2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross review: LS Black Edition

The 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross LS Black Edition is pitched as a keenly-priced, stylish, urban runabout with a comprehensive late-2020 facelift keeping things fresh with a longer wheelbase and suspension tuning including uprated rear shocks to go with the usual exterior styling tweaks and interior nip-and-tuck.

For 2023, a mildly revised Eclipse Cross range introduces the Black Edition variant tested here, based on the mid-spec LS and gaining a number of features previously limited to the higher-grade Eclipse Cross Aspire.

On paper, it’s a compelling package with a welcome standard feature set, but do ageing bones and a driving experience that doesn’t quite excel take the shine off the rest of the package?

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Let’s dig in and find out.

JUMP AHEAD

• How much is it, and what do you get?
• How do rivals compare on value?
• Interior comfort, space and storage
• Technology in the cabin
• What is it like to drive?
• How much fuel does it use?
• How safe is it?
• Warranty and running costs
• VERDICT
• Specifications

How much is it, and what do you get?

Swinging in at an attractive $35,490 (all prices here are before on-road costs), the Eclipse Cross LS Black Edition channels trendy blacked-out design elements, dialling up the style factor, and bundling with it a rather generous equipment list and pragmatic city-friendly packaging.

You can buy into largely the same package, sans stylish black trim, with the $1070 more-affordable Eclipse Cross LS. For the slight extra spend, you net black exterior trim, black 18-inch alloy wheels, leather- and suede-accented upholstery, and heated front seats with four-way power adjustment for the driver.

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That’s on top of the standard LS equipment set, among which are keyless entry and start, rain-sensing auto wipers, high-beam assist, six-speaker audio, leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED fog lamps and power-folding side mirrors.

New features included on the 2023 Eclipse Cross LS include an auto-dimming rearview mirror, second-row USB ports, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

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How do rivals compare on value?

There is no shortage of fresh-faced rivals angling for this Mitsubishi’s small SUV turf, even if the Eclipse Cross rivals some medium SUVs for length.

Nissan’s new Qashqai has made big strides and virtually nails urban driving fundamentals, with the nicely equipped ST+ bundling 18-inch alloys, LED foglights, 12.3-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, satellite navigation and more for a slightly dearer (but arguably worthy) $37,890.

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The $36,750 Toyota Corolla Cross GXL is another meritorious in-demand inner-city crossover. It doesn’t strike as the most stylish in the sector, but it also is a fundamentally wonderful-driving motor car, equipped with a large 10.5-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, and LEDs for the daytime running lights, headlights and sequential front indicators.

Also worth a look at $35,800 is the Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD, with easy urban dynamics, a stylish visual design and headline features that include dual 10.25-inch infotainment and digital driver screens, DAB+ radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control.

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Interior comfort, space and storage

While facelifts have kept the exterior fresh, the interior of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross feels notably dated compared with rivals. The basic architecture and fascias are virtually unchanged since launch, with updates mainly distinguished by new seat fabric and the larger infotainment screen.

Design aside, which is subjective and not important to everyone, the material quality itself is quite decent with a good mix of soft and hard touchpoints, with a plastic grade that, while not luxurious, at least feels somewhat long-lasting and durable.

Everything here is functional, with easy-to-operate switchgear for the climate control, and a basic infotainment interface that even your grandmother could use.

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The front seats are comfortable and supportive on long drives, and, despite the vehicle’s small footprint, it delivers a surprisingly airy interior atmosphere.

Large door bins and a decent compartment below the front armrest provide ample storage and a shallow pocket with two USB ports and a 12-volt outlet is located below the centre stack.

Rear-seat room, it must be said, is quite generous with the outboard seats easily catering for a tall adult.

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Large windows provide plenty of light and further contribute to the sense of space. The 2023 LS specifically adds a welcome USB-A port behind the centre console, but, increasingly in line with the segment, we would still like to see the addition of rear air vents.

The boot measures 405L in capacity, swelling to 1149L with the 60:40 second row folded.

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Technology in the cabin

Like the vibe of the cabin itself, the technology in here isn’t the latest and greatest, but everything about the Eclipse Cross screams no-fuss and function. The infotainment system is tremendously easy to use (read: basic), with large unmistakable buttons on the home screen.

A lack of a digital speedometer is an increasingly glaring omission in this day and age, but not world-ending. Elsewhere, there are two USB ports up front and one behind for charging needs.

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What is it like to drive?

There’s little untoward about how the Eclipse Cross drives. It’s easy and intuitive, if not engaging or inspiring.

But if the name of the game is carrying people from A to B in comfort, the ageing Eclipse Cross will still do the job with a smile.

Modest outputs of 110kW and 205Nm from the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), does an admirable job of accelerating the second-smallest Mitsubishi SUV to speed without much fuss, doing so in a surprisingly sprightly and smooth fashion.

A slight hesitation is apparent when calling upon sudden throttle inputs, as the CVT takes a moment to get itself in order, and you do get the notorious CVT drone at times (usually up a hill or on highway overtakes) but again, the Eclipse Cross and its powertrain just gets the job done.

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The steering has a slight measure of weight to it, linear and predictable, but doesn’t feel engaging. The driving position is rather tall, but it feels appropriate for the vehicle.

Body control is decent around potted metropolitan roads, but the sizeable C-pillar is noticeable within a quick lane-change head check.

After living with the car for a few days, we did miss a reverse auto-dipping function for the passenger side mirror, but it’s a minor gripe and the Eclipse Cross is an overall breeze to reverse park thanks to its legible reverse camera and large rear-view mirrors.

The new-for-2023 additions of lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are particularly welcome as they were notably absent in the pre-update Eclipse Cross LS.

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How much fuel does it use?

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2WD LS was measured as using 7.3L/100km on the ADR combined cycle.

Our week of testing returned a real-world figure of 9.5L/100km.

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How safe is it?

The 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross currently wears a five-star safety rating, applicable across the range, albeit awarded by ANCAP under a less stringent testing regime in 2017.

However, this safety rating is set to expire at the end of 2023 as a result of ANCAP’s six-year rating expiration policy.

There are seven airbags fitted as standard across the range, comprising dual front, dual side, dual curtain and driver’s knee bags.

Sadly, the ageing bones of the Eclipse Cross see many advanced driver systems, which are increasingly fitted as standard elsewhere in the segment, relegated to the higher-end variants.

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The LS update of 2023 rectifies this somewhat by gaining features such as lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert that had previously been restricted to the higher-spec Eclipse Cross Aspire.

Buyers, however, may still be left wanting for features like adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera system and head-up display, all of which are available in more expensive Eclipse Cross variants.

Safety systems fitted as standard on the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross LS Black Edition include:

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Warranty and running costs

Eligible Mitsubishis are covered by up to a ten-year warranty, but there are some caveats to bear in mind.

The 10-year/200,000km warranty should provide worry-free years of service for those driving average urban distances daily, although a condition of this decade of coverage is that the vehicle must be serviced at an authorised Mitsubishi dealership.

Otherwise, the vehicle warranty reverts to Mitsubishi’s standard five-year/100,000km warranty.

A capped-price servicing package conveniently parallels the maximum ten-year conditional warranty period, although it is limited to 150,000km.

Six of these scheduled services cost $299 and two cost $399 while the two major services cost $599.

Total ten-year servicing costs are $3790, or an average of $379 per year.

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VERDICT

Despite its age, the Eclipse Cross still emerges as a meritorious city family crossover, with a roomy cabin that defies its nimble footprint, a decent equipment set for its price, and a striking exterior to look back at.

While the larger, more expensive Outlander represents what feels like true generational strides for the brand, there’s still something endearing to the simplicity that the Eclipse Cross affords.

There is no shortage of choice within the mid-$30K small SUV segment, though. Compared to younger, fresher rivals that tempt buyers with large digital screens and a shotgun approach to all the latest technology, the Eclipse Cross may not dazzle or inspire.

But it will do the job for most in an honest, no-fuss, manner. Indeed, its frequent segment-leading sales position suggests there’s merit to a simple car that simply gets the job done, and still very much a place for the Eclipse Cross in the market.

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