2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Review

Mitsubishi’s 2024 Eclipse Cross is a crossover SUV with two seating rows starting at $26,435. The 2024 production year is part of the model’s first generation, introduced for 2018. From 1990 to 2012, Mitsubishi had the Eclipse, a compact sports car that stood out from the crowd with its road-hugging and wide stance. Mitsubishi ended the Eclipse to focus on developing battery technology before releasing its spin-off Eclipse Cross.

MotoPickers Rating: 6.5/10

The 2024 Eclipse Cross SE trim gets an increased number of standard features, such as:

• Hands-free power liftgate
• Adaptive cruise control
• Rear-seat USB port
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

The LE Eclipse Cross gains keyless entry, a push-button start, and two complimentary years of the Mitsubishi Connect smartphone app, which provides perks like roadside safety services. In our review, we’ll discuss more of the 2024 Eclipse Cross’ warranty perks, which is one of the model’s most significant draws. 

Other upsides to this crossover SUV include a quiet cabin with minimal road noise, a solid number of standard features, quality city performance, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Drawbacks we’ll explore include its lower average fuel economy, handling, and base trim that could use some upgrading. 

Rivals of the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross include:

• Honda’s CR-V
• Toyota’s RAV4
• Hyundai’s Tucson
• Mazda’s CX-5
• Subaru’s Forester
• Nissan’s Rogue

Below, learn more about how the 2024 Eclipse Cross compares to its competition and whether it suits your driving needs.

Exterior spotlight 

The 2024 Eclipse Cross features one of the more aggressive exteriors out of Mitsubishi’s lineup that primarily manifests through well-placed dynamic lines. LED lights are standard in several areas, including daytime running lights, headlights, tail lights, and fog lights. LED fog lights are often an available feature within the compact SUV segment. 

Color choices consist of: 

• Bronze Metallic
• White Diamond
• Labrador Black Pearl
• Alloy Silver Metallic
• Mercury Gray Metallic
• Lightning Blue Metallic
• Red Diamond 

Wheel sizes measure 16” to 18”, and automatic on/off headlights for night drives come standard alongside heated side mirrors. Key available features that are standard in trims beyond the base ES trim include front rain-sensing wipers, a hands-free power tailgate, and power-folding side mirrors. 

Mitsubishi offers several exterior accessories for this model, such as:

• Body side graphics
• Crossbars for trims with/without roof rails
• Chrome door handle trim/black door handle trim
• Silver front effect
• Black hood emblem
• Chrome hood emblem
• Black license plate frame/chrome license plate frame
• Front/rear mudguards
• Silver rear, side, and corner effects
• Scuff plates/scuff plates with LED illumination
• Carbon or chrome side mirror covers
• Snowboard and ski carrier
• Spoiler
• Tailgate lip
• Tow hitch and wire harness
• Wind deflectors for side windows 

Drivers can also select the special edition RALLIART 2024 Eclipse Cross, known for its racing aesthetics, such as unique graphics, a white diamond finish, tailgate lip trim, and more. Overall, the 2024 Eclipse Cross’ exterior does an excellent job balancing standard and available features with its sleek profile.

While this iteration of the Eclipse Cross contains an appealing exterior, it faces tight competition from models like Mazda’s CX-5, which features a smooth and elegant profile via the automaker’s exclusive Kodo design philosophy. Other rivals like Honda’s CR-V and Nissan’s Rogue fall short of the 2024 Eclipse Cross with more conservative exteriors.

Interior analysis

This crossover Mitsubishi offers seating for five passengers. The driver’s seat can be configured with a six-way adjustable configuration or an optional eight-way power adjustable setup. Front passengers receive a four-way adjustable seat or an available eight-way power adjustable passenger seat. Rear seats feature a 60:40 folding function with a recline adjustment. 

Behind the second row is 23.4 cubic feet (cu. ft.) of storage space, which is moderate for the compact crossover SUV class. Folding down the rear seats expands this cargo capacity to 50.1 cu. ft. Fabric seating surfaces are standard, and higher trims receive leather-appointed or synthetic suede upholstery. 

Heated front seats, unfortunately, aren’t present in the base trim, and heated rear seats are expectedly optional. Drivers can create a more open and airy feel within this Mitsubishi’s cabin with the available power panoramic sunroof. Options to dress up the cabin include an artificial leather shift knob, artificial leather-wrapped steering wheel, and sport pedals. The 2025 Eclipse Cross offers an available heated steering wheel, and selecting the RALLIART special edition yields model-exclusive floor mats.

It’s clear that this Mitsubishi’s exterior is more well-equipped with standard features than its interior. The 2024 Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 contain a standard eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. You’ll also find more cargo space within these two vehicles. Nissan’s Rogue is competitive in passenger comfort with its signature Zero Gravity seats, which promote a neutral spine position for lower body stress.

If you prioritize higher-quality seating materials, you’ll find what you’re looking for with models like the 2024 Mazda CX-5, which offers upholstery options like Nappa leather. Heated front seats are standard in all 2024 Honda CR-V trims.

Power and performance

The 2024 Eclipse Cross’ electric power steering handling is average despite its supportive Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system. This system utilizes torque vectoring technologies and active yaw control, which optimizes driving and braking between the front wheels by analyzing your driving style vs. the SUV’s maneuvers. The result is higher four-wheel drive (4WD) capability. 

This model’s three drive modes include Auto, Snow, and Gravel. Auto balances 4WD and fuel efficiency for daily drives while promoting more stability at higher speeds. Snow mode is ideal for winter with elevated traction on slick terrain, while gravel mode is fit for unpaved wet roads and trails. While Snow and Gravel modes can help in off-road settings, this Mitsubishi’s off-road performance as a whole is average. With competing compact SUV models like Subaru’s Forester, you’ll find greater off-road capabilities. 

The 2024 Eclipse Cross contains a 1.5-liter direct-injection turbo engine producing a moderate 152 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine works alongside an 8-speed Sport mode continuously variable transmission. We heard reports of the 2024 Eclipse Cross having poor fuel economy, but these talks are slightly exaggerated, as the model gets 25 MPG in the city and 26-28 MPG on the highway. The front suspension is a Macpherson strut setup with a stabilizer bar, and the rear suspension is multi-link with a stabilizer bar.

You won’t be towing any massive boats with the 2024 Eclipse Cross’ maximum towing capacity of 1,500 lbs. By comparison, Toyota’s RAV4 and Ford’s Escape can tow up to 3,500 lbs. The 2024 Subaru Forester isn’t far behind these two SUVs with a 3,500-lb. maximum towing capacity. However, ground clearance for the 2024 Eclipse Cross is good at 8.5”.

Tech overview 

This Mitsubishi has a 7” display in its base trim and an 8” display with smartphone-link capability within each grade above the entry-level ES. Optional ‘what3words’ provides navigation within and outside of cellular service range. The standard speaker configuration has four speakers, with the second-best option offering six speakers. The available Mitsubishi Power Sound System has eight speakers. Automatic climate control is standard, but dual-zone automatic climate control is optional. 

While the 2024 Eclipse Cross offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, you won’t get either feature within the base trim. You also won’t find a push-button start in the entry-level ES. RALLIART special edition buyers receive a model-exclusive start-stop switch. Like many vehicles today, this crossover SUV offers an optional auto-dimming rearview mirror, which reduces glare from trailing vehicles’ headlights at night. You’ll also find 12V power outlets and steering wheel controls like available voice recognition. 

Mitsubishi Connect with Safeguard and Remote Services comes with a 24-month trial so that you can complete remote commands like engine starts, locking/unlocking doors, cabin temperature preconditioning, or locating your vehicle. This service package also includes roadside assistance, SOS emergency assistance capabilities, and the ability to open or close your garage door from anywhere using the in-dash touchscreen. Buyers of this Mitsubishi receive a three-month SiriusXM All Access trial in each trim except the base.

The 2024 Eclipse Cross’ display sizes are average. You’ll find an available 13.2” touchscreen within competing models like Ford’s Escape. Several competitors also offer better audio configurations. Toyota’s 2024 RAV4 contains an available audio system with 11 speakers. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard across all RAV4 trims. Additional 2024 Eclipse Cross rivals with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto include Subaru’s Forester, Nissan’s Rogue, Ford’s Escape, and Honda’s CR-V.

Safety capabilities 

The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) are the two go-to sources for evaluating a vehicle’s passenger crash protection capabilities. NHTSA officials gave the 2024 Eclipse Cross its highest score of five stars, but the IIHS gave the model a “Poor” rating in its moderate-overlap, side crash, and headlight tests. Let’s take a closer look at this SUV’s driver-assist safety features.

Standard safety features

Mitsubishi’s 2024 Eclipse Cross contains forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, which recognizes and warns of imminent frontal contact with other vehicles or pedestrians before applying automatic braking if necessary. The lane departure warning feature will provide safety alerts if you begin drifting from your lane without an active turn signal. However, this standard feature doesn’t supply automatic steering assistance with these notifications. 

This crossover SUV’s quality NHTSA crash protection grade stems from its Rise Body Construction, a framework featuring high-strength steel and crumple zones that absorb impact energies. Below are the 2024 Eclipse Cross’s available driver-assist safety features.

Available safety features

Optional adaptive cruise control within this Mitsubishi automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to keep a safe following distance from the car before you while obeying posted speed limits. Available blind spot warning and lane change assist will notify you if another vehicle is approaching or in a blind spot for more peace of mind. Alerts for this feature will illuminate on the corresponding side mirror. Rear-cross traffic alert mitigates reverse driving challenges with warnings that another vehicle is approaching from either side.

You can also upgrade the forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection to include high-speed braking capability and select the optional multi-view camera system to get a bird’s-eye view of your vehicle’s immediate surroundings.

The 2024 Eclipse Cross is a bit slim regarding safety, as you’ll find far more standard and available features within other Mitsubishi models like the Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).

Trim guide 

Below is a list of each of the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross’ trims, along with starting prices and some of their noteworthy features.

ES Eclipse Cross (base) – $26,345

The base Eclipse Cross could use some upgrading, but for now, you can move into a higher trim without spending too much extra money. In addition to no heated front seats, you won’t find Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or rain-sensing front wipers. The wheels measure 16” and come in a two-tone alloy configuration. However, you will receive LED exterior lighting.

LE Eclipse Cross – $27,995

Wheels increase to 18” within the LE. You also get a slightly larger 8” display, steering wheel voice recognition control, and automatic high beams. 

SE Eclipse Cross – $29,045

Purchasing an SE Eclipse Cross means receiving a hands-free power tailgate, power-folding side mirrors, and synthetic-suede seating surfaces.

Black Edition – $29,195

The Black Edition grade is best for drivers who prefer darkened exterior trim features.

SE Panoramic Sunroof – $30,045

Opting for this trim, as its name suggests, provides a panoramic sunroof. 

SEL – $30,445

Leather-appointed seating surfaces, a heated steering wheel, and a multi-view camera system help solidify the SEL trim’s value. 

RALLIART – $31,145

The RALLIART special edition grade boasts the most unique exterior with a custom spoiler, side effects, tailgate lip trim, and more.

SEL Touring – $32,295

The SEL Touring builds on the SEL by adding features including but not limited to a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, and black roof rails.

Final verdict 

Mitsubishi’s 2024 Eclipse Cross’ most significant strength is its stylish exterior design with several standard features. The inside provides a solid amount of cargo room and contemporary style, but shortcomings include a slimmer selection of tech/driver-assist features. 

Still, one significant upside to this Mitsubishi is its warranty coverage, which includes a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, whichever comes first, five years and unlimited miles for roadside assistance, and two-year/30,000-mile complimentary limited maintenance.