2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Even when it first arrived in the USA as a 2018 model, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross had an uninspired powertrain and a forgettable driving experience. Not a good start, considering it competes in the cut-throat compact SUV market against some of America's top-selling cars such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. It slid steadily down the rankings until last year's mid-life update gave it sharper looks, got rid of the odd split rear window, and updated the in-car tech, dragging it closer to the class average. Now the 2023 Eclipse Cross is here, and it's hardly any different from last year's model, so it seems unlikely to challenge the segment leaders anytime soon. It's still saddled with the same lethargic 152-horsepower engine and humdrum handling. It doesn't help that neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA's safety review of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross scored it very highly. It looks like it's going to be an uphill struggle for the little underdog.

With its $25,795 MSRP, the price of the 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ES is around $2k up over last year's model, but this does reflect the additional new equipment, such as the LED headlights and foglights. Next in line is the LE, which will cost you $27,045. After that, it's the SE at $28,045, the SEL at $29,495, and the Ralliart at $29,995. These prices don't include the $1,445 destination fee.

Given that the Eclipse moniker comes from a beloved sports coupe of blessed memory, and since there's a trim level named after Mitsubishi's Ralliart motorsport division, you'd be forgiven for expecting excitement when piloting the Eclipse Cross. But you'd be disappointed. It's all bluster and pretense because the Eclipse Cross doesn't like to be thrown around. It leans around corners, and the light steering is tuned for plodding around town, not carving up canyons. Except for some patter over high-frequency bumps, the ride is comfortable and quiet, with no pretensions of sportiness, despite its wistful name. The powertrain doesn't make up the deficit, either, and with only 152 hp on tap, performance is sedate at best. The CVT does play well with the turbocharged engine at least, and doesn't send the revs soaring unnecessarily. But the overall experience is forgettable, and the Ralliart trim is nothing more than a styling exercise.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross does have its good points, like stylish good looks, a large trunk, a comfortable and quiet ride, and a class-leading warranty. However, beyond these, there's little to make the Eclipse Cross stand out in a sea of talent. It's five years old now and feels it, despite its updates. The cabin is boring, the handling a bit ponderous, and the performance weak. Sadly, in a land of CR-Vs, CX-50s, and RAV4s, the Eclipse Cross is hardly a blip on the compact-crossover radar. Its name and especially the almost comically named Ralliart trim pluck at the heartstrings of fans that remember Mitsubishi's performance and racing history, but there's nothing to back it up, and it's purely an exercise in nostalgia.

The SE represents the mid-range sweet spot and is very good value for money at $28k. Notable features found here and not on the ES and LE are navigation, a power driver's seat, a six-speaker audio system, and dual-zone climate control. It also adds a few important driver assists, namely lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SEL's leather and surround-view camera are tempting, but at nearly $30k, it becomes hard to justify a new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross crossover over its better rivals in the segment, so rather stick to the SE.