and 26 combined. Non-ES AWD trims return 25 mpg city, 26 highway, and 25 combined.

Interior

The Eclipse Cross provides 23.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the rear seats folded, it provides just 50.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which is small for the class. The base ES comes with cloth upholstery and a four-speaker stereo. The LE adds heated front seats. The SE comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and synthetic suede leather upholstery. The SEL comes with genuine leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable front passenger’s seat.

Technology

The Eclipse Cross might have a low base price, but it’s one of the few cars on the market that still makes you pay extra for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base infotainment system is a 7-inch touchscreen. Every trim but the base ES comes with a larger 8-inch touchscreen with those aforementioned connectivity features.

Safety

Standard driver-assistance features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. The SE trim adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assist. The SEL is available with a Touring Package that adds pedestrian detection, high-speed automatic forward braking, and a head-up display.

Pricing

At the time of this writing, the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has a base MSRP of $25,795 for an ES trim. The LE starts at $27,045, the SE starts at $28,045, and the SE Package starts at $29,045. The SEL starts at $29,495, the SEL Touring starts at $31,595, and the range-topping Ralliart starts at $29,995. The 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is backed by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.